Professional, polite and well-spoken, Julie Virga is a powerhouse. She’s relentless, determined and uncompromising.
She doesn’t mince words or pull punches when advocating for Sacramento’s dogs and cats. She requests meetings with city officials, sets agendas and gets attention.
A Sacramento native, Virga has rescued, fostered and rehomed countless animals, and volunteered as a foster parent for the city’s Front Street Animal Shelter.
The trees can breathe easier, for now.
A U.S. district court temporarily stopped the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from clearing hundreds of trees and miles of vegetation along the lower American River to make way for erosion-control work.
In granting the temporary injunction, the court found the plaintiffs would likely suffer “irreparable harm,” including the ability to use the affected portion of the river for recreation, such as hiking, dog walking and observing wildlife.
The dais seat reserved for the head of Front Street Animal Shelter has been occupied by someone else at the past two Animal Wellbeing Commission meetings.
Front Street Manager Phillip Zimmerman has been absent. Apparently, he’s not ill or out of town. He’s a lame-duck leader who chooses not to attend.
Zimmerman posted on social media he plans to retire in May. Meanwhile, he’s still on the city payroll, but often missing in action.
The dog’s graying muzzle proves she’s no youngster. She’s been bred so many times her swollen nipples hang down.
The cat’s scarred face is evidence of too much time on the street. He’s wary of strangers but warms up quickly.
No aggression. No medical problems.
Buttercup lives on a 3-foot tether in a homeless camp near Downtown. The tan, mixed-breed dog is 3 years old. She’s had three litters—24 puppies.
Buttercup is one of three dozen dogs who have lived and died in a lineup of tattered tents off Highway 160 over the last three years.
In that time, 155 puppies were born. Forty-nine died, 65 were sold or traded, 25 are gone.
“Gone means the puppies just disappeared,” Debbie Tillotson says.
