RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) – As talks surrounding hound hunting and how it impacts hunters and landowners continues, local shelters are calling on the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources to reconsider microchip requirements.
French Fry is a 2-year-old hound and a newcomer to the Richmond SPCA. In recent weeks, he’s had to adjust to a new way of life including indoor living and more human interaction. While the new treats and belly rubs are nice, getting used to this way of life can be tough for dogs like French Fry who are used to open fields and living in groups alongside other hounds.
Tabitha Treloar with Richmond SPCA told 8News this is the reality for hunting dogs who find themselves transitioning unexpectedly after being abandoned or surrendered from hound hunters.
“They pick up these dogs often times who’ve been running for a very long time and their body score is in pretty rough shape. They take them back to their county shelter and, you know, I definitely ask them, do hunters come looking to reclaim these dogs? And they don’t,” Treloar said.
While staff at the Richmond SPCA are ready to step in when needed to treat ticks, fleas and heartworms, Treloar said the unique needs of these dogs can put a strain on shelter resources at Richmond SPCA and at other shelters across the Commonwealth.
“We have a lot of trainers and medical staff who really work with them, but it definitely takes a lot of our charitable dollars to rehabilitate these dogs,” Treloar said.
That’s why finding the rightful owner of these dogs is so important to ensure owners are held accountable and shelters aren’t overcrowded. However, this is virtually impossible when a dog comes without a collar and isn’t microchipped.
“I’ve also talked to officials with rural county shelters like Buckingham and last summer visiting their shelter, their kennels were full of hounds for whom no one had come looking [for],” Treloar said.
Recently, Treloar shared these concerns with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and asked board members to reconsider a microchip requirement — something hunters aren’t currently required to do.
8News reached out to the department and a spokesperson said this solution is one of many that was discussed, however it wasn’t wildly accepted by committee members.
Instead, the department said they are working to enhance their education with a focus on explaining to hunters their responsibility to take care of and keep their hounds. In addition, if a hunter would like to rehome their dog, they are responsible for finding a proper home.
Kirby Birch with the Virginia Hunting Dog Alliance told 8News his organization urges hunters to microchip their dogs, but have found that costs have prevented some from doing so.
