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By Jenna Berry Have you ever walked into a humane society’s shelter area? If you have, you know the feeling you get all too well – your stomach drops, your heart swells, you feel the need to save them all… Even if you haven’t, I’m sure you can still imagine those eyes, looking at you full of hope, loneliness, and sorrow. Now imagine the worst-case scenario – those potential companions are killed, simply because no one wants them or there is not enough room in the shelter for the amount of nonhuman animals coming in those doors with you. Wouldn’t you stop that if you could? That is why I choose to support no-kill shelters, where no healthy or treatable nonhuman animals are euthanized. If a nonhuman animal has the potential to be someone’s companion, it’s worth it to give them a greater chance at life. A Heinz57 Pet Rescue & Transport defines a no-kill rescue as “an animal shelter that does not kill healthy or treatable animals even when the shelter is full, reserving euthanasia for terminally ill animals or those considered dangerous to public safety,” (Heinz & Maloney, 2018). According to the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), “[a]pproximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year.” Of those, approximately 3.2 million companion animals are adopted each year in the U.S. However, unfortunately, about 1.5 million of them are euthanized (“Shelter intake,” 2018). Doing some quick (and approximate) math, this leaves around 1.8 million of the companion animals brought into shelters each year with no home, not to mention the ones already there. Even if a nonhuman animal’s life isn’tat risk, wouldn’t it be nice to give them a home?
In a traditional shelter, all nonhuman animals are accepted regardless of their health, temperament, or the space available (Heinz, 2018). Unfortunately, in kill shelters, those who are unadoptable for any reason or that have been in the shelter for “too long” are then euthanized. Time periods for these companions can vary; as stated from one shelter, ARMAC, “If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed,” (“A dose of reality,” 2018). This may seem like a somewhat reasonable way to deal with overpopulation of nonhuman animals; without kill shelters, it’s very likely overpopulation would be a big problem. However, no-kill shelters could eventually eliminate a need for puppy mills and other sorts of breeding farms – which largely contribute to the mass quantities of nonhuman animals we have available. If we learned to adopt rather than purchase companion animals from pet stores or breeders, they would no longer be needed. The apparent “shortage” of dogs or other nonhuman animals that people think we have is due to many people wanting only a newborn (like a puppy or a kitten), maybe of a specific breed, while older companions and beautifully mixed mutts sit in shelters without a home. If we encourage future human companions and caretakers to find their nonhuman counterparts in shelters, people would still be able to have a loveable companion animal and inhumane breeders would lose their large market. In order to dispel any uncertainties about no-kill shelters, it is important to clarify that some companion animals within them areeuthanized. However, this only happens when the nonhuman animal is irremediably suffering or is a threat to society in any way, such as being extremely aggressive in several cases. If a companion animal is irremediably sufferingit means it has “a poor or grave prognosis for being able to live without severe, unremitting physical pain even with prompt, necessary, and comprehensive veterinary care,” (“Statistics,” 2018). In those cases, it is only humane to euthanize them so they are no longer in pain. The nonhuman animals that are euthanized for being a too aggressive are only done so once it has been made clear in several cases that it is not a fixable behavior, so in order to protect other animals (human and nonhuman) they must be put down. Because of this, the term “no-kill” may be slightly misleading, but “no-unreasonable-kill” shelters may not catch on as well, so it’s the best fit. In any situation where someone may have to give up a companion animal – moving somewhere, can’t afford to take care of it, etc. – it would be best if they bring them to a no-kill shelter. Walking in the doors of a kill shelter with your companion animal nearly guarantees their death. Giving up a companion is hard enough as it is; make sure they’re going somewhere safe and caring. Do some research into shelters in your area, or feel free to visit them and ask questions. Our nonhuman counterparts are important to us; treat them as such no matter where they are. It’s very important for anyone looking for a companion animal that they check shelters before pet stores, and keep an open mind in which one you’d like to bring into your home. Some companions just need a second chance to be better, and you’d be making a world of a difference for them. Plus, adopting an animal from a shelter – whether it’s a traditional shelter or a no-kill – will free up another space for an animal in need. Change their lives by helping to save their lives! References A dose of reality: What happens to dogs in shelters. (2018, October 28). Akita Rescue Mid-Atlantic Coast Inc. Retrieved from https://akitarescue.rescuegroups.org/info/display?PageID=3247. Allen, G. (2014, December 31). National Public Radio.Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2014/12/31/374218425/no-kill-shelters-save-millions-of-unwanted-pets-but-not-all-of-them. ASPCA. (2018). American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved fromhttps://www.aspca.org. Heinz, A., & Maloney, L. (2018). No kill vs traditional shelters. AHeinz57 Pet Rescue and Transport. Retrieved from https://www.aheinz57.com/no-kill-vs-traditional-shelters/. Puppy mills – A closer look at puppy mills. (2018). American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/animal-cruelty/puppy-mills/closer-look-puppy-mills-old. Shelter intake and surrender - Pet statistics. (2018). American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/animal-homelessness/shelter-intake-and-surrender/pet-statistics. Statistics. (2018). No Kill Advocacy Center. Retrieved from www.nokilladvocacycenter.org/statistics.html. Comments are closed.
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This is a website about nonhuman animals, written by human animals taking a Society and Animals class at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Archives
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