Virginia Residents: Oppose HB 1565

This action is ONLY for residents of Virginia.

Update:
HB 1565 was amended in subcommittee on January 26 to remove the mandatory requirement for animal control officers to capture or impound outdoor cats. Previously, the bill would have required an animal control officer to trap cats at a property owner's request. The earlier version of the bill would have cause the impoundment of an untold number of cats. The House Agriculture Subcommittee approved HB 1565, as amended, by voice vote.

Original:
The Cat Impoundment Bill, HB 1565, will be heard in the House Agriculture Subcommittee this coming Monday. This bill would change the laws relating to animal control, with the result that more cats would be impounded in city and county pounds, where the majority of cats are killed.

In recent years, many animal control officers have begun supporting Trap-Neuter-Return to humanely and effectively reduce community cat populations. This bill would undermine those animal control officers, in addition to harming cats.

Please respectfully urge your Delegate to oppose HB 1565.