Bill 1381 in Virginia is aimed at stopping PETA from hiding its massive pet killing facility in Norfolk behind the name “shelter”:
The bill would amend section 3.2-6500 of the Code of Virginia, adding language stating a private animal shelter “means a facility operated for the purpose of finding permanent adoptive homes and facilitating other lifesaving outcomes for animals.”
PETA kills almost all of the animals it gets its hands on and in 2014, had just a 1% adoption rate. So while PETA’s pet killing facility clearly doesn’t qualify as a shelter by any stretch of the imagination, it continues to operate as one legally in VA. Bill 1381 will change that. The bill has already passed in the State Senate and the House is scheduled to vote on it today.
Why it matters: If PETA can no longer dupe the public with claims that their surrendered animals are being taken to a “shelter” and will be rehomed when in fact the animals will most likely be killed, that’s a win for animals and a win for public awareness. If the bill becomes law, it seems highly unlikely PETA would apply for a license to operate a slaughterhouse, which is basically the business they have been running there for homeless dogs and cats. So unless PETA wants to begin actually doing the hard work of sheltering animals by finding them new homes, the group will presumably be forced out of the pet killing business. Again: a win for animals.
If you are a Virginia resident, contact your delegate in the House to voice your support for Bill 1381.
As soon as anyone sees news about the vote, please leave a comment.
I hope to God this bill passes, but PeTA is lobbying mightily against it. Perhaps commonsense and decency will prevail in Virginia!
Can’t begin to think what their arguments would be — that transparency & accountability don’t count? That truth in advertising/marketing/advocating aren’t worth it?
SB 1381was just passed by for the day. Nothing wrong, just postponed. Details soon.
On the one hand, this does not surprise me. On the other hand, it always bothers me how very little legislators seem to work.
The Virginia House of Delegates broadcasts their sessions to the internet (Flash or Silverlight plug-in required) Watch live here, if you wish:
http://virginia-house.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=3
I’m one who thinks that PETA will pay heavily for their opposition to this bill, even if they win the vote. It will be hung around their necks like a millstone.
BTW thank you to Christopher. Eileen posted a comment on FB yesterday about how he had written to the VA delegate representing the area where he used to live, even though he’s in another state now, and I was inspired to do the same since I also used to live in VA.
Money talks and peta has plenty and they are working hard to have this stopped.
Any news on when it will come up? This worries a lot of people, since more time means that PeTA will have more time to lobby. Which begs the question – why are they so against this? Rhetorical question . . .
but if legislators can’t figure out why, we are all in a lot of trouble.
I hope the bill passes quickly. PETA has misled the public and they must stop killing all animals. I assume they’re lying just to get donations!
Did the House just pass this bill today?
Yes, but amended to remove “facilitate other lifesaving outcomes for animals”, which I assume to be significant (and bad).
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?151+sum+SB1381
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Definition of private animal shelter. Clarifies that the purpose of a private animal shelter is to find permanent adoptive homes and facilitate other lifesaving outcomes for animals.
I wonder how the removal of that language will impact PETA. With their 1% adoption rate, I suppose they could still claim the primary purpose of their slaughterhouse is trying to find homes for their animals but they are just really, really bad at it.
Maybe I’m wrong, but I see elimination of “facilitate other lifesaving outcomes for animals” as a good thing. That is a vague phrase which could be twisted & stretched to justify all kinds of mischief. As it stands now the statute takes clear aim at the PETA activities we all find so disturbing. I don’t think it rules out shelter activities which are related to & facilitate “finding permanent adoptive homes”, e.g., providing veterinary care, spay/neuter, training, microchipping, adoption promotion, lost & found, working w. fosters & transport, etc.,etc. What proper shelter activities are ruled out by the new wording?
“With their 1% adoption rate, I suppose they could still claim the primary purpose of their slaughterhouse is trying to find homes for their animals but they are just really, really bad at it.” I actually think PETA will do EXACTLY what YB describes, though they won’t admit to being bad, they’ll claim as they always have that the dogs they take in just can’t be adopted out. Since the bill doesn’t have any metrics for the purpose defined in the law, they will get away with their continued killing. Remember they’re sociopaths
Emily, you’re right about there being no metrics for the purpose defined in the law, but VA citizens & others can demand that the agency enforcing the law promulgate clear rules & regulations for its implementation, & these can serve as metrics, don’t you agree? It would be tragic if after this victory the law were not properly enforced.
I’m glad PETA has been found out! This should happen to other shelters as well! Animals deserve much better!
Virginia residents are being encouraged to contact Governor McAuliffe now that the bill passed the House.
SB 1381, is a Bill that would require Virginia’s Animal Shelters to…well….. SHELTER pets, like a shelter should.
Recently SB 1381 was voted on by the House delegates of Virginia, and was PASSED by an overwhelming 95-2 vote.
PLEASE call Governor Terry McAuliffe today, at 804-786-2211, and urge him to sign this Bill (SB 1381) into law. Calls are being tallied, so this matters: phone, and insist that your friends phone as well. If this legislation is thwarted, despite the best efforts of citizens and their elected representatives, it will be a disaster for the animals of Virginia