February 18, 2010
Contact: Paulette Dean (799-5306)

The Danville Area Humane Society is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who abandoned a puppy and kitten in the 9000 block of Mount Cross Road.
About 9:00 this morning, two people noticed a man abandoning a Husky mix puppy and orange cat across the street from their house. He was driving a green four-door Dodge Intrepid. The license plates may be personalized and the first letter may be “S.” The driver is a white male, probably in his twenties. He was wearing glasses, black pants, a white shirt, and a black coat.
The witnesses called the Humane Society, and two employees left the shelter to find the animals. The puppy was in the woods, and came running when called. The cat was hiding in bushes, but employees were able to pick him up. Both animals were traumatized and took a couple of hours to stop shaking. The puppy and cat are being housed at the City of Danville animal shelter. The cat is a neutered male and the puppy is also a male. Both showed evidence of wearing collars.
Abandonment of any companion animal is illegal. Anyone with information is urged to call the Humane Society at 799-5306. Callers may remain anonymous.


December 21, 2009
Contact: Paulette Dean (799-5306)

The Danville Area Humane Society is thrilled to announce plans to build a no-kill adoption center for Danville and Pittsylvania County adjacent to the existing city animal shelter. The plans include two large colony cat rooms, 20 additional dog runs, a room for small companion animals (including guinea pigs, birds, hamsters, etc.), adoption counseling rooms, and other administrative areas.

A capital campaign is now underway. It is expected that the adoption center will cost $750,000. Areas of the center will be named after donors, and packets of information can be requested. Gifts are tax-deductible.

The animal shelter will continue to be an open-admission shelter, and no animal will ever be turned away. Dogs and cats will be evaluated for medical and behavioral issues. If accepted into the adoption center, they will be held until they are adopted or transferred to another group.

“We believe that this new adoption center, in conjunction with our aggressive spay/neuter program in the City and County, and the recent anti-tethering ordinance in the City will better help us solve the overpopulation problem. As a result, the need for euthanasia will be decreased and many lives will be saved,” says Paulette Dean, the director of the Danville Area Humane Society.

Dean also emphasizes that this will not be the typical limited admission facility. “We will never turn away any animal. This will give us a wonderful opportunity to help even more animals.”

Lynn Shelton, president of the board of directors, states, “This is the continuation of a plan to decrease euthanasia that began many years ago. Like the anti-tethering ordinance, this adoption center is an idea whose time has come. We believe that the community will support the capital campaign, knowing that they will be helping thousands and thousands of animals in Danville and Pittsylvania County.”

The adoption center and expanded shelter will be given as a gift to the City of Danville. City Council members were notified of this plan through an e-mail announcement on Friday, December 18, 2009.