Most leaders of the movement would describe the no-kill philosophy as a commitment to ensuring that every dog and cat who is ready to be placed has the opportunity to live in a safe, loving home for its lifetime. To do this, no-kill organizations emphasize increasing in the demand for shelter pets and reducing the supply being born when tackling the problem of too many animals and not enough homes. Innovative adoption and spay/neuter programs are essential to reaching this goal.
Supporters of this philosophy point out that no-kill doesn’t mean a complete end to euthanasia. But no-kill does end the killing of dogs and cats as a management tool to control pet overpopulation. No-kill means that no healthy, adoptable animals will be killed simply because they are homeless.
“When we reach the juncture where adoptable (healthy) shelter animals can be guaranteed a home throughout the nation, Maddie's Fund will then focus its resources on funding programs to rehabilitate the sick, injured and poorly behaved, knowing that when these animals are whole again, there will be a home waiting for them,” according to Richard Avanzino, president of the foundation that has put $240 million behind creating a no-kill nation.
The evolution of a no-kill nation happens in stages. First, save all “adoptable” animals – dogs and cats at least 8 weeks old who are healthy and reasonably well-adjusted. This category includes animals that may be elderly, deaf, blind, scarred, disfigured or disabled. Then, save all “treatable” animals – dogs and cats who could become adoptable with reasonable medical treatment or behavior modification. This category includes sick, injured, traumatized, infant and unsocialized animals.
For “non-rehabilitatable” animals, euthanasia may still be the most humane alternative. These animals may be suffering from an incurable, painful disease or injury, or they may have a history of vicious behavior so severe and irreversible that they pose a threat to public safety. In San Francisco, a community that is already saving its adoptable and treatable animals, the euthanasia rate is less than 5 percent – all non-rehabilitatable animals for whom humane euthanasia was the only option.
Supporters of this philosophy point out that no-kill doesn’t mean a complete end to euthanasia. But no-kill does end the killing of dogs and cats as a management tool to control pet overpopulation. No-kill means that no healthy, adoptable animals will be killed simply because they are homeless.
“When we reach the juncture where adoptable (healthy) shelter animals can be guaranteed a home throughout the nation, Maddie's Fund will then focus its resources on funding programs to rehabilitate the sick, injured and poorly behaved, knowing that when these animals are whole again, there will be a home waiting for them,” according to Richard Avanzino, president of the foundation that has put $240 million behind creating a no-kill nation.
The evolution of a no-kill nation happens in stages. First, save all “adoptable” animals – dogs and cats at least 8 weeks old who are healthy and reasonably well-adjusted. This category includes animals that may be elderly, deaf, blind, scarred, disfigured or disabled. Then, save all “treatable” animals – dogs and cats who could become adoptable with reasonable medical treatment or behavior modification. This category includes sick, injured, traumatized, infant and unsocialized animals.
For “non-rehabilitatable” animals, euthanasia may still be the most humane alternative. These animals may be suffering from an incurable, painful disease or injury, or they may have a history of vicious behavior so severe and irreversible that they pose a threat to public safety. In San Francisco, a community that is already saving its adoptable and treatable animals, the euthanasia rate is less than 5 percent – all non-rehabilitatable animals for whom humane euthanasia was the only option.
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