Can We Be A "No Kill" The Nation?

Several large animal welfare organizations are working with animal shelters and rescues across the country to build a solid foundation on which other shelters and rescue to work towards creating a "no kill" the nation.

Maddie's Fund has developed a plan and is providing funding to coalitions of shelters and rescue to help them join the "no kill" movement. Animal control agencies, traditional shelters and adoption organizations guarantees are all driven by Maddie's Fund to combine the talents and resources to end the killing of healthy and treatable dogs and cats in the next 10 years.

Over the years there have been many definitions of "no kill" shelters. Animal welfare organizations across the country are now nearing agreement on a universal definition.

"Do not kill" does not mean that animals are not slaughtered for housing. If an animal is determined rehabilitatable intractable or not-after a series of tests and often a decision of the Committee, the animal must be slaughtered humanely end his suffering. These animals are considered unadoptable due to serious chronic health problems or signs of behavioral or temperamental defect that could be considered a security risk.

Most animals are considered adoptable and placed in the category of guaranteed approval. Animal Adoption guaranteed to leave the shelter to go to their forever home, moving to a foster home for socialization more, transfer to a breed rescue or be adopted as a service dog for the job of law , disability assistance, or therapy.

Most "no kill" shelters are non-profit organizations not affiliated with any government agency. These shelters operate on donations, fundraising and grants. Adoption fees typically cover the daily care of animals at the shelter. "No kill" shelters often rely on the help of volunteers, who are much more likely to go to a shelter where animals are much more likely to be adopted and not euthanasia.

Apart from finding homes for healthy animals, adoptable, "no kill" shelters are working diligently to reduce the number of homeless animals. This is done by reducing the number of stray animals in a community strongly encouraging pet owners have their animals spayed or neutered. Financial assistance is often offered to low income citizens and seniors. All animals that leave a "no kill" shelter are spayed or neutered.

Education and assistance are also provided to pet owners who have pets with behavioral problems. In most cases the problem can be solved and animals maintained in the home.

With more specific plans and a common goal, to ensure the adoption of a nation can become a reality in the next 10 years. This effort will require the assistance of the general public to become pet owners more responsible. The key to get to a manageable number of homeless animals is to have all pet dogs and cats spayed or neutered.