February 25, 2010
Contact: Paulette Dean (799-5306)

Recently, a dog and cat were “dumped” by the side of Mount Cross Road. Citizens gave information about the case, and we were able to determine who owned the animals.

The owners told us that they used to live on Mount Cross Road, but had moved into the Danville City limits. Last Thursday, they had a small fire in their house, and one of the owners panicked. He put two cats and one dog in his car, drove them to Mount Cross, and was going to put them out in front of the house where they used to live. The long driveway was covered with ice, so he made the unwise decision to leave them by the side of the road. Later in the day, he realized that was not an appropriate action to take, so he and friends went to the location. They found one cat that had climbed a tree. By this time, Humane Society employees had found the dog and the other cat and had taken them to the shelter.

The owners regretted their action, and realize that they placed their animals in danger.

We have consulted with Pittsylvania County animal control officers and the Pittsylvania County Commonwealth Attorney’s office, and have decided that no charges will be filed against the owners at this time.

Two people will be given a reward for the information that helped find the owners, as well as saving the animals.


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.