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Issue 31: 33 Years Ago: County Takes Over Operations of Animal Shelter
 | The Loudoun County government took over the operations of the Animal Shelter 33 years ago, in July 1974, in partnership with the Loudoun County Humane Society. Located at the intersection of Routes 9 and 704, near |
| Waterford, the shelter had its origins in 1964, when Edith Goode donated 140 acres of land to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), for construction of a humane education center. The education center was to include a model animal shelter with a clinic in which animals could be spayed or neutered prior to their adoption. Construction of the shelter began in 1965, and it opened to the public as the National Humane Education Center on September 18, 1967. The cost of construction was about $450,000. By 1973, HSUS had decided that it was not cost effective to continue to operate the Education Center. In the spring of 1973, an agreement was reached in which the Loudoun County would pay $152,437 to purchase the shelter and 14 acres, and take over the shelter operations on July 1, 1974. Members of the Loudoun County Humane Society, including Rebbie deButts and Barbara Dutton, were instrumental in the negotiations between the county and HSUS. The local Humane Society agreed to provide supplementary funds for veterinary costs so that the low-cost spay/neuter program for animal adoptions could continue. The Animal Shelter came under the supervision of the county’s Department of Technical Services and its director, William Wiggins. Doris Toone, who had been with HSUS since 1964, was retained by the county as Animal Shelter Manager. On July 1, 1988, the county took over the spay-neuter program for all animals that were adopted from the shelter. Veterinarians agreed to donate their time on a rotational basis to inspect the Animal Shelter, treat any sick or injured animals, and advise the shelter staff. In 2000, the county completed a major project in which the Animal Shelter was significantly remodeled, modernized and expanded. Over the past year, the Loudoun County Department of Animal Care and Control has received state and national awards for excellence. The Animal Control Division was selected to receive the 2006 Outstanding Agency Award from the National Animal Control Association (NACA). The department also received an achievement award from the Virginia Association of Counties for its Companion Animal Resource Effort (CARE). This is one of a series of weekly releases from the Loudoun County Office of Public Information highlighting landmark events in the Loudoun County government during its 250-year history. Sources: "A Brief History of Animal Control in Loudoun County," by Shirley Amos Loudoun Times-Mirror Gimme Shelter, Department of Animal Care & Control newsletter Image: Loudoun County Animal Shelter; photo by Robert Jones | |
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