Euthanasia is the number one killer of pets in the United States.
Each year 6 to 8 to million pets enter shelters and 3 to 4 million are euthanized simply because they do not have a home.
It is a daunting job to reduce euthanasia in a shelter and a community that has had a high kill shelter as protocol. Particularly in communities where there are not mandatory spay/neuter ordinances to help reduce the problem of pet over population. City and county shelters are required to take all animals from their county who are brought to their facility which adds to the dilemma.
The Anderson Animal Shelter was a high kill shelter for years. In the last two years, it has been the goal of Anderson Animal Care and Control to reduce the number of healthy adoptable animals who are euthanized and to provide a compassionate and humane environment where no animal suffers needlessly.
This is being done but there is much work yet to be done.
Many people who are passionate about animals in our community want a NO KILL shelter.
One of the definitions for NO KILL is to only euthanize non-adoptable and non-treatable animals, meaning that adoptable or medically treatable animals are saved and adopted, no matter how long the adoption process might take.
This is not feasible when we have had as many as 76 animals surrendered in one day and our space and budget are limited.
“Low-kill animal shelters” on the other hand, unlike no-kill shelters, will euthanize animals that are seriously ill or unadoptable due to aggressive behavior.
Additionally, they hold (healthy) animals until they are adopted.
Typically “low kill” shelters do not euthanize for space.
The goal of Animal Care and Control is to become a “low kill” shelter.
Unfortunately even though our euthanasia numbers are down drastically for euthanizing healthy adoptable animals there have been times we have been left no alternative but to euthanize healthy adoptable animals due to lack of space.
We make every effort to help owners keep their animals in their home if at all possible, search for adopters, fosters and rescues before we euthanize for space.
Things we are doing to help us become a low kill shelter:
-- Fido shelter dog prison program
-- 9 Lives shelter cat prison progam
-- Saving Max Prison Program
-- All dogs are temperament-tested by dog trainers for aggression
-- All dogs are tested for heartworms
-- Cats are feline combo tested
-- Aggressive adoption program with all adopters being screened
-- Foster program
-- Using rescue organizations to take adoptable healthy animals for adoption through their organizations
-- Rescue Waggin through Petsmart Charities. This will help us move up to 30 dogs a month to be adopted in other states starting in April.
-- Outside adoption sites. such as Broadway Vet clinic, Specks, Petsmart
-- Adoption and fund raising events
-- Mandatory Spay/Neuter upon adopting our animals
-- Advocating responsible pet ownership which includes spaying/neutering
-- Increasing awareness concerning animal abuse
In order for Animal Care and Control to be a low kill shelter by definition here are some things that need to happen in the community:
-- Animals must be spayed/neutered
-- Pet ownership is seen as a lifetime commitment
-- Community members need to see Animal Care and Control as a place to adopt wonderful animals, not as a dumping ground for unwanted or sick and injured animals
-- Animals are not allowed to roam
-- We need to change the idea that animals are disposable
This has to be a community project in order to succeed.
Maleah Stringer, director of Anderson Animal Care and Control, is also president of the Animal Protection League. She can be reached at maleahstringer@aol.com.
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John P. Cleary
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Maleah Stringer: Change attitudes about animals
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