Thanks to Michelle Ray from the Kentucky Humane Society for this article.  She helped clarify the difference between “no kill shelters” and “kill shelters” for me.  I had a tendency towards supporting shelters that were labeled “no kill”, but now I know that all legitimate shelters need our help.  Read on to find out more…

Each year, endless streams of companion animals find themselves on the doorstep of an animal welfare organization, and every day there are dedicated people working tirelessly to help these homeless dogs, cats, puppies and kittens find a better life. There are several such groups in Louisville, and they vary in size, scope of programs, number of pets saved and operating policies. Yet, all of these worthy groups strive toward the same end — the alleviation of animal suffering.  One of these groups is an organization that I have chosen to lead, the Kentucky Humane Society (KHS).

Those affiliated with a humane group often use industry jargon, using terms such as open admissions, selective intake, “no kill” shelter and “kill” shelter. These terms are often confusing and sometimes misleading to the average citizen, as they simply refer to an agency’s intake policy.

Open admissions facilities (“kill” shelters) choose, or are mandated by local ordinance, to take in any companion animal regardless of age, health, temperament or space. They are there for all pet owners, even if it means making difficult decisions once the pet is relinquished — the philosophy being that there is more suffering for unwanted, unloved strays out on the streets than in a sheltering environment. KHS humanely euthanizes less than two percent of animals due to shelter overcrowding, but we are striving to make that statistic zero percent. For now, we provide this humane, respectful service to these animals who otherwise would be turned away from “no kill” shelters and possibly left to die on the streets. While our euthanasia rate is extraordinarily low compared to other open admission shelters like ours, we won’t be satisfied until every adoptable pet finds a home.

“No kill” shelters are also referred to as selective intake or limited admissions facilities. Such agencies typically accept pets only if space is available, if they pass age, health and behavior criteria, and also have a high likelihood of being adopted. Pets brought to these shelters that don’t fit their criteria are declined acceptance, and owners may be referred to an open admissions facility.

To be honest, names and jargon are meaningless.  It’s time that we, as a community, face the hard fact that we have a pet overpopulation crisis. Simply put, there are too many pets and not enough homes. But, together, we can eradicate this problem in three simple ways.

First, spay or neuter your pet. According to Spay USA, one un-spayed female dog and her offspring can reproduce 67,000 puppies in six years, and one un-spayed female cat and her offspring can reproduce up to 11,600,000 kittens in nine years. Those statistics are staggering, but we can stop this seemingly endless cycle, if more people choose to spay and neuter their pets. Not only will an altered pet live three to five years longer, but more importantly, a spayed or neutered animal will help prevent thousands of unwanted pets in the future.

Second, more people need to choose the “adoption option” when looking to add a pet to their family. According to the Humane Society of the United States, less than 20 percent of people acquire their pet from a sheltering agency. With 80 percent of people going elsewhere, it’s obvious that we need to make more people aware of the benefits of adopting a canine or feline friend.

Last year, KHS set a new record by placing 6,018 dogs and cats in homes. While we are proud of this accomplishment, there is still so much work to be done. More people need to know that the “adoption option” is not only a great deal financially, but most importantly, it means a homeless pet is getting a second chance at happiness. People who adopt from a shelter help make a difference not just for that one animal they adopted, but for the other pets who come to shelters needing help…and a chance at finding a home.

And lastly, we must teach the next generation of pet owners to be responsible through humane education programs. In 2008, KHS educated more than 4,500 children via summer camps, in-classroom programs and Girl Scout workshops. The more children and young adults we can reach, as a community, the more likely they will embrace kindness, respect and compassion towards all companion animals.

So, what exactly is in a name?  As long as there’s a single animal welfare agency in town that is forced to euthanize an adoptable pet simply because there is no room at their shelter or no home available, then the name “no kill” is a bit of a misnomer.

Our goal as compassionate and humane citizens should not be to live in a community where there is a “no kill” shelter, but rather to live in a “no kill” community.  Let’s all work together to achieve that goal and create a better place for our furry friends and all who love them.

Lori Redmon, President/CEO

Kentucky Humane Society

Related posts:

1. Top Five Reasons to Adopt a Dog
2. The Best Summer Camp EVER!
3. Adopt a Stuffed Pet to Help a Real One