Anyone who works with animals, who help sick, abandoned and abused animals, and try to find homes for them, can tell you that the number of animals needing help are increasing at a staggering rate.  There are so many animals that need help and so few people to do the work.  Humane Investigators serve as a link between Rescue Groups and the Animal Control workers of each county.  The shelter employees are overworked and there are simply too many animals needing help and not enough employees or money to make a dent in the situation.  As a member of the Northern Neck Humane Society, my husband and I get telephone calls all the time from people reporting abused and neglected animals and looking for someone to help these pitiful creatures.  We can only do so much.  If we had a Humane Investigator who is sanctioned by the State, they would be able to go to these places and check on the situation and even be able to remove these animals from these horrible conditions that too many animals are forced to endure.  The Humane Investigator could fill in that position between the Humane Society and the Animal Control Officer.  Humane Investigators are unpaid volunteers who simply want to help animals.  I can see no reason to eliminate this position as it only serves to help those who cannot help themselves.   The people who choose to take the training, using their time and money, should be encourged to do so.  I don't see how the state of Virginia could view this as anything but an asset to them and not something they are seeking to do away with.  Please vote to keep Humane Investigators.  It is a matter of conscience and concern for so many animals who need all the help they can get.