President's Message
New Rescue Law in Virginia
CFC United Way
Events/Fundraisers
A "Special Needs" Dog
Some Puppies with Parvo
Please Help Shadow
Adoption Information
Purina Labels
Heinz Pet Products Symbols
Special Thanks

President's Message

Hard to believe it's that time again. It seems I just picked up the last newsletter from the printer.

We had a great time at the Sterile Feral Cat walk. It was a gorgeous day and the scenery was perfect. The colors were spectacular, and we even caught a few glimpses of wildlife. Best of all, it was great to see so many people come out for such a great cause. Special thanks to those of you who sponsored us and to everyone who came out to walk yourselves! We raised over $1200, and SADSAC will receive 90 percent of that. Just think how many litters can be prevented with that much money! I can't wait to get the final check.

On another note, adoptions have been slow the past few months, but we congratulate the Lemoines on their adoption of Ethan Bear who is now called Warf. He, like Shelby went to the Lemoine family as a foster pet and never left. What a cutie! It didn't take him long to wiggle his way into Gene's heart. Also, Spooky one of my former ferals got a new home, and we hope she is enjoying the good life indoors. There are many more just waiting to be adopted, just waiting for the right home.

Things are definitely looking up on the feral front. There don't seem to be many more left from my biggest colony, and we were able to finish neutering three small colonies since the last update. There are several colonies left, however, and the best time to trap is during the winter before kitten season. As always, we'll keep you posted.

With life being so busy these days, it's easy to take things for granted. I recently found out that one of my beloved pets has a degenerative disease progressing in her spine. Every day I look into her soft brown eyes and am thankful for every second we have left, while at the same time cursing Mother Nature for allowing this to happen to my special little angel. I am reminded of all the times she greets me at the front door or "talks" to me to get my attention. I know I will miss her wagging tail, her smiling face, and the incredible happy dance she does whenever she sees me. So please, take a moment and give your furry loved ones an extra pat, hug, or kiss. Cherish each moment you have together and let them know how much they are loved. It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Sherry Meier, President SADSAC

New Rescue Law in Virginia

On July 1, 2002 a law went into effect in Virginia which will make it very difficult for rescue organizations to continue to help animals. Formerly known as Senate Bill 260 and now part of Chapter 787, this law places a number of requirements on rescue organizations and foster homes in the state. Rescuers accepting more than six animals a year must:

• register annually with the state and pay a $100 fee per group, plus a $50 fee for each foster home;



• submit to inspection of their private homes by the State Veterinarian or his representative to determine if any violation of animal law has occurred--no warrant required. Foster homes may also be inspected;



• post contact information in all pounds and shelters in the locality they serve--in some cases, this could be half the state;



• pay for a listing in the local phone book;



• make their homes accessible to the public during "business hours".

Rescuers are opposed to this law for a number of reasons. The proposed annual fees for rescue groups and foster homes are excessive. Most rescue groups lose money on nearly every animal they place. Groups will have difficulty finding the funds to pay this registration fee each year, not to mention the cost of maintaining a business listing in the telephone directory.

Additionally, rescue groups will be unable to find foster homes because people won't want their addresses to be made public, nor will they want to be subjected to warrantless inspections of their homes. And, of course, public posting of these addresses will provide the means for an owner to "dump" an unwanted animal. Finally, rescuers and foster families often are employed full time and unable to make their homes accessible to the public during "business hours" even if they had that desire.

We hope this law will be repealed in the next session of the General Assembly, and many rescuers are working toward that end. You may find more information on the efforts to accomplish this goal, including ways you can help and a list of legislators to whom you may write, by visiting http://www.no-sb-260.com/. [Please note that this website is no longer active.]

Unfortunately, we at SADSAC will have to adjust our practices. We will be confining our efforts to neutering the feral cat colonies we know of and placing the pets we have. We regret this decision, but while this law is in effect we feel we have little choice.

CFC United Way

SADSAC's United Way CFC designation number is 7768 if you would like to make a payroll deduction contribution. We have been able to collect approximately $300.00 per quarter, thanks to your generous contributions!

Events/Fundraisers:

We are running a concession stand at a horse show at Cedar Run Horse Center on Spriggs Rd. this coming Saturday, Aug. 2, 2002. Other dates will be available on our calendar, and we've also included directions for your convenience. Admission to the show is free.

We are still microchipping at Independent Hill Veterinary Clinic. Please call (703) 791-2083 to make an appointment.

A "Special Needs" Dog

April 6, 2002:
SADSAC is helping to sponsor a dog named Onyx who came from a very precarious situation. The owner left Onyx with his disabled mother, who depended on the neighbors to feed and water her. Onyx was tied outside on a 3 foot leash. She had a little hole to crawl into for shelter. By the time our friend Cindy was contacted, she was emaciated, lying in her own urine and stool because she unable to get away from it, and her collar had worn a portion of the skin and flesh from around her neck.

We don't know how long Onyx had been left there, tied up. But she is terrified of people, and it will be a long road to recovery. A special angel is needed to come forward to adopt this dog. She will need lots of time and patience to trust humans again. She doesn't appear to have been abused, just neglected, and has had little or no exposure to people. There is not an aggressive bone in this dog's body--for now she just tries to get away. If you are interested in helping Onyx, please email us at sadsac01@yahoo.com. I will pass along your information to her new owner/foster mom.

Some Puppies with Parvo

We're attempting to save the lives of a litter of German Shepherd puppies and their mother, all of which have parvovirus. Parvo is a highly contagious viral disease that can quickly become deadly for unvaccinated puppies and adolescent dogs.

Only three of the litter remain alive and we hope they'll pull through. The puppies are only 7 weeks old, all female. Princess, the mother, is 1 1/2 years old.

We'd be grateful for any contributions to their medical care. Please help these poor girls if you can!

Update 5/11/02: Pet Assistance League has taken the puppies for placement. All three have pulled through and two have already been adopted. If you are interested in adopting the remaining puppy, please contact Wendy at 703-441-9310. Princess is also finally out of the woods, but she's terribly thin. Inquiries regarding Princess may be directed to SADSAC via email.

Please Help Shadow

Shadow is a 6-month-old German Shepherd with severe hip dysplasia in both hips. He will require surgery to repair his hips at a cost of $1,500 to $1,700 per hip. We're hoping he can be placed with a local GSD rescue group who will be able to foster him and find him a loving home. Shadow is a really sweet boy who deserves a chance to live without pain. If you can, please help with a donation toward his surgery.

Update, Aug. 8: Many, many thanks to Friends of Homeless Animals, who will be finding Shadow a home! We are still accepting donations to fix his hips. Please help if you can--we need about $1500.00 for surgery on his second hip.

Adoption Information

Our schedule for pet adoptions has changed. Adoption days are generally held twice a month, the 2nd Saturday, from 11AM to 2PM at Independent Hill Veterinary Clinic, 13444 Dumfries Road (Woodbine Shopping Center on Route 234), Manassas, VA, and the 3rd or 4th Sunday at Petco, 10800 Promenade Lane. Major holidays may interfere with this schedule, so for your convenience, we have a calendar where we regularly post dates. If you need more information, call Sherry at (703) 221-0324.

Save Those Purina Labels!

Check your dog and cat food bags for weight circles from Purina Proplan and CNM Rx diets for donation to SADSAC. You can drop them off at the clinic any time. Just tell the receptionist to give them to Sherry. We thank you in advance.

Heinz Pet Product Symbols

We still hope to begin participating in the Homeless Homer Program sponsored by Heinz Pet Products. Please watch for Homeless Homer or Morris the Cat symbols on these products:

After you've clipped the symbols, sort them into like "denominations", and when you have ten of the same symbol, staple them together--it's that simple! Like the Purina weight circles, these may be dropped off at the clinic for Sherry. Thank you!

Special Thanks To:

Drs. Moore and Connell for alowing us to put our newsletter in the Independent Hill Veterinary Clinic holiday newsletter.
The Barkers who are my favorite litter angels!
The Spenglers, Ladonna Larsen & Jo Kinnaly for coming out to join us for the Sterile Feral Cat walk.
Jo Kinnaly for continuous web site and moral support.
Kim Lemoine for helping place a few pets.
Cindy Kreiman for your assistance in neutering many pets.
Tammy and Sara Gillespie for their help and donation to the concession stand.
Janet Boots for her donation to the concession stand.
Kari Watt/Kilcullen for her help with finding homes for German Shepherds and for food donations.

Special thanks all the people who sponsor our pets via the internet. Our kitties just love getting packages!

And to all of you, for helping in all the ways you do, this one's for you.