‘No-Kill’ Policies Slowly Killing Animals 2009

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 November 2009

Toronto, Canada

The Toronto Humane Society (THS) was raided and cruelty-to-animals charges were brought against THS leaders after the animal shelter turned into “what one investigator called a ‘house of horrors’—a place where infections ran rampant, animals lived in filthy conditions, food was scarce and a no-euthanasia policy led to sick animals suffering and dying without adequate medical care.”

Reports Showing How ‘No-Kill’ Policies Harmed Animals in October 2009

Indianapolis, Indiana:

Indianapolis Animal Care and Control Director Doug Rae was fired from his position after just 10 months on the job. Reasons for his dismissal included putting too much emphasis on adoptions and not enough attention on stray animals and leaving more than 2,000 animals on the streets. Rae was strongly supported in the position by “no-kill” advocates, including Nathan Winograd, who had previously stated, “I actually think Doug Rae is one of the best directors of operations that I have ever seen.”

Marin, California

The Milo Foundation was shut down and 19 animals were seized after an inspection by the local humane society revealed that the facility was housing triple the number of dogs and cats allowed at the site and that animals were living in their own feces and were not receiving treatment for contagious diseases.

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