Petersburg shelter gets task force after allegations of animal abuse

PETERSBURG, VA (WWBT) - A Petersburg City councilman has created a task force to improve conditions at the Petersburg Animal Shelter. Tuesday night, Councilman W. Howard Meyers asked his fellow councilors for support at their council meeting.

Last month, Councilman Meyers launched an investigation into the shelter and said conditions at the shelter need to change.

At Tuesday night's City Council meeting, Meyers made a motion to create a task force under his direction that includes the manager of the Petersburg Animal Shelter, the Chief of the Petersburg Police Department and various animal groups from Richmond and the surrounding areas.

Meyers said his task force will work to enforce stricter breeding laws. When folks have their pets spayed or neutered, the population going into the shelter will go down.

"There will be more enforcement with respect to the laws," said Meyers. "The laws will be strengthened. As of now, they're not strengthened or enforced."

Meyers said there will be bigger fines for people who don't spay or neuter their pets. There will also be a focus on public awareness and education to keep less animals on the streets and in the Petersburg pound.

A group of animal advocates were in the crowd Tuesday and made their presence known by displaying signs. The group said a task force isn't enough because there are dozens of animals that need homes now.

"There a lot of big things that need to be done at the shelter," said Jill Navary, an animal advocate. "What we would like to have addressed are the small things that can be done in a day and save a lot of animals."

The task force will meet in the coming weeks.

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