While all animal shelters work for the common welfare of the pets in our communities, no-kill shelters are a bit different. These shelters go above and beyond the traditional call of duty for an animal shelter, and offer a safe haven to pets for as long as it takes for them to be adopted--if ever. No-kill shelters never euthanize an animal unless it is a danger or is too sick to be treated. Any animal shelter can be a no-kill shelter.
Instructions
Becoming a No-Kill Shelter
1. Expand if necessary. No-kill shelters often need a bit more room than traditional shelters, as they house as many animals as possible up to capacity. Decide how many animals your no-kill shelter will be able to house, and acquire enough space and supplies to accommodate them all. It may be necessary to expand by adding a few rooms to your existing location or changing locations altogether.
2. Add to your medical staff. In a no-kill shelter, the health of each and every animal is even more of a priority, due to the strict requirements surrounding an animal's potential for euthanasia. In traditional shelters, animals may be euthanized to save costs that would otherwise be spent on their medical care. No-kill shelters do not authorize the euthanasia of an animal except for extreme health reasons. Be prepared to address many medical issues with animals, and increase your supplies and staff as necessary.
Consider partnering with veterinary schools or clinics in your neighborhood to combat the need for expanded medical care.
3. Recruit volunteers to help educate potential adoptive families on retention. Animals will have less of a chance of having to return to your or any shelter if the families are made aware of their commitment in advance and are educated in proper care, training and expectations.
Volunteers can also help with the day-to-day chores that go along with dealing with sometimes packed no-kill shelters.
Tags: animal shelter, many animals, medical care, no-kill shelter, No-kill shelters, traditional shelters