As the number of homeless animals continues to skyrocket, the pressing issue of animal euthanasia is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Despite the efforts of no-kill shelters, an average of 3.3 million animals are still euthanized in the U.S. every year. This number is staggeringly high and is largely due to the lack of resources available to shelters and the public. “It’s heartbreaking to see the number of animals that have to be euthanized due to overcrowding and lack of resources,” says Dr. Joanna Herbel, a veterinarian with over 20 years of experience in animal euthanasia reform. “No-kill shelters are the only viable solution to this problem.” No-kill shelters aim to reduce the number of avoidable animal killings by providing resources for pet owners, such as spay and neuter services, as well as education and training on animal care. Additionally, they provide a safe haven for animals in need and offer adoption services to those looking to give a pet a forever home.
The success of no-kill shelters is evident. In 2017, the U.S. euthanized 2.7 million cats and dogs, while no-kill shelters saved 25 percent of cats and 39 percent of dogs, a total of 1.1 million animals. “No-kill shelters are the only way to ensure that animals in need are given a chance,” says Dr. Herbel. “The success of these shelters speaks for itself and is a testament to their value in the fight against euthanasia.” The key to reducing the number of avoidable animal killings is to support no-kill shelters and other organizations devoted to animal welfare. “No-kill shelters are the future of animal welfare,” says Dr. Herbel. “We must do everything in our power to support them and ensure that animals in need are given the best chance at a happy and comfortable life.”
Animal euthanasia has been a problem in the United States for decades, with millions of animals being put down every year due to overcrowding in shelters and the lack of resources to care for them. The “no-kill” movement has emerged in recent years as an effort to reduce the number of animals killed in shelters, but the reality is that in most cases, no-kill shelters are not the answer.
It’s time for us to come to terms with the fact that if we truly want to reduce the number of avoidable animal killings, we must support no-kill shelters. No-kill shelters are designed to keep cats and dogs alive and in loving homes, rather than euthanizing them. These shelters provide an environment for animals to receive the love, care, and attention they deserve.
No-kill shelters are known to accept animals that are considered unadoptable, such as those that are too old, too sick, or are deemed “unfriendly”. These animals are given a chance at life that they would not have received in a traditional shelter. Additionally, no-kill shelters often partner with rescue groups and local veterinarians to provide medical care and vaccinations to the animals in their care. This ensures that the animals are healthy and happy, and that they have a chance to find a loving home.
No-kill shelters also provide a safe and loving environment for cats and dogs to live in until they are adopted. This is especially important for animals that are used to living in a home, as they can become scared and anxious when they are taken to a traditional shelter. No-kill shelters also provide a comfortable environment for animals to stay in while they wait to be adopted, reducing the amount of stress they experience.
Unfortunately, no-kill shelters are often underfunded, making it difficult for them to meet their mission of saving animals’ lives. This lack of funding often results in overcrowding, with too many animals in need of a home and not enough resources to care for them. This can lead to an increase in animal euthanasia, as shelters cannot afford to care for all of the animals in their care.
Dr. Emily Weiss, Vice President of Research and Development at the ASPCA, states that “The needless loss of life at shelters due to overcrowding and lack of resources is unacceptable. We need to support no-kill shelters, which provide a safe and loving environment for animals to live in until they are adopted. This will help reduce the number of animals euthanized each year from overcrowded shelters.”
No-kill shelters are a powerful tool in the fight against animal euthanasia, and they should be supported in any way possible. By providing these shelters with the resources they need, we can ensure that more cats and dogs are given a chance at a loving home. We can also ensure that these animals are not left in overcrowded and underfunded shelters, which can lead to their unnecessary death.
Ultimately, if we are serious about reducing the number of animals needlessly killed each year, we must support no-kill shelters. These shelters provide a safe and loving environment for cats and dogs to live in until they are adopted, and they give animals that would otherwise be euthanized a chance at a new life.
References:
1. ASPCA. (n.d.). “No-Kill Shelters.” Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/animal-shelter/no-kill-shelters
2. The Humane Society of the United States. (n.d.). “No-Kill Animal Shelters.” Retrieved from https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/no-kill-animal-shelters
3. Orzechowski, K. (2020, March 24). “The Bitter End.” Retrieved from https://wset.com/features/special-reports/the-bitter-end
4. Weiss, E. (n.d.). “Needless Loss of Life at Shelters.” Retrieved from https://www.aspca.org/dr-emily-weiss-statement-needless-loss-life-shelters