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Welcome to the Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads!
Injured Wildlife
If you find sick/injured or orphaned wildlife, please call
the wildlife response 24-hour emergency hotline.
757-543-7000 |
The Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads (AWCHR) was formed in January 2002 as an
affiliation of companion animal shelters, rescue groups, animal control organizations,
veterinary professionals and others committed to ending animal overpopulation and euthanasia
of adoptable animals in Hampton Roads.
Membership in AWCHR is open to both organizations and
individuals who share that commitment and if you love animals, we invite you to join us!
Suffolk Tornados
Why a ‘Coalition’?
Where Are They Now?
 The Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads
hopes that Michael Vick is enjoying his stay in Kansas and the time off from his busy schedule.
We also hope that his former
dogs enjoy their new lives. See where these dogs are now! |
AWCHR is an umbrella organization that provides a regional forum for networking and an exchange
of ideas among individuals and organizations.
Each one of these organizations is committed to
improving the welfare of animals in Hampton Roads
As an organization, AWCHR is positioned
to offer a regional perspective on issues that impact the animal welfare community.
The founding members defined Hampton Roads to include the communities
of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Franklin and Isle of Wight County
on the ‘Southside’ of the James River. To the north of the James River the cities of Hampton,
Newport News, Williamsburg as well as the counties of James City County, Yorktown and Gloucester are all
considered in the Hampton Roads region.
What is the Goal of the AWCHR?
The purpose of the AWCHR is simple-promote cooperation among regional
animal welfare service providers. When we all work together, animal lives are saved.
A Sad Fact-Each year in
Hampton Roads alone, over 20,000 companion animals are euthanized in area animal shelters.
While
it is certainly true that many of these animals are sick, grievously injured or otherwise deemed
un-adoptable for behavior reasons, many more than one might think are healthy, friendly and highly
adoptable.
The goal of the Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads is:
Promote cooperation among Animal Control, Animal Shelters, Rescue Groups and Individuals
Educate the public about the importance of spaying or neutering companion animals
Marshall the talents, capabilities and resources of coalition members for the benefit of all
How Can This Goal Be Reached?
Cities and towns all across
the United States are beginning to realize that simply killing thousands of animals each and every year is not an effective
means by which to deal with the animal overpopulation crisis.
Recently, the City of Richmond, Virginia became a
"no-kill" city and has been joined by Charlottesville, Virginia which has been able to re-home 92% of all animals
admitted to animal shelters. Read how they did it!
The no-kill movement is growing and becoming a no-kill shelter, city or nation
will take a commitment from pet owners, animal control agencies as well as animal shelter managers to stop the killing
once and for all.
The Animal Welfare Coalition of Hampton Roads provides a vehicle for all groups to work together in an effort to reach this goal as quickly as possible.
Virginia Department of Agriculture
In 2004, animal welfare agencies in Virginia began submitting their annual reports to the State Veterinarian online.
The
Virginia Department of Agriculture has made available the reports that Animal Control agencies, private animal shelters as well
as "home based" rescue groups online.
These reports include the number of animals an agency took in, how many were strays, surrendered by their owner or seized.
The reports also contain the number of animals transferred to other agencies, adopted, returned to owner, died in-shelter or euthanized.
Virginia Department of Agriculture
Online Animal Reporting
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