What are your views on No Kill Animal Shelters

[FlowersChild]

I am curious about what other people's views are on No-Kill Animal Shelters ? Millions of Cats and Dogs are put to sleep because we can't find loving homes for them all. So do you think it's better to put them to sleep or let them live in a No-Kill Shelter, do you have mixed feelings or do you just not know or whatever ? Do you think animals will be happy living in a No-Kill Shelter ? What if the No-Kill Shelter keeps them in a cage ? What if the No-Kill shelter gives them more space. How many animals can No-Kill Shelters take in ect. ect. ect. >

Let me give you an idea about my views. If the animal is healthy and they have enough space to play and get good exorcise and stay heatlhy and get good food and be happy and if the No-Kill Shelter has room for these animals than I think it's a good idea. But I would not want to see a Cat or Dog live in a cage their whole life.

I hate the fact that Millions and Millions of Cats and Dogs are put down every year. But there are some things worse than death. Many Shelters who put down animals do this as a mercy kill. I mean we can't find homes for all these animals like I said.

So many cats and kittens have been dumped off in the street and abandon in other ways. Also with Cats breeding like crazy in the streets so many male Cats get into fights over female cats, get hit by cars ect. > A good idea is to get Cats and Dogs fixed. As much as I love kittens ( they are so cute ) we just have way too many of them being born and so many end up homeless, abused ect. >

Now like I said I am all for No-Kill Shelter's but we can only have so many No-Kill Shelters. We can't save every Cat or Dog. So I believe that a lot of attention should be put into getting more Cats and Dogs fixed and that will stop like 90 % or 95 % of the problem. I also believe that an animal shelter is a great place to adopt a Pet. If people adopt animals from a No-Kill Shelter than maybe that No-Kill Shelter can take in more animals. If people adopt animals from a Shelter that puts animals to sleep than they can save the lives of Cats and Dogs. I have a lot of respect for people who work at these Shelters both the No-Kill kind and the kind that puts animals to sleep. I feel that these people are helping out innocent animals. Yes putting a Cat or Dog to sleep may seem nasty but these people at those kill shelters are doing this as a mercy kill and they are doing it to help out Cats and Dogs.

Anyways curious to hear what others have to say on this matter.

 

[Cinderella2004]

Good question.

I wanted to comment on your comment about the animals not getting out of their cages at No-kill shelters. At our local shelter (which I've volunteered at) there are always TONS of volunteers there, walking the dogs, taking them out and playing ball with them. There never seems to be one being left behind either. Each time I've gone, there has been an older gentleman there (the same man) and he makes sure to walk each dog. He always tells me which ones are stronger, and who likes to play.

I *hope* thats what happens at many of these shelters. I know it probabally doesn't but I always feel happy when I leave there. Well, actually I always feel sad, but I know the dogs are being well cared for. Happy for the care.....sad because I'd like to bring them all home with me.

 

[minkydog]

I volunteered in a cage-free no-kill cat shelter and they kitties were well loved. Some of those cats had lived there for years due to health issues or difficult personalities. But we also took in cats & kittens as space became available, spayed them, nursed them back to health, and cried when some of them didn't make it. I have never loved a job so much. I wish all shelters could be no-kill, but alas, until we humans wake up and smell the coffee there will be more unwanted pets.

 

[cstraub]

I think it should be illegal to not have your cat or dog fixed. You should be fined heavily and there should be rewards for telling on people.

Of course you would have to have some animals reproducing to keep some population but you would need a lisence to do that.

This would solve a lot of the overpopulation problems.

My kids go to a local no kill shelter on Saturday's to play with the animals. They love it and the animals are very well taken care of. On a sadder note, our local SPCA make e cry because the cages are so small. I always try to than those who are volunteering there but I have to choke back tears and a lot of times I just can't.

My dog Sierra won the photo contest at photowow.com last week. We rescued her from the SPCA. It broke my heart that I wanted her and not one of the ugly ones.

This is a huge problem in our society that really needs to be addressed.

 

[Hannathy]

I wish there wasn't a need for so many shelters but like others have said until humans quit not spaying and neutering, not taking care of the animals and become responsible and not drop off an animal cause "we are moving" or "we don't have time" or other lame excuses we will need them.
I would like to see shelters be able to only kill those animals unable to be adopted for just reasons-totally feral cats, or exsessively vicious dogs, or those hurt or ill to the point of not saving. It breaks my heart to think perfectly lovable good animals are being killed just for room. Last year our VBS had the SPCA as our mission and collected a lot of supplies for them and had a discussion on caring for animals.

Back to the question No I don't think shelters can be 100% no kill(certain reasons) but should be darn close.

 

[paigevz]

I don't know the solution, but I do know that I saw a no-kill shelter once. I was saddened by it. I don't know if folks came in to walk them or play with them.........I doubt it, as it was out in the country quite a ways. They had a long run, but the poor things..........a run is not really a home. Their runs were all dirt, as they'd run all the grass off. They all came out barking to the ends of their runs when we were there, and unfortunately I don't see who would ever drive out that far to adopt any of them.........all "cur" dogs, as we would have said in my neck of the woods growing up.

For animals bred to be sociable, all separated by wire and with no people or other animals to curl up with...........no playmate..............no companion. So sad.

 

[tiberius]

I love the no kill shelters, but it is a fact of life that resources can only go so far. I figure if I do my part, then that is all I can do. I wish more people would find a way to support no kill shelters (other than with lip service).

I sure wouldn't mind a few more Goldens around to keep my CoCo company, but my limit is 1 at the presesnt time.

 

[JuliaEeyore]

I feel that these people are helping out innocent animals. Yes putting a Cat or Dog to sleep may seem nasty but these people at those kill shelters are doing this as a mercy kill and they are doing it to help out Cats and Dogs.

I'm surprised and confused I guess... just in my passings around the boards, I've picked up on the fact that you are a Vegan who feels that animals have a right to live. Right? So mercy killing doesn't seem like it gels with your philosophy to me?

I have a hard time with the whole No-Kill Shelter thing myself - I'd like to think that all the animals eventually get re-homed. Members of a dog board I belong to stalk shelters and PetFinder and put out bulletins to get the dogs out of the shelters and into rescue group foster homes. I'm too much of an animal lover to think about putting all the animals to sleep is the right answer.

I tend to think that some time spent in a crate with outings and playtimes (around here I know they occur), while it isn't the most PERFECT quality of life, it's a better trade off than straight euthanasia because there is a chance the perfect family will show up and he'll have a wonderful, long, happy life...


Obviously, temperment, history, and disease need to be taken into account of course... if a dog shows up with distemper, or has mauled 5 people, those things need to be taken into account. It's tough.

 

[cstraub]

My Sierra (rescued from the SPCA). This is the picture that won the contest!

 

[beckmrk04]

I wish there wasn't a need for so many shelters but like others have said until humans quit not spaying and neutering, not taking care of the animals and become responsible and not drop off an animal cause "we are moving" or "we don't have time" or other lame excuses we will need them.

You hit the nail on the head!! It isn't just getting cats and dogs fixed (which granted, is a HUGE issue) but also making sure that when people adopt pets that they are adopting them for life. We adopted our dog Jules from a rescue group in St. Louis called IMPACT for Animals. They foster animals, and adopt them out. We had to fill out a pre-application, an application, and then we were interviewed by 3 different people!! I told Dh it was a good thing we weren't trying to get a kid!! I can't imagine what that process must be like- my nerves were shot; I was driving myself crazy worrying that I had made them think I would be the best mommy for this precious little dog. Well, it worked. One lady asked us, what will you do with her when you have children? I was like, what do you mean? When you have your first kid, do you find a new home for it when the 2nd is on it's way? No. Pets are family. Now, I do understand that in some circumstances it may be necessary to get rid of a pet, and I'm sure someone has agonized over that decision, but I think most people do it out of laziness and disregard. It's very sad. So, I say support the no kill shelters, and adopt from them or rescue organizations when you can. There are lots of pets that need homes!!

Whoa. How'd I get up here on this soapbox?

 

[FlowersChild]

I'm surprised and confused I guess... just in my passings around the boards, I've picked up on the fact that you are a Vegan who feels that animals have a right to live. Right? So mercy killing doesn't seem like it gels with your philosophy to me?

I said that I respect all life and that I hate to see any living being die. But I also have said many times that suffering is worse than death. If none of these Cats and Dogs where put to sleep than where would they all go ? Not enough homes and not enough No-Kill Shelters. The Kill shelters could not hold them all so other Cats and Dogs would be turned away and basically I feel that more Cats and Dogs would suffer.

I feel there is a HUGE difference between killing a Pig at the Slaughter House and killing a Dog at a shelter. The Dog is put down because we can't find homes for all of them and like I said I feel more Dogs would suffer if shelters did not put them down so it's a mercy kill. A Pig is killed so it can be turned into food and that to me is not a mercy kill.

 

[goofygirl]

I can't see killing an animal for any reason, unless it is very ill and in pain and suffering and there's no chance of it getting better.

I'm also against killing dogs who maul because I believe the owner is at fault 99% of the time. Its not the dog's fault.

 

[FlowersChild]

I can't see killing an animal for any reason, unless it is very ill and in pain and suffering and there's no chance of it getting better.

I'm also against killing dogs who maul because I believe the owner is at fault 99% of the time. Its not the dog's fault.

This is off topic but I just looked at your profile and your birthday is the same day as the first day during my Valentine's Vacation. I was in DisneyWorld for 7 days and your birthday was on day number one of my vacation

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

That's such a tough question.

I am such an animal lover, but I can't walk through a shelter and keep my composure. I can't stand to see all of those sad faces, just begging for some love. It tears me up.

To put an innocent animal down over it though? I don't know the answer to that question. Maybe a better tactic would be to put the humans who failed to spay/neuter their pets in a cage for awhile. Let them live loveless and see how it feels.

I am all for no-kill shelters. As a matter of fact, I have in my will, a portion of my life insurance already set aside for Golden Retriever rescue. I was just telling my DH the other day, that if I had the land, and of course the time and money, I'd love to run one myself.

Those people who do this on their own are to be blessed.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I'm also against killing dogs who maul because I believe the owner is at fault 99% of the time. Its not the dog's fault.

What would you do with them? What if they're human-aggressive? Animal-aggression is one thing, because you can control that.

I'm a huge animal lover, so please know this isn't meant to be argumentative; I'm really curious, because I hate to see it happen too.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

My Sierra (rescued from the SPCA). This is the picture that won the contest!

She won! Yeah! I voted for her! She's beautiful!

 

[cstraub]

She won! Yeah! I voted for her! She's beautiful!

I just love her so much! She is my first dog ever! Thanks for voting for her!

 

[robinb]

While I think the idea of a no-kill shelter is a laudable one, I don't think they are practical. I think that there are many non-adoptable animals that languish in no-kill shelters, taking up space, time and resources from animals that could be helped. I also think they provide a guilt-free place for people to dump their unwanted pets.

 

[beckmrk04]

While I think the idea of a no-kill shelter is a laudable one, I don't think they are practical. I think that there are many non-adoptable animals that languish in no-kill shelters, taking up space, time and resources from animals that could be helped. I also think they provide a guilt-free place for people to dump their unwanted pets.

I agree to a certain extent... But people will dump animals if they want to, and I would rather them be dumped somewhere where at least they will be taken care of. And, I don't know how most shelters do this, but at my local shelter the animals who are non-adoptable (because of age, health, temperment, etc) get "adopted" by people's donations- then they get a letter from their "adopted" pet once a month.. I do understand your point,though, I just think there is no "one size fits all" answer- and if there is, I sure don't know it!!

 

[Tiffann4k]

The problem is the irresponsible breeders & irresponsible pet owners, not no kill vs kill shelters...they need to start with that issue first then they can move on to the issues of the shelters choosing to kill or not kill.

Might be a little off topic but thats where I feel the problem is, not with the shelters.