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What it means to be a no-kill community
A no-kill community acts on the belief that every dog and cat deserves to live — and focuses on saving lives through pet adoption, spay/neuter, trap-neuter-return and other community support programs. While a percentage is not the goal, a quantitative benchmark can help guide lifesaving efforts. Saving 90 percent or more of the animals who enter shelters is the current benchmark for no-kill. For a community to be considered no-kill, all of its brick and mortar shelters located in the same jurisdiction must aggregate at 90% Save Rate or higher for dogs and cats together, and the municipal shelter providing service to a community must also be independently at a 90% or greater Save Rate. Some more info about no-kill:
Getting to no-kill is as important to shelter workers as it is for the animals they love and care for every day. In fact, shelters are vital partners in achieving no-kill status in a community.
No-kill means rehabilitating animals whenever possible; indeed, many unwanted behaviors can be successfully treated. The no-kill principle doesn’t condone placing truly dangerous animals in a situation where they likely could cause further harm to the public.
Long-term sanctuary care that provides companionship, enrichment, care and exercise can be an option for the small portion of animals unable to find homes. Communication and goodwill between shelters and sanctuaries helps foster these partnerships.
The no-kill principle supports true euthanasia — that is, ending the life of an animal in order to end irremediable suffering. It does not support the killing of healthy or otherwise treatable animals to make space for other animals.
Each community is collectively responsible for its decisions regarding homeless pets and for creating safe, humane environments for the people and pets who live in them.
Lifesaving Progress Around the Country
How you can help
Every day in communities around the country, individuals like you are taking the first step toward creating a brighter future for homeless pets. And you, too, can help cats and dogs in your community by working with legislators to pass a no-kill resolution — a great way to garner attention and support for saving animals’ lives.
