The Department of Animal Care and Control is asking residents to fill out a survey regarding their opinion on the adoption of pit bulls from the county's animal shelter.
Laura Danis, public and community relations coordinator for the Loudoun County Animal Shelter, said the shelter is currently reviewing its pit bull adoption policy in response to the Attorney General of Virginia's recently issued advisory opinion stating that publicly funded animal shelters may not euthanize dogs based solely upon their breed.
Currently, the publicly funded animal shelter does not allow for the adoption of pit bulls. If animal control officers find stray pit bulls, they do their best to return them to their owner, Danis said. If they can not be returned to an owner, they’re euthanized.
"It is very important to us to get the pulse of the community," Danis said. "We want to hear what people have to say."
THE SURVEY consists of five questions, like "Were you aware of the Loudoun County Animal Shelter's current policy regarding the adoption of pit bulls or pit bull mixes?" and "Do you believe that the Loudoun County Animal Shelter should make eligible for adoption pit bulls and pit bull mixes?"
So far, Danis said she has received 900 responses from residents for and against the adoption of pit bulls, since the survey was public at the beginning of the month.
"We’ve received comments from people all across the spectrum," she said.
The survey is available at www.loudoun.gov/animals. A print version is also available. To obtain a copy, call 703-777-0406, or pick one up at the Animal Shelter, 39820 Charles Town Pike in Waterford.