Public Policies

PET OVERPOPULATION:
The birth rate of pet animals is grossly disproportionate to the number of responsible homes available. This situation has produced enormous suffering for millions of animals who are abandoned, impounded or destroyed. All animals adopted through CVHS are spayed and neutered prior to adoption. CVHS encourages all owners to have their animals neutered to prevent needless waste of life and can provide you with information on low-cost vaccination and neutering programs such as the Vermont Spay Neuter Incentive Program (VSNIP).

BLOOD SPORTS:
CVHS is opposed to “sports” such as bullfighting, dog fighting, cockfighting, coon-on-a-log/coon-in-a-hole and similar spectacles. CVHS maintains that all of these are brutal animal contests with acute suffering, torture and harassment for the animals involved. Animal torture and harassment for fun is degrading and unfit for civilized society.

EVENTS OR CONTESTS INVOLVING ANIMALS:
The CVHS opposes any contest where injury, pain, torture, fear, or harassment is inflicted on an animal. This includes rodeos, dog racing, coursing, donkey-basketball, pig chases, diving animal acts, animal pulling contests and similar events. The CVHS believes that such amusement events encourage an insensitivity to and acceptance of brutal treatment of animals in the name of sport and entertainment, on society as a whole and on impressionable young children in particular.

COSMETIC SURGERY:
The CVHS opposes surgery done on animals solely for cosmetic reasons or to disguise an imperfection. Examples of cosmetic surgery include tail myotomy, tail neurectomy and tongue myotomy in equines, ear cropping and tail docking in canines and declawing in cats. This type of surgery is without benefit to the animal itself and puts it through unnecessary surgical risk and pain. It is understood and accepted that surgical procedures normally considered cosmetic may be performed for valid medical reasons.

DECLAWING OF CATS:
The CVHS believes that the claws of a domestic cat serve a very useful purpose and that a declawed cat has been deprived of its normal, protective defense mechanism. In addition, anecdotal evidence suggests a higher number of behavior problems in declawed cats such as inappropriate elimination and human aggression. The CVHS does not allow declawing of cats adopted from the shelter. Other behavior modification tools such as scratching posts, nail trimming and nail caps are recommended. Further, any cat that has been declawed should be confined indoors because it lacks its natural defense mechanisms. The CVHS does not condone the declawing of cats for non-medical reasons and unless every other alternative training tool and opportunity has been attempted and exhausted.

POUND SEIZURE:
CVHS opposes the release of animals from public or private shelters or pounds to biomedical research laboratories or related animal-using facilities, and opposes any measure that would make the practice mandatory.

ANIMALS USED FOR RESEARCH:
CVHS opposes the present use of animals in research and/or testing when alternative techniques are available. CVHS recognizes that there may be a need for the use of animals to advance human and animal health and safety. In these cases all possible precautions must be taken to eliminate pain, stress and suffering, both physical and emotional. Pre- and post-operative pain-relieving drugs must be used, and proper care and housing must be provided. CVHS believes that toxicity testing on live animals should be replaced as soon as possible by new methods not involving animals. CVHS opposes the use of animals in testing cosmetic and household products.

USE OF ANIMALS IN SCHOOLS:
The CVHS opposes the use of animals in school-sponsored or approved experiments, lessons or projects that interfere with the normal health or development of the animals, constitute major manipulations of the animals’ behavior or environment, or causes pain, anxiety, fear or discomfort. It is also the policy of the CVHS that dissection is unnecessary and inconsistent with the development of a general appreciation and respect for living beings and is, therefore, unacceptable at a pre-college level.

WILD ANIMALS AS PETS:
Most wild animals make unsuitable pets under virtually all circumstances, and very few people are equipped to provide the proper care that wild animals need. In all cases, CVHS is opposed to the keeping of those animals that will suffer by capture, transport, or confinement and those animals that are known or likely to be endangered species.

FUR, TRAPPING AND RANCHING:
The CVHS is opposed to trapping, rearing and killing of animals for the production of fur apparel and other accessories. The CVHS believes that such exploitation and killing of animals causes needless suffering. The CVHS believes there should be an immediate and absolute ban on the steel-jaw, leghold trap. The CVHS recognizes that in some cases humane trapping of animals for population control, disease control, habitat preservation, property damage, or human health issues, may be necessary after less intrusive alternatives have been attempted and exhausted. In addition to opposing commercial sport and trapping, the CVHS strongly opposes the existence and operation of “fur ranches” where fur-bearing animals are bred, raised and killed.

PUPPY MILLS:
The term “puppy mill” refers to a mass dog breeding operation that produces puppies either in large volume for wholesale or retail business. Investigations of puppy mills have exposed inhumane conditions such as overcrowding, inadequate and unsanitary housing, lack of veterinary care, and substandard nutrition. Many of these dogs and puppies are poorly socialized, have genetic disorders, and do not make suitable pets. The CVHS is strongly opposed to the sale through pet shops and similar outlets, of puppies and dogs from such mass-breeding establishments. Through education, legislation and enforcement of existing laws protecting animals, the CVHS seeks and recommends the abolition of both large and small scale puppy mills and sale of dogs and puppies in pet stores and at auction.

A law has recently been passed in the state of Vermont making it illegal to sell or give away animals who are under 8 weeks of age. In addition, the roadside sale of animals is not prohibited.

EASTER CHICKS, RABBITS AND OTHER BABY ANIMALS:
Every year, millions of baby rabbits, chicks, ducklings and goslings are sold as pets during the Easter season. Many of these animals subsequently die of neglect, abuse, over attention or lack of care. Often, large numbers are surrendered to animal shelters after the novelty of owning them has worn off. The CVHS unequivocally opposes the selling of baby animals which not only causes suffering and death, but also encourages children to regard pets as disposable novelties. The CVHS urges people not to buy live baby animals as gifts and supports efforts at local and state levels to make such promotions and sales illegal.

GIVEAWAY OF ANIMALS FOR COMMERCIAL PROMOTION:
The CVHS condemns and opposes the practice of commercial and other interests advertising and giving away live animals by raffle, lottery, and other means of chance, or to promote sales by attracting customers in this manner.

ANIMALS RAISED FOR FOOD:
CVHS opposes the keeping of food animals in a manner that causes them discomfort or denies them the opportunity to live and develop in conditions that are reasonably natural for them. CVHS opposes the killing of food animals in any manner that does not result in instantaneous unconsciousness without fear.

RABIES VACCINATIONS:
The CVHS supports Vermont state law that requires that all dogs, cats, ferrets and wolf-hybrids be vaccinated against rabies at a minimum age of three months and then at appropriate intervals thereafter. Also, the CVHS believes that all shelter personnel who are directly involved with animal care be given prophylactic rabies vaccinations and appropriate follow-up titre checks.

ANIMAL CONTROL LAWS:
The CVHS urges all municipalities to pass and enforce animal control laws for the protection of people and pets.