Please include a metric in the final version of 2 VAC 5-115 “Regulations for Determining Whether a Facility Meets the Purpose of Finding Per manent Adoptive Homes for Animals.”  The currently proposed regulations do not include a metric.  A metric must be added to ensure the intent of SB 1381 which passed by a super majority in the 2015 General Assembly and enjoyed tremendous public support.  The regulations should require that a private animal shelter adopt out (or transfer for the purpose of adoption) at least 50% of the animals brought in, and may not euthanize more than 50% of the animals in their care.  All but one of Virginia’s private shelters save the lives of the overwhelming majority of animals in their care.  This metric would be very simple to implement due to Virginia’s progressive shelter and rescue reporting requirements.  Each shelter and rescue – including all of the private shelters – must report intake and disposition information to VDACS for every animal they take into custod y each year.  One of the specific dispositions tracked is the number of adoptions.  Therefore, VDACS already has this information readily available.  I ask you to please include this metric in the final regulations to ensure that all private shelters in Virginia operate in a way that reflects the legislative intent and the public trust.