What is "no-kill"?
No-kill defines a movement and a philosophy. The term no-kill protests the killing of savable animals in our shelters. At the same time, it describes a new approach to animal sheltering and a new commitment to saving lives within animal welfare organizations and communities. MYTHS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS.
The Michigan Pet Fund Alliance subscribes to the Maddie’s definitions of “no-kill” which include the honest application of the Alisomar Accords along with the understandings from the No Kill Advocacy Center where 100% of healthy and treatable animals are saved and 90% of intake.
The term "healthy" means and includes all dogs and cats eight weeks of age or older that, at or subsequent to the time the animal is taken into possession, have manifested no signs of a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal, or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future.
The term "treatable" means and includes all dogs and cats that are "rehabilitatable" and all dogs and cats that are "manageable."
- Rehabilitatable: The term "rehabilitatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are not "healthy," but who are likely to become "healthy," if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
- Manageable: The term "manageable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are not "healthy" and who are not likely to become "healthy," regardless of the care provided; but who would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life, if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring owners/guardians in the community; provided, however, that the term "manageable" does not include any dog or cat who is determined to pose a significant risk to human health or safety or to the health or safety of other animals.
The term "unhealthy and untreatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who, at or subsequent to the time they are taken into possession,
- have a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that poses a health or safety risk or otherwise makes the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or
- are suffering from a disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the animal's health or is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or
- are under the age of eight weeks and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable," even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
Pound – A holding facility for stray/lost dogs and cats operating consistent with the legal requirements for holding stray/lost animals which either euthanizes or transfer the animal upon satisfaction of legal hold requirements.
Traditional Shelter – A facility which provides shelter to dogs and/or cats on a temporary basis and operates a program to re-home the animal (adoption program).
Adoption Guarantee Shelter/Facility – A limited admission [1] facility/organization which provides shelter to dogs and/or cats with a save rate[2] of 100% for all healthy and treatable [3] animals and a 90% save rate of total intake.
No Kill Shelter – An open admission [4] facility which provides shelter to dogs and/or cats with a save rate of 100% for all healthy and treatable animals and 90% save rate of total intake.
Sanctuary – A facility that provides shelter to dogs and/or cats (and often other animals), not considered adoptable or able to be rehomed, for the remainder of their natural life.
Rescue Organization – An organization which uses foster homes or a shelter facility without public hours, to shelter homeless cats and dogs until they can be rehomed.
[1]Limited Admission = typically defined as a shelter/facility which closes admission when full.
[2]Save Rate = animals which leave the shelter and are either returned to their owner or are placed in a new home.
[3]Healthy and Treatable = honest application of the Asilomar Accords.
[4]Open Admission = accepts all animals even when full.
* Live Release Rate = animals which leave the shelter and are returned to their owner, placed in a new home or transferred to another facility.
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