What is a no-kill shelter? One would think it means that every animal being cared for by an animal welfare organization will either find a home or live until the natural end of his life. However, the term means different things to different people ,and there is no certifying body that bestows the no-kill label.
There are two common definitions of a no-kill shelter.
The first definition is: A shelter where all healthy and treatable animals are saved. Unfortunately, not everyone agrees on what a “healthy and treatable” animal is. For example, some organizations euthanize cats that have feline leukemia virus because they deem them “untreatable,” whereas other organizations, including the Brown County Humane Society, treat and find homes for those animals.
The second common definition is: A shelter with a 90-percent “live release rate” — meaning that nine of every 10 animals admitted leaves alive.” (Some organizations define it as 95 percent live release.”) This definition is easily measurable, but doesn’t seem to really live up to the idea of no-kill.
The ability to attain no-kill status varies drastically depending on the type of organization. For those that only accept the animals that they know they can find homes for, this is easy. These are called limited-admission shelters, where they selectively choose which animals to admit.
Organizations that are bound by contract or government regulations and must accept every animal brought to them are referred to as open-admission shelters. For those organizations, becoming no-kill is a bigger challenge.
The Brown County Humane Society is an open-admission shelter that meets both definitions of no-kill.
Our live release rate has been above 95 percent for over eight years (and over 97 percent for five years). We have programs in place to treat sick and injured animals. Old animals are given the chance to be adopted. Those too sick for adoption are placed into foster hospice homes. Tiny kittens and puppies are placed in foster homes where they can be cared for around the clock. Behaviorally challenged animals are worked with by knowledgeable staff or transferred to other organizations with training resources.
At the Brown County Humane Society, animals are only euthanized if their pain cannot be managed, if they aren’t enjoying their lives, or if they are too dangerous to live safely in society and no safe place can be found for them.
The next time someone talks about a no-kill shelter, be sure to dig a little deeper and see how they define no-kill.
— Brown County Humane Society
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WHAT: Games, contests, shopping and more
WHEN: 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 20
WHERE: Deer Run Park, 1001 Deer Run Lane, Nashville
COST: $15 per dog ($20 after May 15); buy tickets online or at the event at bchumane.org.
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