ihe Culpeper Animal Welfare League. Last June, partly in

ihe Culpeper Animal Welfare League. Last June, partly in response to the efforts of the League, the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies threatened suit against Madison County for non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Law cited above. This group, as well as any other group or private individual, can tile a writ of mandamus, asking for a court order directing a governing body to comply with the law.

Letter to Madison

In a letter to Madison Counts Board of Supervisors Chairman J. T. Williamson dated June 14. The Virginia Federation of Humane Societies threatened to bring action against the counts unless steps were taken to comply with the law. Federation President and Field Investigator Walter Lane saiil that the group plans to move ahead with court action against the counts. "We're suing local governments all over Virginia," Lane said. "We've found that counties simply do not respond otherwise. Rural governments are just not used to taking care of their animals properly.

Lane's last contact with Rappahannock was in April of 14SI. when he wrote a letter to Rappahannock Supervisors notifying them that the methods used to dispose of animals were not in compliance with Slate euthanasia guidelines. In Rappahannock County, confiscated animals are disposed of with firearms. According to a state law passed in 1477. sodium phenobarbitol or a carbon monoxide solution are the only two acceptable means of enthanasia. except in extreme cases where an animal cannot be caught.

Ihe problem was compounded when the Warren County animal facility refused to accept Rappahannock animals for disposal. The Supervisors have not dealt with the problem since then.

Haven’t Forgotten

"We haven’t forgotten about the problems there.” said Lane. "I'm surprised that state environmental officials have not been in touch with the county about the possible polluting effects of carcasses in the waterways."

Lane said that the

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