Sheryl Winkler
Published: March 30, 2008

I am a Virginia voter, social worker, animal lover, trained Emergency Animal Services Rescue volunteer and full-time mom.

I would like to first say that I realize how busy reporters are during the General Assembly, and acknowledge that there are many different issues in Richmond all arising at the same, short period of time. I realize that weeding through what to cover and report must be very difficult.

But did you know that there were at least 11 animal issues to be voted on in the General Assembly that would help the Commonwealth of Virginia finally enter the 21st century? One of the more important issues was to mandate that euthanasia by gas chambers at shelters be outlawed. Have any of the delegates ever watched the death of an animal in the gas chambers? Maybe that should be a stop on the next campaign trail.

How about the law against tethering a dog for extended periods? If you look at dog attacks in the recent news, you will see that many of the dogs have either been tethered and left alone, untrained and abused, or are free roaming.

How can a reporter be in Richmond and not report at least one piece of animal legislation? 

Did you know there is a wonderful group of people, Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare, trying very hard to get legislation passed to help protect the people and children of Virginia while humanely helping the animals? This group has worked tirelessly and tried to communicate on a positive note with many of our elected leaders.  Members of VVAW were able to meet with Speaker of the House Bill Howell, Sen.John Chichester, Sen. Charles Hawkins, Senate Minority Leader Richard Saslaw and Sen. Potts. There were also many patrons of their bills: Delegates Jim Scott, Ben Cline, Kenny Alexander, David Albo, Jennifer McClellan, Frank Hargrove, Clay Athey, Rob Wittman and Robert Hull, and Senators Benjamin Lambert, Patsy Ticer and Mary Margaret Whipple.

So even though volunteers of Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare had strong, bipartisan patrons and face-to-face meetings with the leadership, most of their bills failed to pass. Why? I’m sure many of your readers would be interested in that answer. 

These bills go before the Agricultural Committee. It depends upon the leader of that committee to help push a bill through. The first answer is indifference by House Ag. Committee Chair Orrock. 

Mr. Orrock made a statement to this group that admonished some 30 people who came to Richmond for a hearing that began before dawn that contact from animal welfare people in large numbers was unwelcome and has even caused him to withhold his support for such legislation. This group had asked earlier that Orrock’s obvious disregard for Virginia voters or animals should prompt these bills to be heard in another committee.

I think voters in Virginia have a right to know what their delegates really say when not running for election. These elected officials work for the voters. When you have an employee who is not doing their job well or at all, you fire the employee.  The people need to know what has happened in Richmond.

Don Marro or Lillian Clancy of Virginia Voters for Animal Welfare can be contacted by e-mail at . These are grassroots people who are trying to make a difference. A little help would be appreciated.  The utter disrespect to a grassroots organization is uncalled for. 

Sheryl Winkler
Fredericksburg