| As with every organization there is a time where it needs to change to grow. Wildlife Response, Inc. ("WRI") is at this point. We NEED a center to be able to advance our mission. WRI's hotline receiving over 11,000 calls a year proves this. Our team of permitted wildlife rehabilitators receiving thousands of wild animals each year proves this. WRI's education programs, reaching out to the thousands, proves this. WRI leadership saw this need years ago when we started the process of researching available land for a center in 2005 after the City of Virginia Beach's adoption of the Conditional Use Permit requirements and codes for rehabilitation of wildlife in the city. WRI is on the last leg of a journey that brings us to the beginning of another, greater one - development of the Wildlife Response and Rehabilitation Center (WRRC). WRI will be submitting a bid to the City Council of Virginia Beach this Tuesday, August 9 for lease of property that has been identified for use as a wildlife rehabilitation center. This lease is the last step to the first phase of the WRRC for the citizens of Virginia Beach and the wildlife of Hampton Roads. We are all very excited about the opportunity this center will bring to be able to provide the wildlife of this area a central place to receive the medical and rehabilitative care it deserves. WRI has been working in cooperation with the City of Virginia Beach for seven years in regards to rehabilitation in Virginia Beach and the WRRC project. City Council unanimously awarded WRI a Conditional Use Permit (required to lease property owned by the city) in May. Phase One of the project could start as soon as September if we are awarded the lease on August 9. As of this moment, WRI is the ONLY organization where all of their Virginia Beach rehabilitators have received the required Home Based Wildlife Rehabilitation Conditional Use Permits. Other groups only have one or two of their Virginia Beach rehabilitators fully permitted, although this requirement has been in effect since 2005. Moreover, WRI is the largest group in the area solely dedicated to wildlife; it has no competing need to care for other types of animals. In April of this year the city facilitated a public meeting that was intended to discuss ways in which the various wildlife and animal protection groups in the area could collaborate on development of the WRRC. Unfortunately, collaboration was not discussed at this meeting, but instead it quickly became apparent that the mission of a couple of the groups is to stop WRI from fulfilling its goal of establishing the WRRC so that they may do so instead. WRI is disappointed by the non-collaborative stance that these two groups have taken, however WRI will continue to move forward and reach for its goal, working in concert with other groups and individuals that share its vision. So, how can you help Wildlife Response and the wildlife we all care about? By supporting WRI in its quest to realize a vision for the wildlife of Hampton Roads. You can contact the Virginia Beach City Council with the information provided below. Please tell your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same. You can also come to the city council meeting on August 9 at 6pm to show your support for WRI's bid. If you are out of town, please email the council to let them know of your support. We look forward to starting the new journey that WRI is poised to take. Please keep the wildlife in your thoughts this coming week and help WRI help our wild neighbors! Thank you, Please call, write, or email Virginia Beach City Council immediately and let them know you care about wildlife and support Wildlife Response's bid. Thank you for caring about our wild neighbors! Virginia Beach City Council contact information: Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (email address for all City Council members) Individual Council Members: |
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