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Volunteer group PAWS urges city to back new animal shelter and operations support
Summary
A volunteer nonprofit told the Petersburg City Council it can help the city design and operate a new animal shelter and asked for an MOU, a volunteer coordinator and local spay/neuter capacity to avoid long volunteer trips to Richmond.
PETERSBURG, Va. — Chloe Griffin, treasurer of the nonprofit Petersburg Bridal Welfare Society (PAWS), urged the City Council on March 18 to support plans for a new municipal animal shelter and outlined the nonprofit’s offers to assist with fundraising, volunteer coordination and operations.
PAWS representatives told council the current shelter building is condemned, that volunteers are transporting animals to Richmond for spay/neuter services and that the group seeks a formal partnership and a memorandum of understanding with the city to ensure longer‑term support for a new facility.
Why it matters: Council packet materials and speakers said the shelter is operating at high intake levels and that lack of local surgical capacity and limited staff (the shelter was described as having four employees) constrain adoptions and volunteer programs. PAWS framed a new facility and a partnership as critical to reaching no‑kill metrics and reducing regional transfers.
What PAWS presented - Caseload and outcomes: PAWS reported 446 dogs, 483 cats and 5 other animals passed through the shelter last year, and said the shelter saved about 88% of those animals — “2% shy from being a no‑kill shelter 3 years running” under the 90% standard referenced by the presenter. - Proposed supports: Fundraising access to private donors and foundations; a volunteer coordinator (current staff shortage cited); a local spay/neuter capacity (currently volunteers drive to Richmond and that trip can delay volunteers’ work); separate intake and adoption areas to permit indoor meet‑and‑greets; grooming, enrichment and training programs; and a shelter advisory council to work with city staff on design and operations. - Facility concerns: PAWS volunteers flagged a suspected inappropriate septic system for the proposed new site; volunteers and an industry expert recommended alternative waste‑management design and requested involvement in design review to ensure state veterinary inspections are met.
Council and public Q&A Council members asked whether adopted animals are required to be spayed/neutered (PAWS confirmed adoption fees cover state‑required initial medical services and that transport to Richmond facilitates compliance for out‑of‑city adopters). Council members encouraged a formal advisory role for PAWS and asked staff to include PAWS in design and operations planning.
Quote "We were able to save 88% ... we were 2% shy from being a no kill shelter 3 years running," Chloe Griffin, PAWS treasurer, told council.
Next steps: PAWS requested a memorandum of understanding and regular volunteer access (including weekends) so volunteers who work weekdays can assist. Council members said they expect discussion of an advisory structure and to coordinate with staff and the park/engineering teams on design and septic concerns.
