Muchacho at the Coquitlam Animal Shelter Thankfully, there are many who have shown by example how to become no kill. This is where healthy and treatable companion animals, including feral cats, are safe in the hands of the animal control authority. In some places, a city became no kill after a rescue group competed for the animal control contract. That happened in Richmond, B.C. in 2007, thanks to the Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS). Other cities became no kill when they took over the service themselves, like Coquitlam, B.C. in 2002.
Other city shelters responded to advocacy efforts by citizens. In Stratford, Ontario, after a number of cats were unexpectedly euthanized in 2012, local cat rescuers obtained a commitment that the shelter would become no kill. American no kill advocate Nathan Winograd has helpfully laid out a formula called the No Kill Equation. Its eleven key elements are practical, cost-effective, and people love them. They are summarized below, with examples of practices in Canada. 1. Sterilization of community animals Community animals are domestic animals found living outdoors without formal guardians. They may be the offspring of abandoned pets, who grew up without being socialized and are fearful of humans. Trap-neuter-return (TNR) is a humane way of stopping reproduction and lowering the numbers of animals entering shelters. Babies are tamed, and tame animals are adopted into homes. All animals receive medical care and ongoing care, whether in homes or outdoors. In Canada, TNR programs are lowering populations of community cats in Vancouver and many other locations. Some shelters are actively involved in TNR, like the SPCA Laurentides-Labelle in Quebec and the Nova Scotia SPCA. Others cooperate with local rescue groups. TNR programs are funded by cities, rescue groups, and grants from organizations like PetSmart Charities of Canada. With respect to dogs, an innovative team led by Dr. Judith Samson-French sterilizes community dogs in some northern First Nations communities using contraceptive implants. Other groups provide veterinary clinics to remote northern locations, where there is a great need for them. TNR has been used successfully with other animals, including domestic rabbits. In 2012, Delta, B.C. relocated hundreds of sterilized rabbits to an isolated park. The program cost less than $25,000 with many volunteers involved, much less than the $350,000 annual cost to repair damage to municipal buildings and landscaping. 2. High volume, low cost sterilization Many people who want to spay or neuter their pets cannot afford the cost, which can be several hundred dollars in many Canadian communities. Remote locations may not have a veterinarian, adding significant travel costs. By helping people spay or neuter their pets, fewer animals enter the shelter system. But contrary to popular belief, this service is not enough to become no kill. Some communities with excellent services continue to kill healthy and treatable animals. High volume, low cost sterilization clinics exist in a limited number of locations in Canada. Other communities provide vouchers or financial help for low income families. PetSmart Charities of Canada provides extensive grants for sterilization programs. Many communities would benefit by having low cost or free sterilization services. 3. Working with rescue groups Transferring animals to rescue groups frees up space to help other animals, while lowering the cost of animal care. Iqaluit Humane Society and the Northwest Territories SPCA both work with airline partners and rescue groups to save many animals in Canada's far north. PNPC Animal Rescue recruits private pilots and airline passengers to transport animals in need of rescue. Other organizations are involved in ground transport. Every animal shelter can extend its capacity by working with rescue groups from near or far. 4. Foster care Volunteer foster care increases a shelter’s capacity at little or no expense. Personal attention in a foster home is especially therapeutic for sick, injured, behaviourally challenged and baby animals. These animals are often the most at risk in a traditional shelter. 5. Comprehensive adoption programs Better promotion of animals results in more adoptive families found more quickly. Offsite adoptions at pet stores, cat cafés, and pop-up locations bring the animals into the community. Comprehensive programs also include extended visiting hours for working people; incentives like special adoption fees; and effective use of social media and the many powerful marketing tools available today. An example of excellent marketing is Tinykittens, who promotes their animals using 24 hour webcams. Their humour and heartwarming content has drawn international attention and over 1.5 million Facebook followers. Tinykittens works with Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) in Langley, B.C. 6. Pet retention programs Helping families solve problems they are experiencing can often prevent pets from being surrendered. Two humane societies in Ontario offers pet behaviour help lines. Others offer pet food banks and help with medical costs. The Central Alberta Humane Society is one of several Alberta shelters offering temporary pet boarding for families in crisis, including victims of domestic violence. 7. Medical and behaviour programs for shelter animals Shelters need to keep their animals happy, healthy and moving efficiently through the system. To do this, they need comprehensive policies on vaccination, handling, cleaning, socialization, and care. They also need rehabilitation plans for animals arriving sick, injured, unweaned, or traumatized. Having an excellent shelter facility helps. Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS) moved to their new shelter in 2009. LAPS says that their "unparalleled animal enrichment programs reduce stress and keep the animals healthier and happier while they wait for new homes.” Dogs receive at least six daily exercise sessions outdoors. Housing for cats includes spacious cat “condos” and outdoor exercise areas. Also planned is an intake, isolation and recovery facility built exclusively for cats. 8. Public relations / community development More public exposure translates into more adoptions, donations, volunteers and community agencies partnering with the shelter. Effective public relations and marketing are a must. The Fort McMurray SPCA in northeast Alberta reports having found many adopters by posting attractive images of animals on social media. Their cat yoga and children's reading programs also bring people into the shelter. 9. Volunteers There are never enough staff and always more needs than paid staff can deliver. “Volunteers are a dedicated 'army of compassion' and the backbone of a successful No Kill effort." An example of an outstanding Canadian volunteer is Shelly Roche, founder of Tinykittens. Countless others make a real difference in the lives of animals every day. 10. Proactively returning lost animals to their families More lost animals are returned to their families when shelters take an active instead of a passive approach. This includes actively reviewing reports of lost animals, and using available technology such as posting photos of animals on websites and social media. Many shelters offer microchipping clinics to help identify an animal in the future. 11. A compassionate director Identified as most important of all is a hard-working, compassionate shelter director who is committed to no kill. That said, I don't believe that every director of a traditional shelter lacks compassion. They may simply not know what is possible. People change all the time, and some of those changes are documented in Nathan Winograd's film, Redemption. My hope is that with greater awareness, more life-saving practices will be adopted everywhere. - Irene Plett Note: This post is now contained in a bilingual how-to page on our website. Reference: No Kill 101: A Primer on No Kill Animal Sheltering for Public Officials, The No Kill Advocacy Center Topics: No kill animal control, Nathan Winograd, No Kill Equation, trap-neuter-return (TNR), sterilization, spay/neuter, community cats, feral cats, dogs, rabbits, animal rescue, pet adoption, pet fostering, pet retention, pet behaviour help, pet health, public relations, social media, lost and found pets, Richmond, Regional Animal Protection Society (RAPS), Coquitlam Animal Shelter, Dr. Judith Samson-French, Delta Community Animal Shelter, Iqaluit Humane Society, Northwest Territories SPCA, PNPC Animal Rescue, Tinykittens, Shelly Roche, Langley Animal Protection Society (LAPS), Stratford-Perth Humane Society, Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society, Fort McMurray SPCA, Central Alberta Humane Society, PetSmart Charities of Canada, cat cafés, Redemption film
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