VFBF News Lead: Animal control officers get training on ag animal care

*News Leads are the weekly top agriculture stories written by Farm Bureau's Communications Department and sent to local newspapers and TV stations around the state as a news release. This story was released on Oct. 20.



Photo by USDA

RICHMOND—Virginia animal control officers are receiving training on agriculture animal care standards that were approved by the 2011 General Assembly.

“We want them to know how to enforce the new animal care standards law,” said Dr. Daniel Kovich, program manager for the Office of Animal Care and Health Policy within the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Since the legislation passed in April, Kovich has been meeting with animal control officers so they are aware of the new law, know how to apply it, and understand how to educate the public about animal welfare.