As the name suggests, a no kill animal shelter is one where all adoptable animals are allowed to live until they are found a forever, loving home. Only severely ill animals, or those that are truly determined to be dangerous and unadoptable, are euthanised.
The concept of ‘no kill’ has challenged the animal welfare sector as far back as the 1970s. An article by Ed Duvin in 1989 in a publication called animalines is reputed to have been a major turning point. The article characterised the animal welfare sector as a ‘slumbering giant’ and pointed to the need for a coordinated national effort with a greater focus on education and the valuing of each animal’s life. It challenged the sector to stop killing animals in the name of mercy.
You can read a reprint of that article here.
I have just had the pleasure of working at the Best Friends Animal Society sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. This is an inspiring leader in the no kill movement and I look forward to bringing you more news about Best Friends and animal welfare in future blog postings.
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