‘No-Kill’ Policies Slowly Killing Animals

When “no-kill” animal shelters and rescue groups are filled to capacity, which is almost always, they are left with two options: turn away more animals than they take in or warehouse animals, often in substandard, filthy, and severely crowded conditions, for weeks, months, or even years on end. Most, if not all, of the animals who are turned away from such facilities still face untimely deaths—just not at these facilities.

Instead they are cruelly killed by people who don’t want them, are dumped on roadsides and left to die from starvation or being hit by a car, or spend their short lives homeless, unwanted, and producing more litters of animals for whom no homes exist.

The lucky ones are taken to well-run open-admission animal shelters, where they either find a well-screened, permanent home or are painlessly euthanized in the arms of professionally trained, compassionate people. Here are some of the “no-kill” animal shelter failures that made headlines in recent years for making animals suffer a fate far worse than a kind death.

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in October 2024

Jamestown, North Dakota

JamestownSun.com reported that a dog who had been adopted from a self-professed “no-kill shelter” in Wyoming doing business as the Casper Humane Society had been found abandoned in a parking lot in North Dakota. According to the report, the dog’s microchip identified the adopters, who told a community service officer that they’d “tried to take [the dog] to a shelter but all shelters [were] full.” The dog was apparently going to be transported back to Wyoming.

Floyd County, Georgia

News-Journal.com reported that a man had been sentenced “to five years in prison for torturing and burning to death a grey and white cat named Chestnut [whom] he’d just adopted from a [self-professed animal] rescue hours before.” The prosecuting attorney reportedly said that “his truck matched the description of one seen in the area where the cat’s body was found. [The accused] had scratches all over him, adoption papers, a gas can and a hammer.” She also said that a necropsy conducted on the cat’s remains “showed lung damage consistent with Chestnut being strangled and burned alive.” No additional information was available.

Canton, New York

NYPost.com reported that 44 dogs had died in a fire at a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as No Dogs Left Behind. According to the report, officials said that “overnight staff” at the facility had been asleep when the fire broke out and killed all the animals who had been confined there. The cause of the fire was reportedly under investigation.

Diboll, Texas

KETK.com reported that Diboll city officials had again raised the fee to surrender animals to the city’s publicly funded animal shelter, evidently in an effort to keep animals out of the facility, which has “no-kill” policies. According to the report, city officials said that “the surrender fee two years ago was $17 and rose to $80 last year. However, this year people will have to pay $120 per cat or dog.” Officials reportedly said that the increase was in response to “a concerning surge in animal surrenders and strays” and that the facility often claims to be “full” and refuses to accept animals.

Holton, Kansas

KSNT.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Heart of Jackson Humane Society was refusing to accept animals because of a case of canine parvovirus.

Crawfordville, Florida

WTXL.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Wakulla Animal Services was refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of canine parvovirus.

Hempstead, New York

Newsweek.com reported that a dog who had been warehoused for at least 500 days at a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter

was losing fur and had irritated skin as a result. (See the May 2024, Hempstead, New York, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Phoenix, Arizona

FOX10Phoenix.com reported that an area humane society had “received numerous complaints about filthy conditions” at a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” doing business as Puppy Luv Animal Rescue and had “issued three notices of complaint” to the business. According to the report, an anonymous source had “captured images from inside the facility, showing dogs and puppies in crates, lying in what appears to be their own waste.” A former employee said that all dogs at the facility were kept in wire crates, some stacked on top of each other, and that dogs who “are on top of the other dogs will pee and poop on the dogs below them. … Then that also gets in the water bowls. Oftentimes, the water bowls are filled with pee and poop, and a lot of times they go all day without drinking water. Because their water is so filthy, they refuse to drink it so they’re very dehydrated. They’re very skinny, they’re underfed.” According to the report, “Officials acknowledge this situation got out of control.”

Tryon, North Carolina

TryonDailyBulletin.com reported that authorities had evidently seized “dozens of neglected dogs and cats” from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Forever Dream Senior Dog Sanctuary and charged its owner, Verna May Wilkins, with “27 counts of felony cruelty to animals and 26 counts of misdemeanor cruelty to animals.” According to a sheriff’s department statement, deputies had “discovered over 50 small dogs and cats living in unsanitary and dangerous conditions” after receiving a report about concerns from the National Guard. According to the report, “Upon arriving at the residence, deputies found ‘an overwhelming amount of animal waste, with dogs stacked in crates and loose throughout the house,’ authorities say.” Twenty-seven dogs were found in such bad shape that they had to be euthanized, and “14 others [were] receiving medical care and rehabilitation.” An investigation was ongoing.

Coon Rapids, Minnesota

KSTP.com reported that when authorities executed a search warrant in April at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Scratching Post Number 9, they “found 79 cats in [owner Deann Marie Jensen’s] garage, along with one deceased kitten. All of the animals were in wire crates, most of which contained multiple cats.” The complaint revealed that there had been “an ‘overwhelming’ ammonia odor inside the unventilated garage,” which made it necessary for first responders “to take breaks periodically, despite wearing N95 masks.” According to the report, “One kennel contained a mother who was lethargic with weeping eyes and her three kittens, who were covered in dried diarrhea. All four were diagnosed with feline panleukopenia virus, also known as distemper, and were euthanized. Another 25 kittens had hair loss and crusty skin consistent with ringworm infection.” All of the kittens were reportedly found to be underweight. Jensen reportedly “faces four felony counts and one misdemeanor count of overwork/mistreat animals-torture.” A court date was set in the case.

West Palm Beach, Florida

CW34.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Palm Beach County Department of Public Safety’s Division of Animal Care and Control claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, the facility had 200 dogs crammed into a facility designed to house 144 and had 80 more cats than it had space for. The facility had reportedly announced that it would require a two-month waiting period before it would accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. When asked by the outlet if this could result in more animals being abandoned throughout the community, a spokesperson for the facility reportedly admitted that roaming strays had increased since the change in policy. (See the December 2024, Palm Beach County, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Columbia, South Carolina

ABCNews4.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the City of Columbia Animal Services was refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of canine pneumovirus. According to the report, the facility planned to turn away animals for at least two weeks. Residents were told that if they found stray animals, they should keep them while looking for their owners and find homes for the animals themselves if no owner could be located. (See the November 2022, Columbia, South Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Nevada City, California

ABC10.com reported that authorities had seized “nearly three dozen dogs” from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Mother Lode Husky Haven and charged its owner, Brady Fehr, with 34 counts of cruelty to animals, including one felony count. According to the report, “33 adult dogs were seized. Two required emergency care and the one dog seized earlier died from illness.” KCRA.com reported that authorities had visited the property on October 2 and “found almost 50 dogs with no shade and little water. Two of the dogs were dying.” A spokesperson for the county’s animal control agency said, “It just was a really bad scene. And just complete lack of any care for these dogs. … Some of them were being maintained in kennels all together. … Then bags of dog food were just sliced open, so they had to fight for the food.” Animals were seized after Fehr crashed a truck loaded with dogs. One dog died in the crash, and others escaped or were injured. According to the report, at the time of the crash, authorities “said Fehr is believed to have been under the influence of both alcohol and a controlled substance.”

Burlington, Iowa

MississippiValleyPublishing.com reported that authorities were investigating allegations accusing Rebecca Rosales, the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Sunny’s Legacy, of vacating a property and leaving numerous cats and some dogs without adequate care. According to the report, a sheriff’s deputy who conducted a welfare check at the address “noted there was a ‘heavy odor of animal urine in the property,’” which was described as “disgusting,” but found no animals inside the residence. However, a later public post by the city police department reportedly said that 10 cats had been removed by a nonprofit group and that 15 other cats remained roaming outside at the abandoned property. Efforts were being made to remove them, and a criminal investigation was underway. The residence was in such bad shape that city authorities condemned it.

Spartanburg, South Carolina

WSPA.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Spartanburg Humane Society said that people were leaving animals outside its building after hours. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly revealed that it had approximately 260 people on a waiting list who needed to surrender animals. (See the June 2024, Spartanburg, South Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Moncks Corner, South Carolina

ABCNews4.com reported that a publicly funded, self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Berkeley County Animal Shelter claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. (See the June 2024, Moncks Corner, South Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

San Angelo, Texas

ConchoValleyHomepage.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the San Angelo Animal Shelter was refusing to accept animals because of a case of canine distemper. The facility would reportedly continue to turn away animals for at least a month. (See the November 2022, San Angelo, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Dothan, Alabama

WTVY.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Wiregrass Humane Society claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. A spokesperson for the facility said that it had a full wait list of people needing to surrender animals and had also stopped accepting names for the list. According to the report, “Most of the callers are [animal] owners who adopted from the shelter, and now are trying to return [them]. … The Humane Society tells News4 that even on a slow day, they still receive upwards of 30 calls regarding pet surrenders.” The group’s spokesperson said that community residents were routinely finding “baskets of litters of kittens or puppies” on their doorsteps since the facility had stopped accepting animals.

Bryan County, Georgia

WTOC.com reported that authorities had arrested Joy Bohannon, the president and director of a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” doing business as Georgia Animal Rescue & Defence Inc. “for aggravated animal cruelty.” According to the report, she had “previously been arrested in New Jersey and Pennsylvania for animal welfare violations dealing dogs and failure to have mandated health certificates.” An investigator who visited the property in August had reportedly found “small spaces with overcrowded, unclean kennels, and a dog water bowl with a dead rat in it that had turned green.” More than 250 dogs, 50 potbellied pigs, several roosters, and other birds were found on the property. A spokesperson for a farm animal sanctuary who visited the property after Bohannon’s arrest said that he had found injured and dead animals, including “2 dead pigs, one a nursing mother. … Along with overcrowded pigs stuck in 6–8 inches deep of mud. [The spokesperson] says he saw the caretaker throw dog food in the mud as food. The water … is filthy with mosquitos in it. He says ‘The neglect was undeniable.’” He also “witnessed many pigs with untreated injuries, or so morbidly obese they were blind and could barely move.” State and local authorities were continuing to investigate. (See PETA’s action alert here and the March 2021, Middleburg, Florida, entry below for more information about this “rescue.”)

Winnsboro, South Carolina

BlythewoodOnline.com reported that Jinger Coffey Chambers, the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Farm Rescue and Sanctuary, had been “indicted on 41 counts of animal abuse charges including abandonment, ill treatment, and torture.” According to the report, the charges stemmed from a 2023 search and seizure warrant executed at Chambers’ residence. After authorities found 38 dogs, two cats, and one chicken hoarded at her residence and “deemed neglected and treated inhumanely,” the animals were reportedly voluntarily surrendered to avoid their seizure. No additional information was available.

Fayetteville, North Carolina

CBS17.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Cumberland County Animal Services Department was refusing to accept large dogs because of “an outbreak of Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease.” Residents who found homeless roaming dogs or needed to surrender dogs they were unable or unwilling to care for were being told “to make other arrangements.” (See the March 2024, Fayetteville, North Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Inhumane, Dangerous Results of ‘No-Kill’ Policies That Made Headlines in September 2024

New London, Connecticut

WTNH.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Waterford-East Lyme Animal Control claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, “animal control officers said they’re getting more requests for people needing to surrender animals, but they have to turn them away.” It was also revealed that since area facilities were refusing to accept animals, many were being found abandoned, including a cat who’d been found in an empty residence “abandoned along with trash.”

Beaufort County, North Carolina

WCTI12.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Beaufort County Animal Services claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, residents were being told not to rescue lost or homeless animals unless they “do so with the intent to provide for [their] care” themselves.

Pontiac, Michigan

Freep.com reported that authorities had seized 29 dogs and eight cats from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as TriCounty Dog Rescue and charged its owner, Karmen Schooly, with multiple counts of animal-related crimes. According to the report, she “faces three charges: health practice–unauthorized practice, abandoning/cruelty to animals and unregistered animal shelters/pounds.” Conditions on the property were so bad that it had to be condemned. An investigation was evidently ongoing. (See the February 2023, Pontiac, Michigan, entry below for more information about this group.)

Pearl River County, Mississippi

WJTV.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Pearl River County SPCA claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, some animals had been warehoused at the facility for more than 200 days.

Bartlett, Tennessee

WREG.com reported that “several animals were either injured or killed” in a fire at a residence that was being used as a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Petmatchmaker Rescue South. According to a later report, “WREG is working to find out how many animals were in the home at the time of the fire and how many died. We’ve asked Bartlett Police and the city that question several times[, but] the city would not provide any specific numbers telling us the case is under investigation.” No additional information was available.

Pinon Hills, California

SBSun.com reported that in July, authorities had seized 114 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Woofy Acres. According to the report, “County officials said the dogs, primarily large and aggressive pit bulls with severe health issues,” had been found housed in “inadequate conditions” at the “rescue.” Ninety-three of the seized dogs had to be euthanized “[b]ecause of their declining health and aggression.” A criminal investigation was ongoing. It was also revealed that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as OC Animal Care had transferred “a total of 149 dogs to Woofy Acres, with the last placement in January.” An area resident reportedly said that one of the seized dogs had been found emaciated and that the “Woofy Acres site in Pinon Hills ‘was in the middle of the desert. I don’t know how these dogs didn’t die.’” (See the March 2024, Rowland Heights, California, entry below for more information about this “rescue.”)

San Leon, Texas

FOX26Houston.com reported that authorities were investigating after more than 50 dead animals had been found on a property where a woman had reportedly been “running a trap and release (TNR) program with animal shelters and organizations to foster cats.” According to the report, dead animals found “included cats, horses, cows, a raccoon, and a dog. The majority of the dead animals were cats found locked inside carriers.” An individual who visited the property reportedly said, “We stepped on dead carcass after dead carcass, and kennel after kennel, with dead carcasses with empty cans of food.” Criminal charges were reportedly expected in the case.

Vermilion County, Illinois

WCIA.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Vermilion County Animal Shelter claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, the facility was also experiencing a contagious disease outbreak. (See the November 2023, Vermilion County, Illinois, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Dandridge, Tennessee

WVLT.tv reported that authorities had seized 68 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as A Life 2go2 Rescue and charged its owner, Paula Whitt, with 55 counts of cruelty to animals, as well as “possession of meth and drug paraphernalia.” Many of the animals were malnourished and had sustained injuries, likely in fights, according to the county sheriff. WATE.com reported that a spokesperson for a facility that had assisted with the animals’ removal and care said that “[t]he conditions were horrible. We went through a trailer that was stacked too high all the way through, not air-conditioned, not a single bowl of water in any of those crates.”

Horry County, South Carolina

WMBFNews.com reported that because area animal shelters have “no-kill” policies, including the publicly funded one doing business as the Horry County Animal Care Center (HCACC), area residents were reporting an increase in the number of stray animals roaming their neighborhoods. One resident found two puppies infested with fleas and in poor shape in her yard. After finding the first puppy, she said she “called every shelter in Georgetown and Myrtle and Surfside and North Myrtle and Little River and Conway and Florence, and not a single one [would] take the puppy,” most of them claiming that the facilities were “full.” She said that “[i]t was exhausting and it was frustrating and there was a point that I was like in tears and crying and like begging these [facilities] to please let me bring these puppies in.” She eventually found a group willing to accept them. A spokesperson for HCACC said, “It’s difficult for us to take any animals in. We have dogs in offices, we have dogs in hallways.”

Jackson, Michigan

WILX.com reported that authorities had seized 25 cats and dogs from a woman who had reportedly been “running a Facebook page that was called a rescue and re-homing for pets.” Some animals were found “in critical condition,” and an unspecified number of dead animals were found inside as well as on the front porch of the residence. The investigation was ongoing. No additional information was available.

Elrod, Alabama

HoustonChronicle.com reported that “[n]early 100 dogs from shelters around the Houston area were recently discovered in a barn in Alabama in what local veterinary professionals described as deplorable conditions.” A spokesperson for a facility that “took custody of most of the dogs” reportedly said that it had been called to assist after a video was posted on social media that “showed dogs with open wounds, mange and other diseases locked in small wooden kennels.” Most of the dogs had reportedly been acquired from a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Harris County Pets in Houston and had been placed at the property in Alabama by three self-professed animal “rescues” doing business as Hope Faith Love Paws, Rescue Mission Alliance, and Last Minute Dog Rescue, according to the spokesperson at the facility caring for the animals. Dogs suffered from apparently untreated health conditions, including fleas and malnourishment, “and one even had a bullet lodged in [his or her] leg.” According to the report, “Harris County Pets said in a statement that the shelter was not aware of the conditions the animals were being kept in.” No additional information was available.

Olyphant, Pennsylvania

WNEP.com reported that authorities had seized more than 100 cats from a self-professed “no-kill” animal shelter operated out of a single family home and doing business as Quigley’s Shelter Pets. According to the report, the warrant revealed that “a local veterinarian brought concerns to authorities in July that cats coming to her office from Quigley’s were in poor condition. Some were caked with feces and urine stains. Many had ‘extreme eye infections and dental issues.’ The veterinarian told authorities that in the last year, she euthanized a half-dozen cats from Quigley’s. A few others brought in were already dead.” Approximately 40 of the surviving cats were found in the basement of the home, where a responding officer said, “It was extremely difficult to breathe in that area without a respirator due to the amount of ammonia … the [floor] had a buildup of feces, urine, hair and dirt.” An investigation was reportedly ongoing.

Tama, Iowa

TimesRepublican.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Tama County Humane Society claimed to be “full” and was evidently refusing to accept animals. According to a police chief in one of the communities that has a sheltering contract with the group, it was an “all too common” occurrence.

Middleburg, Virginia

WUSA9.com reported that authorities had seized 19 live dogs and six live cats found hoarded in the home of Patricia Mathis-Burby and charged her “with multiple counts of animal cruelty, including both felony and misdemeanor charges.” According to the report, five dead dogs had also been “found on the property, including some decomposing in crates next to living animals.” Surviving animals had reportedly been “found in alarming conditions. Humane officers described the environment as ‘extreme,’ with urine and feces covering much of the home. The animals were reportedly confined in crates with little access to food or clean water, and at least one cat had untreated injuries.” Mathis-Burby had reportedly been “fostering animals for a Fairfax-based poodle rescue.” A court date had been set in the case.

Topeka, Kansas

KSNT.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Helping Hands Humane Society Inc. claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept dogs. According to the report, the facility was discouraging residents from taking lost and homeless dogs they’d rescued to the facility. (See the May 2024, Topeka, Kansas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Indianapolis, Indiana

IndyStar.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Indianapolis Animal Care Services was refusing to accept animals after a dog at the facility “‘suddenly and unexpectedly’ died less than 24 hours after exhibiting signs of illness.” (See the August 2024, Indianapolis, Indiana, entry below and PETA’s action alert here for more information about this facility.)

West Palm Beach, Florida

PalmBeachDailyNews.com reported that a cat had been abused and thrown over a seawall after he’d been adopted from a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. Authorities reportedly said that the adopter had repeatedly submerged the cat into the freezing ocean before throwing him over a seawall into some vegetation, where he hit the ground and ran off. The man was arrested, evidently on charges related to cruelty to animals. Days later, a resident found the cat shivering and walking slowly along a seawall. He was being cared for by the finder, who was providing needed veterinary care and said that the cat, named Ace, appeared to have suffered lasting psychological trauma from the abuse. According to the report, “Peggy Adams has an open-adoption policy, also known as a conversational adoption.” Records reportedly revealed that Ace “first came to Peggy Adams as a kitten at about 3 weeks old.” The now 5-year-old cat had been adopted and returned at least once before he was given to the man who had been arrested after abusing the animal.

August 2024 Reports Showing That ‘No-Kill’ Policies Endanger Animals

Dinwiddie, Virginia

12OnYourSide.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Dinwiddie County Animal Control had shut down and was refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of canine parvovirus.

New York, New York

NYPost.com reported that a month after opening a new $75 million facility in the borough of Queens, a publicly funded sheltering system operated by a company with “no-kill” policies doing business as Animal Care Centers of NYC was found to be warehousing animals in filthy, crowded conditions. According to the report, “Dogs at the Queens Animal Care Center were left in tiny, feces-filled kennels without water—while rabbits languished in bloody cages with sores, the Post observed during a recent tour of the facility. The shelter now houses more than 220% more dogs than it has capacity for, with 161 dogs and 206 cats—plus 45 rabbits and seven guinea pigs.” One dog had reportedly been confined within the system for more than 100 days. The outlet reviewed dog walking logs and found that “many dogs are walked only once a day for about two minutes.” (See the April 2024, New York, New York, entry below for more information about this sheltering system.)

Bexar County, Texas

News4SanAntonio.com reported that a resident said that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Bexar County Animal Care had repeatedly told him that it was “full” and would not respond to calls asking for help for “a pack of two mother dogs and their 12 puppies [who had] been living under his house.” The resident said he’d been calling the agency repeatedly for two months. According to the report, the dogs were eventually removed by authorities, but “their relocation status has not yet been disclosed.”

Jackson County, Oregon

KDRV.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Jackson County Animal Services claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals.

Wayne County, Ohio

News5Cleveland.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Wayne County Dog Shelter was warehousing animals and refusing to accept them from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. According to the report, the facility had crowded 70 dogs into a space designed to safely house 50, including a dog who had been warehoused there “for about 850 days.” It also had a waiting list of more than 125 people who needed to surrender dogs to the facility.

Kenton County, Kentucky

FOX56News.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Kenton County Animal Services was crowded and housing dogs in human restrooms.

Lampasas, Texas

KXXV.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Lampasas Animal Shelter claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. The facility’s director reportedly said, “We decided if we wanted to reach no kill, we were going to have to do a more managed intake,” and acknowledged that animals were being abandoned because of the policy.

Bucksport, Maine

BangorDailyNews.com reported that authorities had seized 27 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Coastal Dreams Rescue and Sanctuary and charged its owner, Ellisha Krutuleski, with “six felony charges of aggravated cruelty to animals and one misdemeanor charge of cruelty to animals.” FOXBangor.com reported that “sources are saying as many as six dogs were found decomposing in trash bags” on the property and that at least one dog had been sent there by another self-professed animal “rescue” in Florida. That dog was reportedly “confirmed to be alive but dangerously underweight.” According to authorities, the investigation was ongoing.

Camarillo, California

TheCamarilloAcorn.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Ventura County Animal Services had crowded “205 dogs in 146 kennels” and was keeping animals in “makeshift kennels and overcrowding smaller dogs,” including confining them to crates designed to restrict their movement. According to the report, “The overcrowding has caused a severe outbreak of upper respiratory infection among the dogs.” The facility was asking residents to house stray animals they found themselves instead of taking them to the publicly funded facility established for that purpose.

Indianapolis, Indiana

WISHTV.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Indianapolis Animal Care Services had fired two employees because of their efforts to protect animals from being placed with violent individuals, including those with a history of cruelty to animals. After the firing, the facility released a statement saying that it had stopped screening at the behest of Best Friends Animal Society, which the agency started partnering with earlier this year. For more details, see PETA’s action alert here. (See the October 2023, Indianapolis, Indiana, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Pinal County, Arizona

PinalCentral.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Pinal County Animal Care and Control was crowded and refusing to accept animals. According to the report, “Areas intended for two dogs have three or four, and there are even dogs in the offices.” Residents who wanted to surrender animals they were unable or unwilling to care for were being placed on a waiting list. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said about residents, “If we don’t have space, they have to wait until we do.”

Denver, Colorado

CBSNews.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Dumb Friends League claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept dogs. A spokesperson for the community’s open-admission municipal animal shelter said it was taking in more dogs as a result.

Montgomery County, Texas

FOX26Houston.com reported that authorities were investigating after several dead dogs had been found on the property of a self-professed animal “rescuer.” According to the report, the individual “in question was all over social media touting herself as a dog rescuer and foster.” Three dogs who were allegedly being “fostered” on the property were “unaccounted for.” A neighbor who was present during the investigation said that she saw “dog bones, and corpses in the kennels, like they died where they laid.” The investigation was ongoing. No additional information was available.

Sevierville, Tennessee

WVLT.tv reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Sevier Animal Care Center was crowding animals into kennels and crates and housing some dogs in outdoor areas intended to be used to provide animals confined there with exercise. According to the report, the facility was refusing to accept dogs and was giving animals away for free. (See the March 2024, Sevierville, Tennessee, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Hattiesburg, Mississippi

WDAM.com reported that a dog had been lost by a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business in New Orleans as Animal Helper while he was on a “transport from Northern Alabama heading to a shelter in the New Orleans area.” According to the report, a public post by a worker involved in the transport said that the dog “would not come if called and would run if approached.”

Greensboro, North Carolina

RhinoTimes.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Guilford County Animal Services was refusing to accept dogs “due to positive cases of Canine Parvovirus.” (See the July 2024, Greensboro, North Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Collier County, Florida

WINKNews.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Collier County Domestic Animal Services was refusing to accept any cats because of “a rise in feline panleukopenia (FPV) cases in the area.”

Junction City, Kansas

KCLYRadio.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Junction City Animal Shelter had shut down and was refusing to accept animals because of a case of canine parvovirus. According to the report, the facility said it would only house stray dogs “for up to 20 minutes.” It was expected to be shut down for at least two weeks.

Marion County, Oregon

StatesmanJournal.com reported that protesters were organizing a demonstration outside an event planned by a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) because of its policy of refusing to accept cats in need of refuge. After OHS “merged with the Willamette Humane Society in Salem,” a local animal advocate reportedly “said people who bring in sick or injured strays often are turned away.” She went on to say that OHS “is neglecting its responsibility to the animals in the community and leaving people without options. ‘We’re really in a mess because the Humane Society is really not being a humane member of our community.’”

Mesa County, Colorado

ColoradoPolitics.com reported that after a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Mesa County Animal Services had refused to accept without a fee a dog named Henri from a woman who had adopted him from the facility, the dog had been found dead at the adopter’s property. According to the report, when an investigator responded to a call from a neighbor reporting that “Henri was tangled and struggling in the backyard on a hot day,” he found “Henri lying on the ground wrapped in cables. Henri did not respond to calls, so [the investigator] entered the backyard. He found no pulse.” The adopter was charged with and convicted of cruelty to animals, but the case was overturned on appeal.

Seminole County, Florida

WFTV.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Seminole County Animal Services was refusing to accept animals from area residents. According to the report, a resident “said she was turned away after she took in a cat who continued to follow her husband home. … She said she called Seminole County Animal Services but was told the shelter was full and didn’t have the resources to spay the cat, and neither did she. The cat got pregnant again, and so did another one. Right now, she has 11 at home.” In a later report, the outlet revealed that several residents and groups were sharing concerns with county commissioners about “no-kill” policies at the facility. According to the report, “They say current policies, including the ‘no-kill’ policy, have pushed nonprofits to the limit and turned away residents who needed help.” The publicly funded facility had evidently been infiltrated by a Utah-based group doing business as Best Friends Animal Society.

Carroll County, Georgia

Times-Georgian.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Carroll County Animal Shelter had shut down and was refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of canine parvovirus. According to the report, the facility was telling residents not to rescue homeless or lost animals if they couldn’t house them themselves.

Sapulpa, Oklahoma

FOX23.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Sapulpa Animal Shelter claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. A spokesperson for the facility said that animals were being left there despite “a sign on their door saying they can’t take in any more.” She said a man had left a carrier containing a cat inside the facility after he’d “shoved” the carrier through the front door and that a litter of kittens had been found “in a bush” in the vicinity.

White Oak, Pennsylvania

CBSNews.com reported that several kittens and a cat had been left in a carrier and plastic tote outside a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as White Oak Animal Safe Haven. According to the report, the facility claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. Animals were reportedly being left outside the facility, including a dog who’d been left in a crate during a heat wave. (See the September 2023, White Oak, Pennsylvania, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Amory, Mississippi

WCBI.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Amory Humane Society was crowded and refusing to accept animals. According to a spokesperson for the facility, it was crowding dogs in kennels, including “dogs who don’t come in together, don’t know each other, different breeds, different sizes,” leading to disease outbreaks and fights, including over food.

July 2024 Reports Showing That ‘No-Kill’ Policies Endanger Animals

Borough of Tyrone, Pennsylvania

Radio.WPSU.org reported that “[t]he Tyrone Borough Police Department said they will no longer be able to respond to found or loose animal reports.” The agency previously assisted and ensured the safety of the community’s lost and homeless animals. However, the facility that would house them, a self-professed “life-saving shelter” doing business as the Central Pennsylvania Humane Society, now refuses to accept animals. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said, “There’s just no room.”

Warwick, Rhode Island

WPRI.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Scruffy Paws Animal Rescue was crowded and keeping dogs confined to temporary “pop-up kennels” throughout its building. A spokesperson for the facility said, “We have a cat [living] in our bathroom and we have a cat in our surgery room.”

Cranston, Rhode Island

WPRI.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the East Greenwich Animal Protection League was warehousing animals and refusing to accept them from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. According to a spokesperson for the facility, some dogs had been warehoused there for more than a year, which they admitted was “detrimental to their mental well being.”

Blountville, Tennessee

WJHL.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Animal Shelter of Sullivan County claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals.

Kingsport, Tennessee

WJHL.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Petworks Animal Services was refusing to accept cats because of cases of feline panleukopenia.

Montgomery, Alabama

WTVY.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Montgomery Humane Society was refusing to accept most animals because of an outbreak of canine flu. According to the report, more than 40 dogs were showing symptoms of the disease. Residents and good Samaritans were being told not to take animals found in need of refuge to the publicly funded facility.

Genesee County, Michigan

FlushingView.MIHomePaper.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Genesee County Animal Control was refusing to accept animals “following outbreaks of parvo virus, distemper and kennel cough.” (See the October 2023, Genesee County, Michigan, entry below for more details about this facility.)

Tuscola, Illinois

WCIA.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Douglas County Animal Control & Shelter claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, residents who found lost or homeless animals were being advised “to utilize social media to find their owners.”

Syracuse, New York

Syracuse.com reported that after a resident found two dogs who had evidently been abandoned, she “drove [them] around Syracuse and Onondaga County for six hours, begging the city’s dog shelter and several others to take the strays. Everyone said ‘no,’ including the animal shelter Syracuse pays to take its stray dogs.” Area animal shelters have “no-kill” policies, including the one that the city contracts with. (See the March 2024, Syracuse, New York, entry below for more information.) According to the report, the resident who found the two dogs was “among more than 200 people who have been turned away by Syracuse’s dog shelter and dog control officers so far this year.” Area residents were reportedly “abandoning their dogs in record numbers, tying puppies to fences, Dumpsters, flagpoles and even the rail outside the city’s animal control office. Families are dumping long-time companions in parks.” A growing number of animals were also being found abandoned in empty apartments and homes after their owners moved: “Animal cruelty officers recently found two dogs alone in an apartment eight months after their owner moved out. They were being kept in crates. Last month, three dead dogs were discovered along Onondaga Creek,” according to the report.

Harleton, Texas

News-Journal.com reported that a national nonprofit group had removed 39 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Dude’s Second Chance Rescue. A spokesperson for the group said that the “rescue” had “quickly [become] overwhelmed by the number of homeless animals in their community.” Dogs were reportedly found “inside and outside the [‘rescue’] facility in pens, cages and kennels. ‘Some tarp-covered wire cages outside held up to five dogs while inside dogs were exposed to high ammonia levels and kept in dirty makeshift kennels with urine-soaked straw,’ according to the national organization.” No additional information was available.

Chichester, New Hampshire

ConcordMonitor.com reported that authorities had denied an application for a license to operate submitted by a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Live and Let Live Farm Inc. Rescue. According to the report, a denial letter from the state said that the “rescue” had “failed to comply with minimum standards in the categories of lighting, visible signs of insects, shelter from sunlight, sanitation, classification and separation, protection from disease, and origin and medical history.”

Corpus Christi, Texas

KRISTV.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Rural Texas Animal No Kill Rescue (Rural TANK) had been fined $4,500 by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). According to the report, MDAR had issued a cease and desist order to the group in 2021. “MDAR said the fine is for violating the cease and desist and continuing to operate as an unlicensed rescue. The fine cites recent incidents of importing dogs with falsified health certificates, adopting dogs with behavioral issues and adopting a dog [who] died 16 hours after arrival. Not only that, but Rural Tank lost [its] non-profit status in 2022 for failing to file any documents with the IRS.” (See the June 2024, Corpus Christi, Texas, entry below for more information about this group.)

Bedford, New York

LoHud.com reported that authorities had arrested Penny Berk, the owner and founder of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Rescue Right Inc. and charged her with five counts of cruelty to animals. Witnesses reportedly called authorities after they found four puppies and a mother dog being denied needed veterinary care at the “rescue.” Responding officers found the animals “suffering and in critical condition.” They were taken to a veterinary hospital “where all five were diagnosed with the Distemper virus, a serious and deadly disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous system of dogs and causes seizures, muscle twitching, fever and loss of appetite.” One of the puppies had to be immediately euthanized, and “[t]he remaining puppies and their mother were all euthanized after six days of treatment.” MidHudsonNews.com reported that the mother dog had been impregnated at the “rescue” while being housed with an unneutered male dog.

Coos Bay, Oregon

KEZI.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Coos County Animal Shelter claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

FOX23.com reported that an area nonprofit said that it had received a letter from a couple in Skiatook, Oklahoma, who had “found an emaciated, dying dog.” When they contacted animal shelters in Claremore, Owasso, Skiatook, and Tulsa—all of which have “no-kill” policies—none of them would accept the dog. The couple said they took the dog to a veterinary hospital for euthanasia and were threatened with being charged with animal abandonment. What happened to the dog wasn’t included in the report. The outlet said that it had spoken with another area resident who “said the same thing happened to her. She found a dog [in Tulsa who was “completely emaciated, covered in ticks and surrounded by flies circling [an] infected ear. She was turned away from shelter after shelter and spent $300 of her own money on vet bills.” (See the September 2023, June 2021, and April 2021, Tulsa, Oklahoma, entries below for more information about facilities with “no-kill” policies in Tulsa.)

Defiance County, Ohio

BryanTimes.com reported that because a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Fort Defiance Humane Society claimed to be “constantly at full capacity,” law-enforcement personnel told the Board of County Commissioners that they were “often unable to pick up dogs when they received reports of them running loose due to not having anywhere to keep the dogs safely.” The board was reportedly considering “the possibility of building a county dog pound to ensure there was space for dogs [who] are picked up by law enforcement.”

Burlington, Connecticut

NBCConnecticut.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Burlington and Canton Animal Control Department claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals.

Nashville, Tennessee

WKRN.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Metro Animal Care and Control was “authorized to have 60 animals, but it has close to 200.” Since the facility had been refusing to accept animals (see the June 2024, Nashville, Tennessee, entry below for more information), a spokesperson said that it had “been seeing an increase in animals left places, abandoned places, tied to our doors, left in cages.” Recently, four cats had been found in a cage on a trailhead near the facility. The spokesperson said they’d been “crammed in this cage, in their own filth, and panting heavily when we found them.” According to the report, “While the staff was dealing with the cats, 11 dogs were abandoned in the parking lot just a short while later.”

Tipp City, Ohio

WHIO.com reported that authorities had seized 43 cats from a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Our Farm Sanctuary. According to the report, “Officials decided to search the property after receiving multiple complaints from current and past volunteers.” A search warrant reportedly stated that a volunteer said conditions were “filthy” and that the facility had “inappropriately sized cages for dogs and cats, poor air ventilation, [and] strong odor” and that “many [animals suffered from] untreated medical conditions.” According to the report, “News Center 7 has learned over 100 cats met the criteria to be seized, but the shelter only had room for 43.” A spokesperson for the facility said, “We would have liked to have taken more, but just due to the sheer number of cats that they have there, there’s just only so many that we can get in house.” He also “said the sanctuary was under investigation after receiving similar complaints in May 2022 and August 2023.” Charges were reportedly pending, apparently against the “sanctuary” operators. No additional information was available.

Naples, Florida

MiamiHerald.com reported that a homeless dog had been warehoused for more than three years at a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Humane Society Naples. According to the report, the 5-year-old dog had been transferred from a similar facility in January 2021 and had spent more than 1,200 days confined to the facility in Naples. (See the June 2018, Naples, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

WVUA23.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter had been shut down for weeks because of a canine distemper outbreak. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said that the virus had “decimated the shelter’s dog population” and that approximately 60 dogs had died of the contagious disease. A later report said that the costs of testing and treating dogs for the disease at the facility were resulting in soaring costs so that it was “buckling under.” (See the June 2024, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Dayton, Ohio

Dayton247Now.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Montgomery County Animal Resource Center claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, the city police department had to change its policy and could no longer respond to calls about roaming, possibly dangerous dogs because it had nowhere to house them. (See the July 2023, Dayton, Ohio, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Clark County, Kentucky

FOX56News.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Clark County Animal Shelter “said it currently houses more than 60 dogs, twice as many as it is meant to hold, with some being there for more than two years.”

Salem, Ohio

MorningJournalNews.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Columbiana County Humane Society claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept more animals.

Newcastle, Delaware

DelawareLive.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Faithful Friends Animal Society was refusing to accept dogs after one died of an unspecified contagious respiratory illness at the facility. A public post by the facility reportedly revealed that three dogs had been hospitalized because of the outbreak and that others were suffering and under treatment, including the use of “steroids and nebulizing treatments.”

Clay City, Kentucky

WKYT.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Powell County Animal Shelter was refusing to accept animals because of a case of canine parvovirus. According to the report, the facility planned to refuse intakes “for at least two weeks.”

Marshalltown, Iowa

TimesRepublican.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept cats. According to the report, the facility also had “a surrender waiting list with hundreds of animals waiting for a spot.” A spokesperson for the group said, “People have come to surrender an animal and when they are informed there is no room, and actually a waiting list, they tell the ARL staff they will shoot [the animal].” He said the facility tries to get those people to keep animals instead of surrendering them. When “there is evidence of abuse or neglect,” the group charges extra fees to accept animals from their abusers, evidently in an effort to keep animals in abusive homes instead of accepting them at the facility.

Gainesville, Florida

WCJB.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Alachua County Animal Resources was refusing to accept cats because of a case of feline panleukopenia. (See the June 2022, Gainesville, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Athens, Georgia

WSBTV.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Athens-Clarke County Animal Services was refusing to accept dogs from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them because of an outbreak of canine parvovirus. According to the report, the facility planned to turn away these animals for at least two weeks. (See the March 2024, Athens, Georgia, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Paducah, Kentucky

WPSDLocal6.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies, evidently partially funded with public monies and doing business the McCracken County Humane Society, claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. After the facility shut its doors, a carrier full of cats was left outside on the property and wasn’t discovered for more than 16 hours during extreme temperatures. In addition, a dog was found tied to the facility’s gates.

Miami, Florida

CBSNews.com reported that publicly funded facilities with “no-kill” policies in South Florida, including Miami-Dade Animal Services, claimed to be “full” and were telling residents not to take lost and homeless animals they’d rescued to the taxpayer-funded facilities intended to house them. Residents were being told to house these animals at their own homes. (See the June 2024, Miami, Florida, entry below for more information about Miami-Dade Animal Services.)

Greensboro, North Carolina

MyFOX8.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Guilford County Animal Services was refusing to accept cats because of an outbreak of the feline panleukopenia virus. According to the report, it was the third time that the shelter has shut down because of a disease outbreak in 2024 and “[i]n May, it happened twice in one month.” (See the May 2024, Greensboro, North Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Lake County, Florida

MidFloridaNewspapers.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Lake County Animal Shelter was refusing to accept cats because of an outbreak of the feline panleukopenia virus. (See the March 2024, Lake County, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Austin, Texas

AustinMonthly.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Austin Animal Center claimed to be “full” and had stopped accepting animals “indefinitely.” (See the June 2024, Austin, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Washington, North Carolina

WITN.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Beaufort County Animal Services claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. (See the June 2023, Washington, North Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Knoxville, Tennessee

WATE.com reported that during a four-week period, 27 dogs died of distemper at a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Young-Williams Animal Center. According to the report, the facility was refusing to accept animals and advising residents not to take lost and homeless dogs to the facility. (See the June 2024, Knoxville, Tennessee, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Phoenix, Arizona

AZCentral.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Maricopa County Animal Care & Control was warehousing animals and had “200 more dogs than the shelter has space for.” Some dogs were being housed in kennels that had been split in two. According to the report, when kennels were split, “one dog remains outside for up to three days at a time.” (See the March 2024, Phoenix, Arizona, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Cedar City, Utah

StGeorgeUtah.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Cedar City Animal Services was “increasing the surrender fee at the shelter from $100 to $400,” evidently in an attempt to keep at-risk animals out of the facility. According to the report, “Shelter manager Brittany McCabe told St. George News they began looking into the fee and the issue of surrenders generally after the city received a complaint for a surrender that was not accepted. … The day before her interview with St. George News, McCabe said the shelter received four phone calls and two in-person visits from people attempting to surrender [animals].” She described refusing to accept a dog who was later found abandoned on a state highway and reportedly said, “It’s not my job to euthanize someone’s dog.”

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in June 2024

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

WLRN.org reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Broward County Animal Care was warehousing and refusing to accept animals. According to the report, “Shelter officials report they have roughly 27 dogs [who] have been there for 100 days, 13 for 200 days, and one dog [who] has been there for 300 days.” A spokesperson for the facility said that it had crammed “dogs in places that are not meant to … house dogs” and had been refusing to accept animals. (See the February 2024, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Franklin, Indiana

DailyJournal.net reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Johnson County Animal Shelter was warehousing animals in crowded conditions and refusing to accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. According to the report, kittens were stored “in rooms usually used for potential adopters to meet their animals, others are inside reptile and small animal spaces.” A spokesperson for the facility said that approximately 100 kittens required bathing because “they’re all covered in filth, and there’s just not enough time in the day.”

North East, Maryland

Newsweek.com reported that a cat had been warehoused for more than five years at a self-professed “no-kill feline rescue” doing business as Chesapeake Feline Association. The cat had reportedly been found homeless at a hotel more than five years ago. (See the November 2023, North East, Maryland, entry below for more information about this group.)

Martinsburg, West Virginia

Local.NewsBreak.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Berkeley County Humane Society had announced that it was refusing to accept any cats, “which includes individuals leaving cats outside the humane society when they are closed.”

Taylor, Michigan

Freep.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Taylor Animal Shelter claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals. (See the July 2023, Taylor, Michigan, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Fort Bend County, Texas

CoveringKaty.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Fort Bend County Animal Services claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals. (See the November 2023, Rosenburg, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Spartanburg, South Carolina

WSPA.com reported that a spokesperson for a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as the Spartanburg Humane Society Inc. said that the facility had 500 dogs crammed into space designed to house 400 and that “there are another 250 animals on a waiting list to get into the shelter right now.”

Sierra Vista, Arizona

KGUN9.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Nancy J. Brua Animal Care Center claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals.

Tuscaloosa, Alabama

TuscaloosaThread.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter had shut down and was refusing to accept animals because of cases of canine distemper. According to the report, the facility was instructing residents “to neither bring in nor report strays.” The facility’s website states, “The shelter is always full and often over capacity.” (See the November 2022, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

KOCO.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Oklahoma City Animal Welfare had implemented a policy of refusing to accept more than 30 dogs and 30 cats daily. It was also giving away dogs for free. (See the October 2023, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Dickinson, Texas

HoustonChronicle.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Bayou Animal Services & Adoption Center had large dogs living in crates and cats confined to a bathroom. Other dogs were crammed two and three into kennels designed to house only one animal. According to the report, “[A]t least three of the dogs at the shelter have been there for more than a year.” A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said, “I’m watching these dogs live in these crates for months, and it’s not okay.”

Latrobe, Pennsylvania

CBSNews.com reported that a spokesperson for a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Action For Animals Humane Society said that it “gets about six calls a day asking if it can take a dog, and about 45 calls a day asking to take a cat” and refuses to accept most of them. The group’s website says the society “receives hundreds of requests every month to take in dogs and cats” but refuses to accept most of them. Recently, “a bin full of puppies” was left in the heat in a parking lot in the community.

Moncks Corner, South Carolina

CountOn2.com reported that a publicly funded, self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Berkeley County Animal Shelter claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals. (See the June 2023, Moncks Corner, South Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Austin, Texas

KVUE.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Austin Animal Center had “more than 300 large dogs on-site but only 252 large kennels. There are more than 90 small dogs, but only 37 small kennels, and there are nearly 300 cats but only 165 cat cages.” Additional dogs were reportedly being boarded off site at private facilities, and animal adoption groups were being offered “$500 for every large kennel they opened,” according to a facility spokesperson. The report noted, “Last year, an audit of the office that oversees the Austin Animal Center revealed significant issues, including dogs being kept in too-small cages [and] dirty conditions.” (See the May 2024, Austin, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Billings, Montana

KULR8.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, residents who had appointments to surrender animals would be told to reschedule.

Marion County, Florida

ClickOrlando.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Marion County Animal Services was refusing to accept cats because of an outbreak of the feline panleukopenia virus.

Fresno, California

ABC30.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Fresno Animal Center had confirmed that it had been telling residents to abandon animals rescued from the streets. According to the report, a spokesperson for the facility said, “We are telling them that if they are unable to keep [animals]—to return [them] to the area where they [were] found.” She said the facility was “turning away most animals.” After a former mayor found two homeless dogs roaming the streets, he said that he had contacted the facility and had been told, “Just take [them] to where you picked [them] up and drop [them] off.” According to the report, “He couldn’t stomach putting the animals back on the street. So far, he’s spent more than $1,000 per dog to get them spayed and neutered and pay for their vet care.” KMPH.com reported that a resident had videotaped a city animal control officer abandoning a large, panting dog on the street during heat extremes and posted it online. In response, the city reportedly released a statement that said, in part, “In cases where there is no indication of ownership, some healthy animals have been returned to the area where they were originally found.” (See the May 2024, Fresno, California, entry below and PETA’s action alert here for more information about this facility.)

Johnson City, Tennessee

WJHL.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Washington County Johnson City Animal Shelter was refusing to accept dogs because of an outbreak of an unspecified virus. (See the January 2023, Johnson City, Tennessee, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Roswell, New Mexico

RDRNews.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Roswell Animal Services had closed and stopped accepting animals because a dog had been diagnosed with distemper. The facility would reportedly “be closed for possibly as long as two to three weeks.” (See the October 2023, Roswell, New Mexico, entry below for more details about this facility.)

Sioux City, Iowa

KTIV.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Sioux City Animal Adoption & Rescue Center claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them.

Corpus Christi, Texas

KRISTV.com reported that it had been investigating complaints against a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Rural Texas Animal No Kill Rescue, including allegations that “[d]ogs have been crammed into carriers and transported across the country without proper care, people have paid for animals they never receive[d], and in some cases, people received animals [who] haven’t been medically cleared and who have died soon after adoption.” According to the report, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources had issued a cease and desist order to the group after it sent several dogs infected with the parvo virus into the state. The group’s founder, Kayla Denney, allegedly admitted that it had failed to have dogs examined by a veterinarian before shipping them, as required by law. The report also revealed that, while the group “filed as a non-profit when it opened, it lost that status in October 2022 because it never filed paperwork with the IRS.” (See the December 2022, El Campo, Texas, entry below for more information about this group.)

Hopkinsville, Kentucky

WHOPAM.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Christian County Animal Shelter was refusing to accept animals because of a case of canine distemper.

Nashville, Tennessee

WKRN.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Metro Animal Care and Control claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said that dog kennels had been divided in half to warehouse more animals and that the facility was refusing to accept animals from good Samaritans who’d rescued them. (See the May 2024, Nashville, Tennessee, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Land O’ Lakes, Florida

WTSP.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Pasco County Animal Services was refusing to accept dogs because of an outbreak of “a canine influenza-causing respiratory disease.” According to the report, the facility wasn’t planning to accept dogs for at least four weeks.

Marble Falls, Texas

DailyTrib.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Marble Falls Animal Services was refusing to accept animals because of a case of canine distemper at another area facility.

Los Angeles, California

NBCLosAngeles.com reported that a kennel supervisor at a publicly funded animal control and sheltering system with “no-kill” policies doing business as Los Angeles Animal Services had been badly injured after being attacked by a dog, who had evidently been available for adoption at one of the facilities. In an interview, the supervisor reportedly said, “My thigh is half gone …. Like, the entire top of my thigh is gone from her just biting and biting and biting.” She reportedly had to beat the dog in the head with a brick to stop the attack. According to the report, the supervisor “said she has one thing in particular she wants to share. ‘The message here is the city of Los Angeles adopted no-kill way too soon …. I’ve been with the department 24 years and this is the worst it’s ever been. There are so many people that have been bit and mauled at the shelters and it needs to stop because we’re overcrowding and we’re not euthanizing the animals [who] need to be euthanized in a timely manner.” LATimes.com later reported that a “woman whose arm was amputated after she was attacked by a dog adopted from a [Los Angeles] city animal shelter will receive up to $7.5 million in a settlement.” According to the report, the lawsuit said the attack “lasted at least 20 minutes and was a savage mauling in which both of [the woman’s] arms were brutally shredded, with her right arm broken into pieces and almost entirely severed above her elbow.” Her “right arm could not be saved, and her left arm was also badly injured, ‘resulting in permanent disability of the left arm and the whole body,’ according to the lawsuit.” (See the May 2024, Los Angeles, California, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Knoxville, Tennessee

WATE.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Young-Williams Animal Center was refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of canine distemper. (See the May 2023, Knoxville, Tennessee, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Fridley, Minnesota

KARE11.com reported that authorities had seized dozens of animals, many of them dead, from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Happy Tails Rescue of Minnesota. According to the report, a “search warrant, executed on May 21, 2024, shows 25 dogs, 12 cats, a bird, a guinea pig, two deceased dogs and 13 deceased cats—in addition to log books and other miscellaneous items—were confiscated from the property.” The investigation was ongoing.

Quincy, Florida

WCTV.tv reported that authorities had arrested and charged Angela Geary, the operator of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Rest Your Paws Pet Refuge, with more than 100 criminal charges “connected to neglecting animals.” According to the report, court records “allege that Geary exposed animals at her establishment to ‘deplorable’ conditions—reportedly leaving them without food or water, allowing feces and urine to cake up on the floors and storing dead dogs and cats in a freezer.” Geary reportedly “agreed to sign over 51 animals to Tallahassee pet rescue owner Judy Du Bois, the officer wrote [in a report]. But just two months later, investigators in Leon County alleged that Du Bois herself was mistreating animals. The Tallahassee woman was arrested on animal cruelty charges, and authorities seized more than 50 dogs from her property.” (See the May 2024, Tallahassee, Florida, entry below for more information about the charges against DuBois.) According to the report, the bodies of approximately 87 dead animals had been “turned over to a forensic veterinarian for examination. However, the records noted that most of the remains were in such poor condition that the doctor ‘would not be able to perform a necropsy.’” A court date was set in the case.

Miami, Florida

CBSNews.com reported that a resident who was walking his dog had found an abandoned dog on the side of a road. According to the report, he had “never seen a dog in this condition before. ‘I thought [he] was dead …. I was trying to move him to the grass but he wouldn’t budge,’” the resident said. Surveillance footage shared by a neighbor reportedly showed the dog being abandoned from “a car around 2:40 a.m.” According to the report, “Neighbors say they called the police, who were unable to take a report, and referred them to” a publicly funded, self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Miami-Dade Animal Services (MDAS), which refused to accept the animal. A private animal adoption group was called and took the dog to a veterinary hospital, where he was reportedly found to be suffering from a severe flea infestation and numerous tumors. He was reportedly receiving treatment. In a later report, NBCMiami.com reported that MDAS claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept animals. (See the December 2023, Miami, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Tampa, Florida

FOX13News.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center claimed to be at “150% capacity.” The facility was refusing to accept dogs, purportedly because of an outbreak of canine flu. A self-professed “No Kill for Space” facility in the area doing business as the Humane Society of Tampa Bay was also refusing to accept dogs because of cases of canine flu at its facility, including in a dog who had evidently been found dead there. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said about sick dogs: “One day they look fine, the next day they’re sometimes down in their kennels, they can’t stand up.” A nearby publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Pasco County Animal Services was also refusing to accept dogs because of the outbreak and was expecting to do so for at least “three to four weeks.”

Renton, Washington

FOX13Seattle.com reported that 11 rabbits had died in a fire at a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Sammamish Animal Sanctuary. The animals had reportedly been confined to a barn that became “engulf[ed] in flames.” No additional information was available.

Woodstock, Connecticut

WTNH.com reported that a minivan filled with puppies in carriers who were allegedly being transported from an unnamed self-professed animal “rescue” in West Virginia had “hit a utility pole and rolled over in Woodstock.” According to the report, plastic carriers were smashed and damaged, one puppy had died in the crash, and three puppies had to be rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital for treatment. No additional information was available.

Inhumane, Dangerous Results of ‘No-Kill’ Policies That Made Headlines in May 2024

Sylvester, Georgia

WALB.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Best Friends Humane Society was refusing to accept cats from people who were unable or unwilling to care for them. A spokesperson for the group said it had a waiting list and that cats and kittens, some of whom had been critically ill, had been left in boxes outside the closed-door facility.

Nashville, Tennessee

WPLN.org reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Metro Animal Care and Control claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. According to the report, the facility is a selective admission one at which “[w]orkers assess the behavior of the [animal] and medical conditions to determine whether to admit them to the shelter.” (See the May 2022, Nashville, Tennessee, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Greensboro, North Carolina

RhinoTimes.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Guilford County Animal Services was refusing to accept cats because of an outbreak of the feline panleukopenia virus. (See the June 2019, Greensboro, North Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Sherman, Texas

KXII.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as City of Sherman Animal Shelter was shutting down and refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of distemper. (See the June 2021, Sherman, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Walterboro, South Carolina

PostAndCourier.com reported that Kimberly Couture, the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Healing Hearts from Sole to Soul, had been sentenced “to jail time on multiple counts relating to animal neglect after she pleaded guilty.” According to the report, authorities had seized 61 animals from the “rescue” in May 2022. “The animals had little to no shelter and access only to dirty water. Animal control found at least two dead animals along the fence line of a neighboring property,” the report revealed. A judge reportedly sentenced Couture “on 39 counts of failure to provide care to animals and one count of failure to dispose of a dead animal.” She was ordered to spend 10 days in jail on the neglect charges and was fined $200 for the improper burial or disposal of a dead animal.

Los Angeles, California

KTLA.com reported that a publicly funded animal control and sheltering system with “no-kill” policies doing business as Los Angeles Animal Services had “hundreds of animals … stuck in cramped conditions.” A spokesperson for an animal adoption group alleged that “[t]here are two or three dogs in a kennel meant for one” and that crates line the facilities’ hallways. She also said that many animals were being released without having first been spayed and neutered. (See the September 2023, Los Angeles, California, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Seattle, Washington

Crosscut.com reported that the outlet had spoken to “[m]ore than 20 current and former volunteers and staff” members at a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Seattle Animal Shelter who shared concerns about dangerous animals being warehoused at the facility and adopted by unsuspecting members of the public. Allegations and records about cases included those about a dog named Grubauer, who “went to a foster or adoption home and was returned 11 times in total, mostly over bites.” One adopter was so frightened of the animal after a serious attack that she had to call animal control to have the dog removed from her home. According to the report, he was eventually euthanized. One individual who had volunteered at the facility for a decade before leaving said that things had gotten progressively worse when the facility started warehousing animals “for a really long time.”

Lincoln, Nebraska

1011Now.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Capital Humane Society claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept dogs from area residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them.

Wharton, New Jersey

Westchester.News12.com reported that a woman who had adopted a dog from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Pixies and Paws Rescue Inc. said that “her veterinarian found the puppy had serious medical problems,” including an untreated hernia and had two microchips. She said that when she contacted the group, it “agreed to take the dog back but said the $1,500 [adoption fee] was a nonrefundable donation.” According to the report, “The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs says it’s reviewing the complaints it’s gotten about Pixies and Paws. They also say the group is not licensed as a nonprofit in the state, as required by law, and says that could result in penalties.”

Topeka, Kansas

CJOnline.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Helping Hands Humane Society Inc. claimed to be “full” and was refusing to accept dogs.

Austin, Texas

KXAN.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Austin Animal Center was severely restricting the hours during which it would accept animals. The change was being made to keep animals out of the shelter. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said that it had “no space for incoming medium/large dogs, small dogs, cats or kittens.” (See the March 2024, Austin, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Hempstead, New York

LongIsland.News12.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter had warehoused four dogs at the facility “for years” before sending them to an unregulated self-professed animal “rescue” in Florida doing business as PawsEver Home Inc. According to the report, “Team 12 Investigates began looking into the owner of PawsEver Home, Michael Breitsprecher, and uncovered 13 animal infractions against him. According to Florida Court Records, animal control officers investigated Breitsprecher for having, a ‘U-Haul box truck loaded with 20+ dogs in crates and no ventilation’ and added that ‘dogs were in distress when the sheriffs arrived.’ Another report stated a woman ‘hired him to train her dog Gizmo, [who] died in his care.’ … Paws Ever Home’s Vice President Alex Hernandez Zuleta, also has an animal infraction against him.” In a statement, the town supervisor reportedly said that the town’s facility would be reevaluating its relationship with the pair. No additional information was available.

Omaha, Nebraska

Omaha.com reported that authorities had rescued a dog found locked in a hot car. According to the report, “The animal control officer noted the dog showed signs of heat distress such as panting, drooling and laying down. The police report stated the animal control officer initially thought the dog was dead. … The animal control officer reported the dog had a body temperature of 104.9 degrees—nearly five degrees above a dog’s normal body temperature.” A microchip revealed that just days before the rescue, the animal had been adopted from a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Nebraska Humane Society. The dog reportedly survived. (See the August 2023, Omaha, Nebraska, entry below for more information about this facility.)

East Ridge, Tennessee

ChattanoogaPulse.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as East Ridge Animal Services was refusing to accept animals because of “an outbreak of an undetermined illness spreading at the facility.”

Chickamauga, Georgia

Local3News.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Walker County Animal Shelter was refusing to accept animals because of “a potential parvo exposure.” The facility reportedly expected to be closed for at least two weeks.

Plumas Lake, California

ActionNewsNow.com reported that authorities had seized more than 200 cats from the home of a woman who told them “that she owns a feral cat rescue.” According to the report, “Deputies said they are still at [the] home and are continuing removal efforts with the current count of 160 alive and 46 dead cats.” The investigation and removal efforts were ongoing. No additional information was available.

Brownsburg, Indiana

FOX59.com reported that after authorities seized five starving, neglected dogs from a home described as “extremely foul,” the dogs’ owners said that they’d been “wanting to get rid of the dogs but claimed a shelter wouldn’t take them due to a lack of room.” Area animal shelters have “no-kill” policies. According to the report, conditions at the home were so dangerous that authorities had to wear hazmat suits to remove the dogs, who “had signs of mange, police said, and were malnourished and covered in feces.” An investigating officer reportedly said, “It is clear that each dog faced serious bodily injury or death every day they lived inside” the home. The owners were charged with cruelty to animals.

Del Valle, Texas

KVUE.com reported that an area resident said that there had been “a massive increase in stray dogs” in the area, where animal shelters had shut their doors because of “no-kill” policies. The resident said that she “sees 10 new stray dogs” every week and that many of them were attacking other animals. She also said that the dogs aren’t “spayed or neutered, so there are puppies. The dogs are also often hit and hurt by cars, leaving her feeling stuck. She said after talking to the sheriff’s office, the only choice is to shoot the dogs killing cattle on their property.” A spokesperson for a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Austin Animal Center reportedly “said most municipal animal shelters haven’t taken animals in for a while. They’ve restricted their intake since 2022.” (See the March 2024, Austin, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Attleboro, Massachusetts

TheSunChronicle.com reported that a $950,000 lawsuit had been filed against the insurance carrier of a group with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Friends of Attleboro Animal Shelter by the grandparents of a child who had been bitten by a dog up for adoption at the shelter. According to the report, the child had “visited the city’s animal shelter in 2021 with the intention of adopting a dog, according to a report in The Boston Globe. The young girl was shown a pit-bull mix named Kane, which, her family says, officials at the shelter assured was friendly. The dog, however, attacked her.”

Detroit, Michigan

MetroTimes.com reported that the wife of a man who had been fatally mauled by three dogs had filed a lawsuit against the city of Detroit, its animal control department (a nonprofit doing business as Friends of Detroit Animal Care & Control), and others, alleging that complaints about the animals hadn’t been adequately addressed. According to the report, “The lawsuit suggests that attempts by the nonprofit and city to avoid euthanasia have created a dangerous environment for Detroiters. The no-kill model is ‘utterly ineffective, reckless, and deadly,’ the lawsuit argues. According to the lawsuit, the dogs [who] attacked [the victim] have been a constant nuisance and were known to be dangerous.” (See the April 2022, Saginaw, Michigan, entry below for more information about Detroit Animal Care & Control.)

Paragould, Arkansas

NEAReport.com reported that Brenda Ramthun, the owner and operator of a self-professed “no-kill” shelter doing business as the Greene County Animal Farm, had been arrested on 54 counts of cruelty to animals, including one felony count of aggravated cruelty, after authorities found more than 100 animals on two properties that she was associated with. According to the report, “Several were reportedly crammed in small cages, living in filth, and with no access to food or water. Several animals appeared to need vet care and were in poor condition, as well, authorities wrote in the probable cause affidavit.” In a public post on social media, the sheriff explained that “many questions have arisen as to why some animals were left on the premises when Ramthun was taken into custody. The issue that we have repeatedly run into during this investigation and subsequent arrest has been animal rescue organizations and facilities being unwilling or unable to assist in the placement of the animals.” Animals who were in the worst condition were seized, including a dog who was in such bad shape that he or she died during a veterinary examination and “a pig [who] had a severe rectal prolapse, and had resorted to walking on [his or her] hocks due to [the animal’s] hooves being so overgrown and preventing the pig from walking normally.” A judge reportedly “set a $10,000 cash or surety bond for Ramthun’s release. He also ruled that she must wear an ankle monitor and has been ordered not to possess or be within 100 feet of any type of animal.”

Cedarburg, Wisconsin

WISN.com reported that authorities had seized at least 45 animals from a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Autumn Farm Sanctuary, including chickens, ducks, goats, pigs, and turkeys after they were found badly neglected. According to the report, a “criminal complaint noted dirty living conditions” at the property, “including water bowls filled with mud and feces. Authorities mentioned in the criminal complaint that they observed ‘negligence in providing food, water, and shelter’ and that there were too many animals on site. Some of those animals had injuries and needed treatment; some pigs had overgrown hooves, one was having trouble walking.” Owner Holly Herbst was facing “charges of mistreating animals and failing to provide proper drink to confined animals.”

Fresno, California

YourCentralValley.com reported that a resident said that three publicly funded facilities in the area, all with “no-kill” policies, had refused to accept a dog she found who appeared ill and pregnant. According to the report, “Upon arriving at the Fresno Animal Center, [the resident] says she was told that they could not take the dog unless the dog was injured. [The resident] alleges that the employee told her to leave the dog where she found [the animal] and not look back.” She said she then contacted “Fresno Humane Animal Services via text for help. Fresno Humane Animal Services provides services for animals found within the unincorporated County of Fresno, according to their website.” She reportedly received a text message in response, saying, in part, that “animals entering our shelter need to meet specific criteria. We are unable to take the dog you found.” Fresno County reportedly confirmed the position. She also contacted Clovis Animal Services, which would only accept animals found in Clovis to “control the overall intake” at the facility, according to a statement. The resident ended up having to find a home for the dog herself. Another area resident told DailyMail.co.uk that when she and a friend took a homeless dog to the Fresno Animal Center, they were also turned away: “The shelter suggested we take the dog back to the place where we found [her],” she reportedly said.

Tallahassee, Florida

WCTV.tv reported that authorities had seized 60 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Du Bois Rescue Inc. after they were found in filthy, hoarded conditions. A neighbor who was interviewed said he’d heard a “dog bark ‘for hours’ and began questioning the treatment of the animals. ‘I’ve witnessed the dogs in cages where they couldn’t even turn around,’ he said. ‘There are, literally, two dogs in the cage and, literally, in that position for hours at a time.’” According to a later report, the next day authorities seized 33 pigs, some of whom were pregnant, from the property and arrested “rescue” owner, Judy Du Bois. She was reportedly charged with five counts of cruelty to animals “and five counts of holding animals without sufficient food or water.”

Grover Hill, Ohio

WANE.com reported that all the animals confined at a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Justice Animal Rescue had died in a fire at the property. It wasn’t known how many animals had died or whether authorities were investigating.

New Orleans, Louisiana

WDSU.com reported that a resident said that because many publicly funded facilities with “no-kill” policies had stopped accepting animals from those who were unable or unwilling to care for them, there were a growing number of “animals just let loose in the streets.” In St. Tammany Parish, a spokesperson for a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services said that the facility had crowded “three dogs in every kennel.” The department had also reportedly “been forking out hundreds of dollars per dog in some cases recently to have them transported out of state.”

April 2024 Reports Showing That ‘No-Kill’ Policies Endanger Animals

Brooksville, Florida

ABCActionNews.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Hernando County Animal Services was refusing to accept most dogs because of an outbreak of suspected pneumovirus. (See the January 2024, Brooksville, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

St. Landry Parish, Louisiana

TheAdvocate.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as St. Landry Parish Animal Control claimed to be “full” and was giving away animals for free and refusing to accept any more. According to the report, more than 120 dogs were crammed into a space designed to house 80. (See the May 2023, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Brookhaven, Pennsylvania

Inquirer.com reported that an attorney for a man who had been convicted of cruelly killing a dog who’d been adopted from a self-professed “lifesaving organization” doing business as Providence Animal Center said that the man’s family had tried to surrender the dog but had been turned away from 15 animal shelters before the killing. According to the report, the man “said he strangled the dog with [a] leash, and then beat [the animal] in the head with a metal candleholder …. [He] also said he slit the dog’s throat with a kitchen knife and buried [the] body in his backyard, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.” (See the October 2023, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, entry below for more details.)

Douglas, Arizona

KVOA.com reported that “Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels feels there has been a failure of justice after no criminal charges were filed by prosecutors following a criminal investigation into two Douglas Animal Control officers.” According to the report, the sheriff’s department investigated after receiving “a report about dead animals in the desert in an area just outside the city limits, where the reporting party stated he saw frequent animal control activity.” Two animal control officers “admitted to dumping cats off into the barren desert for months, estimating at least 10 times. They said they did it because they thought the cats would be euthanized at the shelter.” They claimed they abandoned the cats “after speaking with officials” at a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Humane Society of Southern Arizona. According to the report, the two officers were “on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. Douglas Police Chief Kraig Fullen told [the outlet] that they are now developing best practices and reviewing policies and procedures.” (See the October 2023, San Diego, California, entry below for more information about the Humane Society of Southern Arizona.)

Fort Bragg, California

TheGuardian.com printed an editorial by a worker at a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Mendocino Coast Humane Society. She described the facility as a “closed admission shelter” and said there was a long waiting list for people to surrender animals they were unable or unwilling to care for. A man who had recently taken three terrified kittens to the facility and was told it would not accept them reportedly “threatened to ‘throw them against the wall’” before the facility relented and took them in. She also wrote that she and others at the facility had heard that the area’s publicly funded animal control department (which evidently also has “no-kill” policies) had been “telling people to leave found animals where they are because they don’t have the capacity to handle them.”

New York, New York

FOX5NY.com reported that a spokesperson for a publicly funded sheltering system operated by a company with “no-kill” policies doing business as Animal Care Centers of NYC said that the city shelters had more than 300 dogs crammed into facilities designed to house 185. According to the report, she said that dogs were lined up in hallways held in “cages that would normally be used for cats.” (See the October 2023, New York, New York, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Jacksonville, Arkansas

FOX16.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Jacksonville Animal Shelter claimed to be “full” and was turning away animals. According to the report, people were abandoning dogs outside the facility after hours.

South Bend, Indiana

WNDU.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as South Bend Animal Resource Center was refusing to accept any dogs because of an outbreak of canine parvovirus.

Elizabethton, Tennessee

WJHL.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Elizabethton/Carter County Animal Shelter claimed to be “full” and was turning away dogs.

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

ABC27.com reported that after self-professed animal “rescues” in the area had refused to accept a dog “because of a history of biting,” the animal had been found shot to death on the side of a road, according to authorities. The dog belonged to the fiancée of a male suspect and had been found dead after biting him. According to the report, medical records revealed that “bullets were found throughout the body of the dog [who] suffered multiple hemorrhages, blood clots, and broken bones. Cardiovascular and respiratory complications were also indicated.” The man was charged with cruelty to animals.

Hayden, Idaho

KXLY.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Companions Animal Center claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals. A spokesperson for the facility said that animals abandoned by people who had been turned away were being picked up by animal control officers: “So we’re still getting them in, but we’re getting them in through the backdoor through animal control.” According to the report, the facility had a book that was a waitlist representing residents needing to surrender dogs: “As one staff member showed the book of dogs waiting to be surrendered, she says it’s never been thicker.”

Fairfield County, South Carolina

WISTV.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Fairfield County Animal Adoption Center claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept dogs.

Warsaw, Indiana

NewsNowWarsaw.com reported that authorities had raided a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Isaiah 11 Ministry “and removed numerous animals [who] had been left to suffer from open wounds, chronic illnesses, and severe infections and a lack of veterinary care.” The group’s owner, Linda Ozier, was reportedly under investigation. According to the report, “[T]he recent police action was part of an undercover investigation by PETA.” InkFreeNews.com reported that all animals had been removed from the property. (See PETA’s news release about the case here for more information.)

Rochester, New York

13WHAM.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Rochester Animal Services claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. (See the July 2023, Rochester, New York, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Upper Marlboro, Maryland

WUSA9.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center was refusing to accept dogs from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them because of “space constraints” and an outbreak of “diseases.” The facility was also giving away dogs for free. (See the August 2023, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, entry below for more details about this facility.)

Schaumburg, Illinois

DailyHerald.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Golf Rose Animal Services claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept homeless animals. The facility reportedly stated in a public post that some animals had been warehoused there for weeks or months. A spokesperson for the facility said that some animals had also “been in foster homes for about a year with zero interest.”

California, Maryland

SOMDNews.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the St. Mary’s Animal Adoption & Resource Center was refusing to accept animals because of an “outbreak of a contagious upper respiratory illness.”

Center Township, Pennsylvania

CBSNews.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Beaver County Humane Society claimed that it was “full” and had 66 people who needed to turn in dogs on a waiting list.

Chicago, Illinois

BlockClubChicago.org reported that authorities had seized 26 cats from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Nikki’s Ferals after they were found apparently hoarded and neglected. The owner of the “rescue,” Ashley Burrell, was “charged with a misdemeanor in ‘animal owner duties,’ police said.” ABC7Chicago.com reported that the animals seized included 36 cats and three dogs. CBSNews.com reported that “Chicago Animal Care and Control could not comment on specifics of the case, but did say it was an ‘ongoing criminal matter.’”

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in March 2024

Lake County, Florida

WESH.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Lake County Animal Shelter was crowded and warehousing animals. According to the report, the facility had “seventy percent more” dogs than it had space in which to house them humanely. One dog was warehoused there for more than 1,000 days. A spokesperson for the facility said the reason for the severe crowding wasn’t that more animals were coming in but that animals were being warehoused for the long term in cages.

Indianapolis, Indiana

IndyStar.com reported that a former employee alleged that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as IndyHumane had released dangerous dogs, including a dog who “was adopted three times. The first time he bit the owner’s hand and was returned. The second time he attacked the owner’s cat and was returned. The third time he bit a child’s face and was sent back and then euthanized.” Another adopted dog allegedly “attacked and killed an adopter’s dog.” The former employee said of the facility’s staff, “They will tell owners [he or she is] a dog-friendly pet just to get rid of [the animal].”

Belton, South Carolina

FOXCarolina.com reported that authorities had seized 37 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Soft Landings Road to Rescue “after receiving a tip that dogs were living in deplorable conditions.” It was later reported that Sandra Hayes had been “charged with 37 counts of felony ill-treatment of animals” in connection with the case. Authorities reportedly said that she was also known as “Sandy Jones” and had turned herself in. No additional information was available.

Midland, Texas

CBS7.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Midland Animal Services was refusing to accept dogs because of an outbreak of canine distemper. (See the April 2023, Midland, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Forth Worth, Texas

CommunityImpact.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Fort Worth Animal Care & Control Department had implemented a “managed intake” policy that requires residents to be placed on waiting lists for at least two weeks when they need to turn in animals they’re unable or unwilling to care for. A spokesperson for the facility said the change had been made to increase “live-release rates.” (See the February 2019, Fort Worth, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Phoenix, Arizona

AZCentral.com reported that a 3-year-old dog had been found dead in a kennel at a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. According to the report, testing showed that the dog had been suffering from “Streptococcus zooepidemicus—also known as Strep zoo.” The facility was refusing to accept dogs from residents and asked them to house stray dogs in their own homes. (See the December 2023, Phoenix, Arizona, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Athens, Georgia

WGAURadio.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Athens-Clarke County Animal Services was refusing to accept dogs from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them because “of canine parvovirus and space constraints.” (See the October 2023, Athens, Georgia, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Greene County, Missouri

KY3.com reported that a dog who was being fostered for a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as 4 The Love of K9s had viciously attacked an 8-year-old girl who was walking home from a school bus stop. The child was taken by ambulance to a hospital, and the dog was impounded and euthanized. A spokesperson for the “rescue” said that the dog had attacked another animal in a previous foster home.

Warren, Michigan

FOX2Detroit.com reported that a 5-year-old dog had been warehoused for more than three years at a self-professed “no-kill” animal “rescue” doing business as I Heart Dogs Rescue and Animal Haven. A spokesperson for the group said that he’d been transferred to it from another facility and couldn’t be placed in a home with other animals.

Austin, Texas

KXAN.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Austin Animal Center was housing more dogs than it had space for. A spokesperson for the facility said it had “zero open kennels for any incoming dogs, including emergencies,” and was expecting 12 dogs to arrive who’d been seized by authorities in a cruelty-to-animals case. (See the January 2024, Austin, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Pittsboro, North Carolina

CBS17.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Animal Resource Center was refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of an unspecified respiratory disease. No additional information was available.

Sevierville, Tennessee

WVLT.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Sevier Animal Care Center claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals. According to the report, officials said that dogs were being kept “in outside runs and temporary pop-up crates throughout the building” and that puppies were being kept in a visiting room.

Batavia, Ohio

USAToday.com reported that an 8-year-old dog had been warehoused for nearly three years at a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as League for Animal Welfare. According to the report, a public post by the group said that when the dog had been admitted to the facility, he’d been “painfully afraid of everything around him” because he’d been “seized from another rescue authorities shut down for cruelty and neglect.”

Lake Country, British Columbia, Canada

InfoTel.ca reported that authorities had seized “85 animals including rabbits, cats and wildlife,” from a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as Warren Peace Bunny Sanctuary after “officers found a number of animals in distress when they responded to a [complaint] about the animals in the sanctuary’s care.” According to the report, “Several additional animals were surrendered to [authorities] in critical distress and had to be euthanized. A dozen more were taken directly to [a] veterinarian for euthanasia.” Cruelty-to-animals charges were being recommended in the case.

San Antonio, Texas

SanAntonioReport.org reported that an audit of a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as San Antonio Animal Care Services (ACS) found that “ACS hasn’t been able to ensure that the animals they release [to self-professed animal “rescue” groups] are getting spayed or neutered.” The audit found that ACS also hadn’t been inspecting the groups’ facilities. Officials were reviewing the audit report and considering corrective action. (See the April 2022, San Antonio, Texas, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Yakima, Washington

BigCountryNewsConnection.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Acts of Kindness Animal Rescue “was, and still is, under investigation” by the sheriff’s department “for animal neglect involving the unsafe and unsanitary housing of several dogs at the location.” No additional information was available.

Hollister, California

ABC7News.com reported that authorities had seized “200 cats with extreme medical conditions and 13 dogs” from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as SBC Pet-A-Palooza Rescue Inc. after they were found suffering “in deplorable conditions without food or water and housed with built up feces.” BenitoLink.com reported that “rescue” owners Richard Lopez and Susie Alarcon had been arrested on cruelty-to-animals charges. A first responder reportedly “said the animals were housed inside different rooms in the house, in the back yard and in a shed on the driveway.” ABC7News.com shared a later report that revealed, “Now with a revised count—police say 13 dogs, 65 live cats and 31 deceased cats were recovered from inside this home.” According to the report, “The San Benito County District Attorney’s Office is waiting for the complete report before information of arraignment is released.”

Fayetteville, North Carolina

AOL.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Cumberland County Animal Services Department was refusing to accept most dogs because of an outbreak of canine parvovirus. According to the report, residents who found stray dogs were being told “to post on social media” instead of taking animals to the public shelter.

Lima, Ohio

WLWT.com reported that an 8-year-old dog had been warehoused for more than five years at a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Ohio Society for the Prevention of Cruelty.

Georgetown, Texas

GABNewsOnline.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Saint Frances Animal Center claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept dogs from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them.

Syracuse, New York

WAER.org reported that a spokesperson for the city police department’s dog control and cruelty-to-animals units said there was “a waiting list of 50 people who say they’ve taken in a stray dog but don’t want to keep them” at the city’s contracted animal sheltering facility. The city reportedly contracts with a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Second Chance Canine Adoption Shelter in Jamestown, New York, which was described as “crowded.”

Boaz, Alabama

MiamiHerald.com reported that a 13-year-old dog had been warehoused for 11 years at a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Second Chance Shelter. According to the report, the facility said that the dog was “too scared” to be touched.

Rowland Heights, California

OCRegister.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Woofy Acres Inc. had allegedly abandoned 32 dogs at a boarding kennel. According to the report, some of the dogs had been kenneled “there for two years, but Woofy Acres of Porter Ranch stopped paying for their board and care in October.” A local resident reportedly secured public records showing that 15 of the 32 dogs had been given to Woofy Acres by a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Orange County Animal Care “while the others came from shelters around Southern California.” An employee at the boarding kennel said it “has been unable to reach Woofy Acres President Dianne Bedford for months. Meanwhile, the costs continue to mount, with the rescue now owing $40,000 to the kennel.”

Inhumane, Dangerous Results of ‘No-Kill’ Policies That Made Headlines in February 2024

Las Vegas, Nevada

8NewsNow.com reported that 164 dogs were exhibiting symptoms of canine influenza and that 17 had tested positive for the virus at a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as The Animal Foundation. (See the October 2023, Las Vegas, Nevada, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Dixon, Kentucky

The-Messenger.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Webster County Animal Care and Control claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. According to the report, approximately 100 animals were being turned away each year. The facility was also housing more than one dog, “both inside and outside,” in kennels designed to comfortably hold only one animal.

Henderson, Nevada

News3LV.com reported that a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Henderson Animal Care and Control Shelter was refusing to accept animals because of an outbreak of canine influenza. (See the December 2023, Henderson, Nevada, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Vernon Township, New Jersey

DailyVoice.com reported that authorities had seized more than 90 dogs from the operators of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Angels for Animals Network, where they were found “living in a filthy home amongst their own feces and urine and exposed to high levels of ammonia.” Two animals were found dead on the property. A news release by a nonprofit that assisted with the seizure reportedly said, “Some of the animals had dirty, severely matted coats, including one dog who was found with nails matted into their fur. … Some dogs were underweight and had untreated medical conditions including eye infections and injuries. Several dogs were living in cars.” Gizela Juric and Ronald Colgan were reportedly charged with six counts of cruelty to animals, and additional charges were expected to be pursued.

Horry County, South Carolina

WPDE.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Horry County Animal Care Center was refusing to accept animals because of “an illness among their cat and dog population.” According to the report, county officials had “declined” to answer any questions about the turn-away policy. (See the July 2021, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Beekmantown, New York

PressRepublican.com reported that authorities had seized 49 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as A Canine Gem after they were found “crammed into small cages with bare cement floors, causing many to have injuries and issues to their paws. Many of the dogs appeared malnourished as well,” according to the county sheriff, who said “most, if not all, were under fed, some severely under fed, a couple of them that couldn’t even stand up.” At a news conference, the sheriff said that the case was “very sad” and that “to have them just boxed up in a cage, stuffed in there like that and treated that way is just not acceptable.” “Rescue” owner Hilary Davis “could be facing numerous charges,” according to the report. The investigation was ongoing.

Atascosa County, Texas

KENS5.com reported that in January authorities had seized 29 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Lucky Paws 4A Purpose after they were found in deplorable conditions. “Rescue” operator Patricia Stone was charged with 27 counts of cruelty to animals and had turned herself in to authorities. A spokesperson for the county’s animal control department said the case was “one of the worst that we as an agency have worked so far since we’ve opened up in 2018.” A court date had evidently been set in the case against Stone.

Stafford, Virginia

NorthernVirginiaMag.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Stafford County Animal Shelter claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept dogs from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them.

Van Wert, Ohio

FOX2Now.com reported that a dog had been warehoused for eight years at a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Van Wert County Humane Society. According to the report, over the years she’d evidently been aggressive and had been kept isolated.

Grass Valley, California

ABC10.com reported that Linda Vaccarezza, the owner and operator of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Pitty-Pop Pitbull Rescue had been found guilty of cruelty to animals and illegally operating a kennel “as a result of a two-year investigation by law enforcement.” During the investigation, animal control officers had seized 35 dogs and 11 chickens, according to a media release posted by the sheriff’s department. A spokesperson for the department said that a puppy found at the “rescue” had infected sores on his body and was “lethargic, emaciated and unable to walk. The puppy’s red blanket in the cage was soaking wet, saturated with what appeared to be urine.” Deputies said that several of the animals seized “appeared ill, malnourished, injured” and that “many were living in unsanitary conditions.” A sentencing hearing was scheduled in the case against Vaccarezza.

Duplin County, North Carolina

WCTI12.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Duplin County Animal Services was shutting down for at least three weeks because of an outbreak of canine parvovirus.

Fayetteville, Arkansas

NWAHomepage.com reported that authorities had seized 34 cats and a dog from a woman, Morgan McDonald, who said that she’d “inherited a ‘feral cat rescue’ in Oct. 2023.” Responding to a complaint, police officers reportedly found cats who “looked malnourished, had trouble walking and had mucus around their noses and eyes.” They returned with a warrant and found some cats confined to cages without food or water and cats with upper respiratory infections and “FIV, the feline version of HIV.” MacDonald was reportedly “arrested on 18 counts of aggravated cruelty to dog, cat or horse and 17 counts of cruelty to animals.”

New York, New York

FOX5NY.com reported that a publicly funded sheltering system operated by a company with “no-kill” policies doing business as Animal Care Centers of NYC claimed that it was “full” and had stopped accepting dogs from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. A spokesperson for the group said that it was “seeing a lot of people surrendering many stray dogs in particular.” (See the October 2023, New York, New York, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Los Angeles County, California

CBSNews.com reported that authorities had seized 143 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Compton Animal Rescue, which had reportedly been operating illegally. According to the report, authorities served three search warrants at the “rescue” in January, resulting in the seizure of animals, including “dogs, some cats, chickens, a rooster, tortoise, turtles, pigs, snakes, a horse, hamster, rabbits, a hawk and lizards.” Authorities reported that “13 animals were found dead at the time of the raid, and a number of the animals were too sick to save and ultimately had to be humanely euthanized.” No additional information was available.

St. George, Utah

StGeorgeUtah.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as St. George Animal Shelter had announced that it was turning away animals and had “a growing waiting list” for residents to turn in animals they were unable or unwilling to care for.

Frederick, Maryland

FrederickNewsPost.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Frederick County Division of Animal Control was only accepting animals by appointment from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. According to the report, appointments were backed up for weeks.

Ocala, Florida

Ocala-News.com reported that authorities had seized 53 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as No BS Sanctuary Inc. after they were found in horrific conditions. One dead dog was also found. According to the report, authorities said that “most of the dogs were confined to crates and had their own waste caked to their fur. In addition, some of the dogs were thin and had ‘considerable dental issues.’” An emergency petition that had been filed by the county attorney to gain custody of the animals was granted. It reportedly enjoined No BS Sanctuary Inc. and its owner, Matthew Keel, “meaning he is unable to legally own any animals without first seeking permission from the court as an individual or a corporation.” It wasn’t reported whether charges were being considered. WCJB.com reported that respirators were needed by first responders to the property because of the high ammonia levels in the structure. A neighbor said that she’d “been trying to get the dogs out of his house for four and a half years. ‘And you can hear all the dogs in there, barking at all hours of the day and night. You can hear them killing each other. In fact, how I met [Keel] was he shot one of his dogs when I first moved in here and he came out and was covered in blood.’”

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Sun-Sentinel.com reported that an arbitrator had awarded $132,000 to a woman who had sustained injuries when she was attacked by a dog who’d been released to an animal adoption group by a public animal shelter with “no-kill” policies doing business as Broward County Animal Care. According to the report, when the woman took the dog home to foster for the adoption group, he “attacked [the woman], biting her hands and calf, resulting in gashes, 50 stitches and a wrist surgery, according to court filings.” The arbitrator reportedly found that the county facility had “breached its duty to warn/disclose by failing to make clear that [the dog] was (or should have been) a ‘behavior release’ due to ‘unpredictable behavior and possible aggression,’ noting documented cases of attempting to bite at a handler, lunging at a handler twice, and where staff finally no longer felt comfortable walking him.” (See the September 2022, Broward County, Florida, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Cochise County, Arizona

AZCentral.com reported that authorities had seized 24 animals, “including five who were dead and several [who] required medical attention” from a home being used as a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Zoey’s Ranch. “Rescue” owner Jill Houchens was reportedly “arrested … on suspicion of 146 charges of animal cruelty and neglect.” According to the report, when authorities served a warrant at the property, “they found several neglected animals living in poor conditions …. Officials said areas where animals were kept were filled with feces and there was no clean area for the animals to stand. There was also little to no water left out and no food available.” A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said that Houchens “runs her own ‘rescue’” and “pulls from Sierra Vista Shelter.” The investigation was ongoing.

DeKalb County, Georgia

11Alive.com reported that a publicly funded facility doing business as DeKalb County Animal Services, operating through a contract with a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as LifeLine Animal Project, was warehousing more than 500 dogs and that each animal was only “walked every five to seven days.” (See the January 2024, Youngsville, North Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Santa Rosa, California

PressDemocrat.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Sonoma County Animal Services had 180 dogs crammed into a space designed to humanely house 118. According to the report, some dogs were confined to wire crates and kennels designed to house one dog had been divided to house more. A spokesperson for the facility said that it was refusing to accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them.

Tyler, Texas

KETK.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as SPCA of East Texas claimed that it was “full” and was refusing to accept any animals.

Manning, South Carolina

TheItem.com reported that a 12-year-old cat had been warehoused for nearly three years at a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as A Second Chance Animal Shelter.

Loveland, Colorado

Denver7.com reported that authorities had seized approximately 80 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Just 4 Jacks Ranch & Sanctuary, which had allegedly been operating without a license and had been served an eviction notice. According to authorities, “rescue” owner Drew Renkewitz had applied for a license but failed the state’s pre-license inspection and was ultimately denied a license to operate. He reportedly said that the dogs he’d collected on the unlicensed property “all came from shelters and rescues, as well as abuse situations.”

Wake County, North Carolina

CBS17.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Wake County Animal Services had announced that residents who needed to surrender animals for whom they were unable or unwilling to care could only do so with an appointment. According to the facility’s director, “the wait to give up a dog could be 6 or 7 weeks.” (See the January 2024, Wake County, North Carolina, entry below for more details about this facility.)

January 2024 Reports Showing That ‘No-Kill’ Policies Endanger Animals

Andover, Minnesota

Patch.com reported that authorities had charged the owner of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as For Furever Animal Rescue with 22 counts of cruelty to animals. According to the report, “Carley Mackenzie Ryan was charged Monday following a months-long investigation. The charges include counts of felony animal torture and misdemeanor unwholesome enclosure.” Dogs seized by authorities in October 2023 (See the October 2023, Andover, Minnesota, entry below for more information) reportedly included a Great Dane who had difficulty walking because of severe urine and fecal scald, “which caused swelling of all four feet,” and an Australian cattle dog who was described as “both urine and fecal incontinent and despite that was housed in a crate that was inadequate in size with another dog.” The cattle dog “had alopecia and wounds to the inside of both rear legs where the skin was red, ulcerated, and painful from urine and fecal scald. [A veterinary] exam also noted harsh lung sounds suggesting scarring of lungs due to poor air quality in the living conditions in which he was found.” Another dog also had difficulty walking because of scalded, “swollen feet and extremely overgrown toenails.” TwinCities.com reported that of the 22 dogs seized by authorities in October 2023, eight were in such bad shape that they had to be euthanized. The remainder had since been adopted.

Corpus Christi, Texas

KIIITV.com reported that a spokesperson for a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as the Gulf Coast Humane Society said that it had “a six to eight week waiting list” to accept animals from area residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. She also recommended that people leave lost or homeless animals on the street instead of taking them to an animal shelter so that the shelters could “focus” on their adoption statistics.

St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana

WDSU.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services claimed that it was “over capacity and unable to help” additional animals. According to the report, after 28 animals were seized by authorities, “The shelter said they have no room to host them and already turned a conference room into a kennel room.” No additional information was available.

Peyton, Colorado

FOX21News.com reported that the founder of a self-professed animal “sanctuary” doing business as OutPaws’ Sweet Home Sanctuary said that a baby goat had been found “dead in her stall” after a cold snap. According to the report, the group’s operator said that she believes the animal was smothered to death while several goats were trying to survive freezing temperatures at the facility.

Austin, Texas

News.Yahoo.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Austin Pets Alive! was keeping approximately 230 dogs and 30 cats in outdoor cages. According to the report, freezing temperatures were expected in the area.

Dubuque, Iowa

TelegraphHerald.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Dubuque Regional Humane Society said that it had 60 more cats “than the shelter has kennel space for.” A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said, “We have cats in crates in the hall because we don’t have anywhere else to put them.”

Youngsville, North Carolina

WRAL.com reported that authorities had arrested Anne-Marie Green, the owner of a boarding kennel doing business as Green Meadow Kennels, and charged her with cruelty to animals. According to the report, court documents indicated that she had been “accused of intentionally tormenting and depriving more than 20 medium- to large-sized dogs of necessary sustenance.” Authorities had reportedly received a complaint from two individuals who alleged that a dog had died at the facility, which “was under scrutiny by the North Carolina Agriculture Department for operating unlicensed.” Dogs who had been handed over to a self-professed animal “rescue” in South Carolina doing business as Arcadia Animal Rescue by an animal shelter in Georgia had been sent to Green’s kennel in North Carolina, according to volunteers with the South Carolina group. A spokesperson for the group reportedly said that it had “agreed to allow Green to start pulling dogs from an Atlanta shelter under the rescue.” The Georgia facility releasing the dogs was evidently a publicly funded facility doing business as DeKalb County Animal Services, operating through a contract with a self-professed “no-kill” group doing business as LifeLine Animal Project. (See the September 2023, DeKalb County, Georgia, entry below for more information about this facility.) A court date had been set in the case against Green.

Grovetown, Georgia

LawAndCrime.com reported that authorities who were responding to a call requesting a welfare check at a residence found “14 dead dogs in a feces-covered home.” After one surviving, emaciated dog was rescued and removed for care by animal control authorities, sheriff’s deputies found the bodies of the other animals: “Three dogs were found dead in the bedroom, three were in the refrigerator and one was in the freezer. There were also seven dead puppies throughout the house. All the dogs were in various states of decomposition,” according to the report. Homeowner, Margaret Nevils was tracked down at her workplace and charged with cruelty to animals. According to the report, she “told investigators she was running an adoption and dog rescue service.”

Liberty, Kentucky

WHAS11.com reported that authorities had seized 44 dogs from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Everything’s Going to Be Alright Rescue & Rehabilitation after they were found in conditions described by investigators as “deplorable.” According to a nonprofit that assisted with the seizure, freezing temperatures and high ammonia levels hindered rescue efforts. Three dogs were reportedly found dead at the property, “two of whom were frozen solid.” According to a spokesperson for the nonprofit that helped with the rescue, “Many of the dogs exhibit[ed] signs of obvious and chronic neglect including eye injuries, fur loss, internal and external parasites, anemia, gastrointestinal issues, bite wounds, and matting. Some of the dogs [were] emaciated and the majority of the dogs [were] underweight.” It wasn’t reported whether charges were being considered.

Santa Fe, New Mexico

KRQE.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies partially funded with public monies and doing business as Santa Fe Animal Shelter was refusing to accept dogs because of an outbreak of “Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease (CIRD), also known as kennel cough or dog flu.” According to the report, “The City of Santa Fe Animal Services [and] Santa Fe County Animal Control Services w[ere] also limit[ing] their public services.”

Castle Rock, Colorado

Denver7.com reported that state authorities had “filed charges … with the Office of Administrative Courts” alleging that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Douglas County Canine Rescue had “failed to provide timely veterinary care to dogs, falsified records and operated without a proper license.” Court documents reportedly said that after authorities had received a complaint alleging that “rescue” owner Rebecca Waldrop “was unlawfully housing 20 to 30 dogs in her basement, inspectors executed a search warrant … and found 23 dogs, according to the documents. Waldrop is not licensed to operate [an] animal shelter or any other … animal care facility out of her home.” A foster home operator for the group also allegedly “had approximately 31 dogs in her home. The court documents also claimed several of the dogs did not receive proper veterinary care until days after injuries. A 10-week-old puppy allegedly broke his leg on Aug. 6, 2023 and did not receive veterinary care until Aug. 16.” Waldrop was issued “a notice to appear in the Office of Administrative Courts.”

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

NorthJersey.com reported that a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Treasure Fur-Ever Animal Rescue had to involve authorities to secure the return of three kittens the group had given to a woman to be fostered after she refused to return them. The animals had reportedly been imported from a facility in North Carolina. The New Jersey group also reportedly learned that the fosterer to whom the kittens were given was “living with a woman named Julie Alaimo, who was brought up on 23 counts of animal cruelty in November 2022 after 21 cats and two dogs were rescued from her home by Fair Lawn police.” Authorities returned the animals to the New Jersey group.

Youngstown, Ohio

WKYC.com reported that a dog had been warehoused for six years at a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Animal Charity of Ohio. According to the report, the facility said that the 7-year-old dog would have “to be in a home without other animals” and that it was giving him away for free.

Colonie, New York

CBS6Albany.com reported that authorities had seized more than 100 animals from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Empawthy Animal Rescue Inc. after they were found in “extreme conditions of filth and crowding.” According to the report, authorities found “102 live animals, including 47 dogs, 52 cats and three ferrets” as well as 15 dead cats and a dead rabbit. “Rescue” operator Jennifer Uhl was reportedly arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. News10.com reported that a humane officer said that animals had been found “stacked in crates on top of each other. Inside those crates, they were confined with their own waste and feces. There was a very strong odor of ammonia in the air.” MyRGV.com reported that a self-professed “no-kill” facility in Texas that had been partially funded with public monies and was doing business as the Rio Grande Valley Humane Society (RGVHS) had recently “sent more than 50 dogs and cats” to the New York group. Harlingen, Texas, Mayor Norma Sepulveda said, “[S]hortly before the raid, RGVHS posted on social media praising the partnership and crediting Empawthy with transporting a ‘combined number of 48 dogs and 11 cats’ to ‘loving new homes. … We have since learned that during the Empawthy raid 16 animals were found dead in a freezer and another 47 dogs and 52 cats were removed. It begs the question, ‘How many of those animals were Harlingen animals that were supposedly transported to loving homes?’” (See the December, 2023, Harlingen, Texas, entry below for more information about RGVHS.)

Hudson, Florida

WFLA.com reported that authorities had charged Brenda Hoch, the president of a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as Florida Skunk Rescue, with eight counts of “animal neglect” after a search of the property found ill and injured animals in conditions “described as ‘deplorable’” by an investigator. According to the report, the “rescue” claimed to take in and find homes for “domesticated skunks who’s [sic] owners could not care for them.” It went on to reveal that “Hoch’s home, which served as the headquarters for the rescue … was inspected [by investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission] on August 15, 2023, after multiple attempted inspections. Hoch was found to be in possession of at least 18 skunks.” It was also revealed that an incident “report said some of the skunks in Hoch’s care were kept in small cages and forced to stand in their own feces and urine. It also claimed Hoch was ‘unable and unwilling’ to provide proper food, water, or care. The report also says the smell inside the home was ‘nauseating.’ The investigation revealed seven skunks were underweight, two were overweight, and ten had overgrown nails, among other problems. According to the report, Hoch was ‘verbally combative’ during the investigation, and had an excuse for not cleaning, not providing water and other requirements the law demands.” No additional information was available.

Brooksville, Florida

HernandoCounty.us reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Hernando County Animal Services was refusing to accept most dogs because of an outbreak of suspected canine pneumovirus. According to the report, “22 dogs [were] showing signs of upper respiratory infection consistent with Pneumovirus. So far laboratory testing has confirmed one case of Pneumovirus.” The facility had also stopped providing sterilization surgeries because of the outbreak.

Casper, Wyoming

OilCity.news reported that because of an outbreak of parvovirus, a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Metro Animal Services had stopped accepting dogs from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them.

Austin, Texas

KXAN.com reported that a woman who had been mauled by a dog released by a publicly funded self-professed “no-kill” facility doing business as Austin Animal Center (AAC) was “pushing for a resolution that … could limit the taxpayer-funded shelter’s ability to release dangerous dogs into the community.” According to the report, the woman said she’d been volunteering at an animal adoption group that had acquired the dog from AAC, where records evidently showed that he had a history of biting, when the dog attacked her. She said, “I was basically scalped. The initial tear caused a flap of two by three inches … down to the skull. And then the two to three other bites, there were sections of my scalp that were pulled away from my skull, there were gashes, there were punctures.” A city council member reportedly said, “We are seeing the number of serious bites from animals in Austin … they’ve climbed significantly over the last few years.” (See the September 2023, Austin, Texas, entry below for more details about this facility.)

Chambers County, Alabama

ValleyTimes-News.com reported that a facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as the Chattahoochee Humane Society had “filed a complaint against a sheriff’s deputy for allegedly forcing them to accept three owner-surrender dogs,” when the facility claimed that it was “full.” The deputy had responded to a complaint from a woman who’d been turned away from the facility with three dogs who had strayed onto her farm. A spokesperson for the facility reportedly said that it requires appointments to accept animals but admitted that it holds contracts with area communities that require it to accept animals.

Wake County, North Carolina

NewsObserver.com reported that a publicly funded facility with “no-kill” policies doing business as Wake County Animal Services had announced that it would permanently refuse to accept animals from residents who were unable or unwilling to care for them. According to the report, “The ban on owner surrenders applies to all animals.” (See the November 2023, Wake County, North Carolina, entry below for more information about this facility.)

Tyrone Township, Michigan

LivingstonDaily.com reported that authorities had seized dozens of animals from a self-professed animal “rescue” doing business as The Devoted Barn. According to the report, sheriff’s “deputies seized and relocated 64 animals, including sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys, and an alpaca.” Animal control officials had reportedly “received multiple welfare complaints” about the facility. “It’s not the first time [‘rescue’ operator Melissa Borden] and the rescue have come under fire. The rescue was also involved in legal battles with townships in Oakland and Monroe counties, among other suits, and has had to relocate in the past. In Rose Township, the rescue allegedly operated a dog kennel without a special land use permit, according to an opinion from the Michigan Court of Appeals, which affirmed a circuit court ruling in favor of the township.” The investigation was ongoing.

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