Why aren't all animal shelters no-kill?

Question

This might be a stupid question.. sorry. Is it just because some have more money to afford to keep all the dogs? I would think more people would bring animals to the no-kill, which would cause over-crowding. There is a no-kill animal shelter here in Austin where I live and I think it's a really wonderful concept.

thanks everyone. sometimes it hurts to love animals so much (i know it sounds weird but i'm sure you understand).

this was kind of a stupid question, but i appreciate that no one really pointed that out. :) i appreciate all of your insight.

Answer 1

I work with a humane society and we are careful not to use the term because it is misleading and not helpful. County shelters have to take every single animal that comes through the door - whether or not they are sick, feral or aggressive or have other problems that make them difficult to adopt. Space does not allow these shelters to keep all these animals - there are way too many animals and not enough homes. Private shelters and humane societies can pick and choose the animals they accept - for example we screen animals for aggressive behavior and bite history and we don't take animals with terminal illnesses or other illnesses that would result in a lifespan less than a year. Some (not ours) won't take older animals. By doing this, they choose the most adoptable animals and don't have to euthanize often. Even with doing this, some animals end up being euthanized because they get sick or don't do well in a shelter environment and develop aggression. Also lifelong sheltering is not quality of life for an animal.

I have a lot of respect for people who work in the county shelters - they have a really hard job that someone has to do - they are animal lovers and not the bad guys. Bottom line - too many animals not enough homes. That's why it's important to spay and neuter and reduce the number of unwanted animals.

Answer 2

yes, you are correct. some shelters have over crowding. this is the #1 reason they do put animals to sleep after a certian number of days. you would think that some people would bring their pets to no-kill shelters, but those facilities do become crowded and sometimes need to be moved to other shelters. also, when pets escape from homes and end up being found by someone, they will probably bring the animal to the pound. the people who no longer want pets bring their animals to no-kill shelters, but those who find one off the street will bring them to a pound. part of the reason for this may be that the pound is the 1st place people would look, or at least for me. i would check non-killing shelters first to be sure that my animal wouldn't be put to sleep. in some places, people can't get to humane societies, so they bring their anilams to a pound. certian people have their certian reasons. i do not like ponds and i saved 4 males before they were sent to the pound. i hope this was helpful!!

Answer 3

I know what you mean! I wish they all were. If only people would stop breeding. That's why I only adopt my pets from shelters and pounds. The main reason for it is that they are running out of room. There are so many dogs that are brought in, many no-kill shelters are becoming full. Therefore, pounds take them. The pound near me actually has a section where they have the healthy pets and they are not ever put down. The other area is for the ill ones who usually are put to sleep. It's sooo sad.


Also, the humane society here isn't bad at all. The animals are happy and they are well fed. Not all humane societies are like that though.

Answer 4

Most don't have that luxury. No kill shelters should be called "limited entry" shelters. They simply can not take all the animals brought to them, for lack of space, funding, and volunteers to care for them all. Most no-kill shelters are decent, and are staffed by very passionate, well-meaning people, but I personally do not agree that they are always right. I have been involved in rescue for over 20 years, and after all that time I would rather see an animal humanely euthanized than agonizing in a small cramped kennel for too long. Granted, I wish they all had at least 6 months or more to find a home, but I have seen the problems that come from too little socialization, too small spaces, and too much time.

Another problem I have with no-kill shelters is that, again due to lack of space, they grade animals. A small dog? No problem, they are "highly adoptable". A mid-sized dog? Is it purebred? Is it pretty enough? Already well trained? Well, maybe. A large dog? Not unless it is a highly desired breed. And no black dogs, already have too many. No Labs, already have our fill. No dogs that have an illness, even a treatable one, because it will take too long to adopt it out........
The list goes on. Of course, you have to understand that they really don't WANT to restrict which dogs come in, but they have to.

Shelters that take in all animals are the down and dirty shelters. They are the ones who have to deal with aggresive animals, animals that aren't "cute and fluffy", one's that are sick, neglected and abused. They are usually goverment(city or county) funded. They HAVE to put down animals, they quickly get too many. And they have the highest burn out rate. And they don't get as many volunteers. And they often hear, "You must hate animals, cause I could never work here", usually said by someone dumping an animal that is doomed. And they are looked down on by other rescuers because they kill animals. And they are frequently nasty and hateful to other people because of it! They euthanize animals to keep them from dieing of neglect, abuse, being hit by cars, shot, or any of the other horrible ways animals die on the street. It takes a special person to put aside their feelings and truelly do what is best for another living creature.

Answer 5

No kill shelters are fablious places & if I had my way all of the shelters would be no kill
- but sadly we live in a reality of superfical / animal exploiting individuals that recklessly allow & promote the breeding of animals & allow one altered dogs, cats, gerbals etc to come in contact with the opposite sex & volia 10 furry children
& if those 10 furry children each have 5 furry children of their own we now are takling

the orginal 2 plus their 10 kids buls 5 kids each = thats 62 more animals in the world - & animals can breed MANY times a year & for many years
Sadly shelters kill animals they feel won't be adopted or have outlived their welcome - they ' make room' sor new ones who are being reclesly bred/ purposly or accidently - it all adds up

Most no kill shelters suprisingly have little to no funding -- they just care about animals an d some use foster homes till perminant ones can be found. Which helps other animals out too.

Answer 6

Well, if every shelter could be no-kill, they probably would be. Many just don't have the money. Especially in big cites, New York .i.e. because so many people are abusing their dogs and making them fight, there are too many. That's another reason. There's not enough space.
I agree with you that no kill animal shelters are WONDERFUL things.

Answer 7

While it sounds good, "no kill" isn't literally NO kill. It is a term that is used to describe a place where there are no "adoptable" dogs killed. Adoptable is defined differently by most places, but generally, non-adoptable encompasses the elderly, the chronically ill, and the behaviorally defecient. Also "No kills" very often turn animals away due to not having space. Our local shelter now turns away many animals while some dogs are there for a year or more. The ones turned away wind up killed anyway, whether humanely by a vet or shot, or drowned, or turned loose to get hit by cars and starve.

I admire the concept, but am a little put off by the methods that shelters use to define themselves as 'no kill'.

Answer 8

Most shelters can't afford and don't have the space not to kill anything. There are way too many homeless pets out there. Most no-kill shelters are not very good places. They're overcrowded and the animals are underfed and sick. If they all had lots and lots of money then no kill shelters would be great, but unfortunately that's not possible.

Answer 9

Way too many animals unfortunately. Where would the shelters put them all? There are literally MILLIONS killed every year in this country simply because there are not enough homes. Something to think about before breeding, huh?

Answer 10

The truth of the matter is: all in how you feel about it...If you ever research the no kill pets...They are left in cages until they go kennel crazy..I have seen this..They go around and around in circles all day, non stop..They are not adoptable...They go crazy..That is why other shelters put them to sleep..They feel it is more humane than to let the pet suffer from going crazy..No kill is what I would like to see..But only one place I know of does not kill, or put them in kennels..They live there like they live with you or me.. That is Bestfriends in the west...you can see their website a www.bestfriends.com...I give to them all the time. Send toys for pets, etc. You can even adopt one and send money and stuff for its care...People go there all the time to help care for them from all over the U.S. But regular no kill kennels are inhumane..If you don't believe me go see one where the pets have been shut up for a long time...Now that is sad...They have no one to pet them or love them, or talk to them...Just a cage and no life..then no mind....