| Several large animal welfare organizations are working | | | | be adopted as a service dogfor law enforcement, |
| with animal sheltersand rescues around the country | | | | handicap assistance, or therapy work. |
| to build a solid base upon which othershelters and | | | | Most "no-kill" shelters are nonprofit organizations that |
| rescues can work toward creating a "no-kill" nation. | | | | are not associatedwith any government agency. |
| Maddie's Fund has developed a plan and is providing | | | | These shelters operate on donations, fundraising, and |
| funding to coalitions ofshelters and rescues to assist | | | | grant funding. Adoption fees often cover the |
| them in joining the "no-kill" movement. | | | | expenses of thedaily care of the animals in the |
| Animal control agencies, traditional shelters, and | | | | shelter. "No-kill" shelters often rely onthe help of |
| adoption guaranteeorganizations are all encouraged | | | | volunteers who are much more likely to assist a |
| by Maddie's Fund to combine talents andresources to | | | | shelter wherethe animals are much more likely to be |
| end the killing of healthy and treatable dogs and cats | | | | adopted and not euthanized. |
| within the next 10 years. | | | | Aside from finding homes for healthy, adoptable |
| Over the years there have been many definitions of | | | | animals, "no-kill" shelterswork diligently to reduce the |
| "no-kill" shelters. | | | | number of homeless animals. This is done byreducing |
| Animal welfare organizations around the country are | | | | the number of stray animals in a community by |
| now moving closer toagreement on a universal | | | | strongly encouragingpet owners to have their animals |
| definition. | | | | spayed or neutered. Financial assistanceis often |
| "No-kill" does not mean animals are never euthanized | | | | offered to elderly and low income citizens. All animals |
| by the shelter. If ananimal is determined untreatable | | | | that leavea "no-kill" shelter are spayed or neutered. |
| or non-rehabilitatable after a battery oftests and | | | | Education and assistance are also provided to pet |
| often a committee decision, the animal will be | | | | owners that have pets withbehavioral problems. In |
| humanely euthanizedto end its suffering. These | | | | most cases the problem can be resolved and |
| animals are considered to be unadoptable due | | | | theanimal kept in the home. |
| toserious chronic health problems or signs of | | | | With more specified plans and a shared goal, an |
| behavioral or temperamentaldefects that would be | | | | adoption guarantee nationmay become a reality |
| considered a safety risk. | | | | within the next 10 years. This effort will require |
| Most animals will be considered adoptable and will be | | | | theassistance of the general public by becoming more |
| placed into theadoption guaranteed category. | | | | responsible pet owners. |
| Adoption guaranteed animals may leave theshelter to | | | | The key to reaching a manageable number of |
| go to their forever home, move into a foster home | | | | homeless animals is having allcompanion dogs and cats |
| for furthersocialization, transfer to a breed rescue, or | | | | spayed or neutered. |