A Virginia Board of Pharmacy committee decided on Wednesday to fine the Danville Area Humane Society $500 for violating state code in its euthanasia recordkeeping.
The animal shelter, the only one in Danville, will also be required to undergo a random inspection within the next 12 months, and then once every three years. The shelter must also pay for the inspections.
At a hearing in Richmond, the board, which regulates pharmacy licenses and controlled substances for animal shelters, concluded that the shelter violated state code in failing to maintain proper records for animals that were put down through euthanasia. The violations affected more than 1,800 animals in 2023.
The shelter has come under fire once again this year for its high euthanasia rates, which are historically far above state averages. In 2025, the shelter euthanized 59% of the animals in its care, about 6.5 times higher than the state average. Still, the 2025 figure is lower than the shelter’s 2024 rate of 65% and its 2023 rate of 78%.
The shelter was found liable for every allegation made by the board — which included failing to document the name and strength of sedatives used before euthanasia, not using the correct dosages for euthanasia drugs and not taking proper inventory of controlled drugs for over two years. Additionally, two employees performed euthanasia without being properly certified.
Shelter officials previously stated on Facebook that they would resolve the matter by paying a $500 fine and signing an agreement.
“We initially chose to attend the hearing so we could update the board on changes we have made to our recordkeeping practices,” the post said. “However, after learning that the hearing could be attended, recorded, shared and misrepresented publicly, we decided not to expose our staff to that process.”
And yet, the hearing still occurred.
On top of the monetary fine and additional inspections, the shelter committed to changing its practices so that they are in line with state code, including changing the recordkeeping processes and ensuring employees are properly certified to induce euthanasia.
Paulette Dean, the shelter’s longtime director, said she was satisfied with the outcome of the hearing. She said they will be happy to pay the penalty, take accountability and move forward.
“Changes have been made, problem solved,” Dean said.
A group of concerned Danville residents who attended the hearing were hoping for a harsher punishment from the board — which could have placed the shelter on probation or revoked its registration.
The group created the website to detail their own independent investigation of the shelter. They argue that the board’s allegations, and the penalty it assigned, only scratch the surface of what they believe are ongoing wrongdoings at the shelter.
“Every other Virginia locality has a shelter, that taxpayers pay for, that has the animals’ best interest in mind, except for us,” said Tonya Martin, who attended the hearing and has been outspoken against the shelter for years. “We have a shelter that wants to kill as many innocent and adoptable animals as possible.”
The residents, who filed some of the complaints that led to the hearing, said they will continue putting public pressure on the Danville shelter.
“Those animals did not get justice today, but their time for justice will come, because we’re not stopping,” Martin said.
Reporter Grace Mamon contributed to this story.
