Vermont Volunteer Services for Animals

City
Cat Allies (CCA) is an organization located in Rutland, Vermont which provides
spay and neuter assistance for strays. Volunteers capture feral cats and bring them to CCA for spaying,
neutering, and vaccinations. Volunteers
then release the feral cats back into their colonies. The volunteers also maintain the feral
colonies as needed for their health and wellbeing. CCA has been recognized by the Rutland mayor
for its outstanding achievements and by the state as a model for spay/neuter
and release programs.

CCA was started with funds
provided by VVSA. Today CCA is nearly
self-sustaining and receives minimal funds from VVSA. More information about CCA can be obtained at
http://www.massagevermont.com/citycat.html(http://www.massagevermont.com/citycat.html) .

Newport
City Strays (NCS) is located in Newport, New Hampshire and focuses on
spay/neuter and release programs. This
organization provides feral cats with vaccinations and general health care in
order to maintain the feral cat populations. NCS has successfully maintained and reduced cat populations in Newport
area through their program. NCS
was started with funds provided by VVSA and is now self-sustaining and receives
minimal funds from VVSA

VVSA
works to protect the welfare of animals through investigation of cruelty and
neglect complaints provided by citizens. We work with law enforcement agencies throughout the state to ensure
officers are available to investigate complaints, confiscate animals in danger,
and ticket offenders. 

Volunteers for VVSA frequently
attend animal cruelty investigation workshops. These workshops have been organized by VVSA and local law enforcement,
as well as the Humane Society of the United States. VVSA pays the cost of the course on behalf of
the volunteers. The volunteers attend a
two-day training course taught by law enforcement officers, attorneys, animal
experts, and representatives from various animal organizations. Each volunteer is also provided a “Manual of
Procedures” and contact information for animal cruelty investigators in
Vermont. These volunteers become
equipped to recognize cases of cruelty so they can help VVSA prevent, reduce,
and stop animal cruelty in Vermont.

In
addition to legal efforts and volunteer training, VVSA encourages
rehabilitation for first-time and accidental offenders. VVSA diligently works with animal owners to
ensure they understand the laws and have the financial means to provide for
their animals. Many first time cases
result from lack of finances or lack of education on proper animal care. Those first-time and accidental offenders
receive full support from VVSA and frequent monitoring to ensure they do not
become repeat offenders.

Over the years VVSA has pursued development of
aggressive animal protection and welfare laws. One of the first and most successful political achievements was the
creation of the VSNIP program previously discussed. VVSA was instrumental in drafting the
legislation creating the mandate from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, as
well as getting the bill passed in the House and the Senate. Vermont Title 13 was another major success
for VVSA, which provides detailed regulations for animal care. Title 13, Chapter 8 provides specific
definitions for animal cruelty and harsh penalties for violations.  Additionally, VVSA has been actively involved
in monitoring and updating Title 20, Vermont’s Animal Welfare Regulations
promulgated by the Agency of Agriculture. VVSA’s most recent political achievement was the creation of a Civil
Ticketing system for Animal Cruelty. The
Civil Ticketing system allows animal control officers, animal cruelty
investigators, and law enforcement to issue tickets for animal cruelty violations
(as opposed to filing a lawsuit and awaiting a verdict). Finally, VVSA has supported Student Choice
for Dissection, which allows students to opt out of dissection and pursue
exercises which do not require the killing of animals.