Why are some shelters "no kill" shelters, but most arent'? Are the no-kill ones privately funded and

Question

the regular humane society ones funded just through donations? On average, how long do dogs/cats get to be in a shelter before they are killed? 1 month?

Answer 1

No-kill shelters
Most nonprofit no-kill shelters are privately run. They are not associated with any government, operate on donations and fund-raising projects, work closely with rescue organizations, and try a variety of innovative programs to reduce the numbers of stray animals in the community

Public shelters
Most states have laws regarding the incarceration of stray dogs, vicious dogs, and dogs that are impounded pending outcome of court cases. In many areas, these laws are carried out through contracts with private, nonprofit humane societies; since the contracts require that stray dogs be picked up and held for a minimum number of days, these societies are placed in the untenable position of killing some dogs to make room for others. Thus many healthy, adoptable dogs are euthanized.

Many of these societies also accept dogs and cats surrendered by their owners. These animals are also likely to be euthanized to make room for others if they are not adopted quickly.

Some public shelters are run by city or county governments. They are generally supported by tax dollars and dog licenses and their programs are limited by government budget allotments.

Answer 2

A no kill shelter like the Humane Society will not put a dog down, what they will do is try to find a foster home if they can't find a permanent one right away, not keep the dog in a cage the way you describe, that's what Animal Services does and they never keep dogs very long - they do euthanize those that aren't adopted. I think you are confusing private shelters with public Animal Services, which are kill shelters. Our breed rescue has some dogs which have been in foster for several years, but they are safe and in a home environment, eventually they get adopted or the foster home keeps them. I have adopted 3 older dogs with issues that were not easily adopted - if I have the dog more than 8 months and a good home doesn't come up, I adopt the dog myself. Several of our foster homes have done the same, we never, ever, put dogs down. We've gone dead broke vetting dogs, had 2 that cost thousands and died anyway, but we never, ever put dogs down. I don't know of any breed rescue or private shelter that puts dogs down - just isn't done, we do this work because we want to save dogs. Unfortunately, we get full and can't take any sometimes, but the ones we have are safe --- and not locked up in cages. I might add that our local Humane Society even has a good trainer come in to work with larger, older, less adoptable dogs so that they get some obedience training and are more likely to appeal to adopters. A lot can be done to help older dogs get adopted, there's no reason to warehouse them indefinitely. They also put the dog's story in the newspaper, a different one every week - it all helps.

Answer 3

No kill shelters are usually privately funded, while kill-shelters are funded by the government. As to how long they live, it just depends on the shelter and how many animals they have. I volunteer at a local kill-shelter, but once the animals get put on the adoption floor they stay there until they are placed into a foster home, get adopted, or become too depressed/crazy from being confined in a cage for so long. The dog that we are fostering now was there for at least 7 months, and they are overcrowded. But I've heard of other shelters that have only a 3 day policy.

Answer 4

Most, if not all of the no kill shelters are privately funded. Other shelter's and the "pound" will have varying policies as to how long they keep animals. They also have various ways of "disposing" of the animals. In my town, we have an organization called Planned Pethood. I adopted a puppy from them that was rescued from a "pound" that has a gas chamber. They go like once a month to this location and get all of the animals from this location.

Not sure what is here but here is their website:
http://www.plannedpethood.org/

Answer 5

Most of the no kill shelters I know of are funded by donations. All shelters are different on the amount of time they give an animal to be adopted. It also depends on the animal - some animals are more adoptable then others so they get a longer chance of being adopted.

Answer 6

Depending on the size of your county and how many animals come in and go out, it might be as little as 4 days, or they could stay indefinitely if they are good animals. Our county-run animal control has a 4-day rule, but my mastiff had been there almost 3 weeks. I don't think the pit bulls get that kind of slack. Our SPCA is more donation-funded, and they are no-kill, and keep the critters a long time.

Answer 7

Some shelters give animals as little as 3 days but most try to keep them as long as possible. I know of at least one shelter that puts to sleep every single animal in its facility on Friday afternoon. It doesn't matter if they came in last Saturday or if they came in Friday morning.

Until people quit breeding irresponsibly there is no way that all shelters can be no kill. There is just too much overpopulation and too few people who want 'problem' dogs from shelters.

Answer 8

well, 'no kill' shelters can only claim that title (for the most part) due to the fact that they can and will refuse to take in animals that they think can't be homed in a reasonable amount of time. for example, somebody wants to surrender a dog who seems to be a bit nippy with children. they can just choose to not take him in their shelter and tell them to go elsewhere.

there is also a mid -ground. what we like to call 'low kill' shelters. meaning, animals are only put down if they are beyond repair, suffering, or are a major threat to themselves or others.

and then there are 'high kill' shelters. meaning, they'll take in just about anything, but in some cases, if not homed within sometimes as little as 7 days, they are euthanized.

Answer 9

No kill shelters should be renamed SLOW-kill shelters. when the dog's time is up they send it to a kill shelter were it only has a week to be adopted before their euthanisia date.

Answer 10

I imagine it depends on the individual kennels.