Post by Brooke on May 17, 2004 0:01:29 GMT -5
'No-Kill' Animal Shelters
POSTED: 6:14 pm EDT May 14, 2004
UPDATED: 7:15 pm EDT May 14, 2004
PITTSBURGH -- A no-kill city by 2005. That was the plan for Pittsburgh, first unveiled by the city's major animal shelters in 2000.
Team 4 has learned it's not going to happen. Half of all the animals that shelters take in are still being euthanized -- more than 10,000 animals a year.
So how can some of those shelters still call themselves "no-kill?" Investigative reporter Jim Parsons has the answer in the following report, which first aired May 14, 2004 on Channel 4 Action News at 6 p.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
Watch Parsons' Report
The term "no-kill" is something animal shelters across the nation are using more and more. It's an attractive term that conjurs up a happily-ever-after image. But "no-kill" has different meanings at different shelters. Sometimes, it's nothing but a word game.
Ilene Ross, board member, Animal Rescue League, from March 2003: "We have not euthanized an adoptable dog in over one year."
That was more than a year ago. ARL is still making the claim today.
Rich Fitzgerald, president, Allegheny County Council, from May 4: "The Animal Rescue League is kind to animals by staying true to their 'no-kill for adoptable pets' pledge."
The Animal Rescue League claims it hasn't killed an adoptable animal in over two years, but take another look at these dogs that were available to the public in April. Ten days after Team 4 captured this video, this mixed-breed dog named Abby was euthanized.
How can a shelter kill a dog that's up for adoption and still claim it doesn't kill adoptable animals? It's all in the definition of adoptable. Every shelter has a different one.
Ross: "We have, right now, a narrow definition of adoptable, and that is healthy and friendly."
In Abby's case, the Animal Rescue League says she was becoming aggressive toward other dogs, cats and people, even though her chart described her to would-be adopters as "Miss Personality. Absolutely charming. Loves affection." The ARL says the decision to euthanize her had nothing to do with the fact that she was 5 years old and had been occupying a cage here for more than two months.
Charlotte Grimme, executive director, ARL: "We have animals that, behaviorally, are border line. When they get to that point, it's no longer humane to keep them, and we have to make those tough decisions to put them to sleep."
Parsons: "So there can be animals here that are up for adoption that you euthanize?"
Grimme: "Right."
Abby was one of more than 3,000 animals killed at Animal Rescue League last year. That's about 40 percent of the population that came through the doors. With those kind of numbers, why would a shelter call itself "no-kill?"
Dr. William Shepherd, veterinarian: "It's much more appealing to the public eye to donate to a no-kill shelter, rather than a shelter that kills."
Shepherd, past president of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Board, says the term "no-kill" helps nonprofit shelters raise money. Shelter directors don't deny it.
Parsons: "How important is it for fund-raising reasons to be able to use the term 'no-kill?'"
Grimme: "It's critical."
Parsons: "How important is that term 'no-kill' when you're doing fundraising?"
David Swisher, executive director, Animal Friends: "Very important. It's very important."
Swisher promotes his agency, Animal Friends, as Pittsburgh's only no-kill shelter.
Swisher: "We're not the good guys and they're not the bad guys. We're all working together. We just see things a little differently."
Animal Friends euthanized 103 animals last year, most of them for behavioral reasons. That's just a fraction of the 2,700 animals the agency received.
Swisher: "We make a long-term commitment to our animals."
That means they keep animals for as long as it takes to find them a home, but it also means Animal Friends is almost always full.
I brought my 11-year-old mixed-breed dog Ginger here. I told the woman in charge I was moving and couldn't take care of Ginger any more, but wanted to make sure she went to a no-kill shelter. The woman sent me away, saying Animal Friends was full, and referred me to two shelters that will accept animals, no matter what: the Animal Rescue League and the Humane Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Lee Nesler, executive director, Humane Society: "What is most important to me is that people -- when they make a difficult decision, when they say they can no longer keep their pet, they can no longer take care of the animal -- there's someplace for that animal to go."
The Humane Society has officially abandoned its attempt at becoming a so-called no-kill shelter. The agency euthanizes approximately half of the 14,000 animals that come through here -- even some adoptable ones.
Nesler: "It's the harder thing to do, but it's necessary. When you see people come out of the surrender room in tears because they love their pet but can no longer keep it, there's someplace for that animal to go. Even though it's not a positive thing, you feel like you're helping them."
Humane Society employees we spoke with felt just as strongly about the mission here.
Dara Krom, Humane Society: "We try to do everything that we can, but there are times when we aren't able to do that."
Ronald Smith, humane officer: "No one likes the idea of euthanasia. Nobody. It is a process that is extremely uncomfortable for anyone who does it. But sometimes, it's a necessary thing. It's forced upon us."
It was forced upon these kennel workers performing a euthanasia in North Carolina -- forced upon them by pet owners who fail to act responsibly.
Shepherd: "If the pets were spayed and neutered, the shelters wouldn't have the problems that they do. They can try to go no-kill as much as they want to, but as long as the general public doesn't spay and neuter their private pets, it's not going to happen. Just not going to happen."
That's the number one step we all can take to help solve Pittsburgh's pet euthanasia problem: spay and neuter your pet.
The three major shelters in Pittsburgh have all made improvements in recent years in the numbers of animals they are adopting and euthanizing, but Pittsburgh is still a long way off from being a no-kill city.
www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/3307115/detail.html
POSTED: 6:14 pm EDT May 14, 2004
UPDATED: 7:15 pm EDT May 14, 2004
PITTSBURGH -- A no-kill city by 2005. That was the plan for Pittsburgh, first unveiled by the city's major animal shelters in 2000.
Team 4 has learned it's not going to happen. Half of all the animals that shelters take in are still being euthanized -- more than 10,000 animals a year.
So how can some of those shelters still call themselves "no-kill?" Investigative reporter Jim Parsons has the answer in the following report, which first aired May 14, 2004 on Channel 4 Action News at 6 p.m.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
Watch Parsons' Report
The term "no-kill" is something animal shelters across the nation are using more and more. It's an attractive term that conjurs up a happily-ever-after image. But "no-kill" has different meanings at different shelters. Sometimes, it's nothing but a word game.
Ilene Ross, board member, Animal Rescue League, from March 2003: "We have not euthanized an adoptable dog in over one year."
That was more than a year ago. ARL is still making the claim today.
Rich Fitzgerald, president, Allegheny County Council, from May 4: "The Animal Rescue League is kind to animals by staying true to their 'no-kill for adoptable pets' pledge."
The Animal Rescue League claims it hasn't killed an adoptable animal in over two years, but take another look at these dogs that were available to the public in April. Ten days after Team 4 captured this video, this mixed-breed dog named Abby was euthanized.
How can a shelter kill a dog that's up for adoption and still claim it doesn't kill adoptable animals? It's all in the definition of adoptable. Every shelter has a different one.
Ross: "We have, right now, a narrow definition of adoptable, and that is healthy and friendly."
In Abby's case, the Animal Rescue League says she was becoming aggressive toward other dogs, cats and people, even though her chart described her to would-be adopters as "Miss Personality. Absolutely charming. Loves affection." The ARL says the decision to euthanize her had nothing to do with the fact that she was 5 years old and had been occupying a cage here for more than two months.
Charlotte Grimme, executive director, ARL: "We have animals that, behaviorally, are border line. When they get to that point, it's no longer humane to keep them, and we have to make those tough decisions to put them to sleep."
Parsons: "So there can be animals here that are up for adoption that you euthanize?"
Grimme: "Right."
Abby was one of more than 3,000 animals killed at Animal Rescue League last year. That's about 40 percent of the population that came through the doors. With those kind of numbers, why would a shelter call itself "no-kill?"
Dr. William Shepherd, veterinarian: "It's much more appealing to the public eye to donate to a no-kill shelter, rather than a shelter that kills."
Shepherd, past president of the Pennsylvania Veterinary Board, says the term "no-kill" helps nonprofit shelters raise money. Shelter directors don't deny it.
Parsons: "How important is it for fund-raising reasons to be able to use the term 'no-kill?'"
Grimme: "It's critical."
Parsons: "How important is that term 'no-kill' when you're doing fundraising?"
David Swisher, executive director, Animal Friends: "Very important. It's very important."
Swisher promotes his agency, Animal Friends, as Pittsburgh's only no-kill shelter.
Swisher: "We're not the good guys and they're not the bad guys. We're all working together. We just see things a little differently."
Animal Friends euthanized 103 animals last year, most of them for behavioral reasons. That's just a fraction of the 2,700 animals the agency received.
Swisher: "We make a long-term commitment to our animals."
That means they keep animals for as long as it takes to find them a home, but it also means Animal Friends is almost always full.
I brought my 11-year-old mixed-breed dog Ginger here. I told the woman in charge I was moving and couldn't take care of Ginger any more, but wanted to make sure she went to a no-kill shelter. The woman sent me away, saying Animal Friends was full, and referred me to two shelters that will accept animals, no matter what: the Animal Rescue League and the Humane Society of Western Pennsylvania.
Lee Nesler, executive director, Humane Society: "What is most important to me is that people -- when they make a difficult decision, when they say they can no longer keep their pet, they can no longer take care of the animal -- there's someplace for that animal to go."
The Humane Society has officially abandoned its attempt at becoming a so-called no-kill shelter. The agency euthanizes approximately half of the 14,000 animals that come through here -- even some adoptable ones.
Nesler: "It's the harder thing to do, but it's necessary. When you see people come out of the surrender room in tears because they love their pet but can no longer keep it, there's someplace for that animal to go. Even though it's not a positive thing, you feel like you're helping them."
Humane Society employees we spoke with felt just as strongly about the mission here.
Dara Krom, Humane Society: "We try to do everything that we can, but there are times when we aren't able to do that."
Ronald Smith, humane officer: "No one likes the idea of euthanasia. Nobody. It is a process that is extremely uncomfortable for anyone who does it. But sometimes, it's a necessary thing. It's forced upon us."
It was forced upon these kennel workers performing a euthanasia in North Carolina -- forced upon them by pet owners who fail to act responsibly.
Shepherd: "If the pets were spayed and neutered, the shelters wouldn't have the problems that they do. They can try to go no-kill as much as they want to, but as long as the general public doesn't spay and neuter their private pets, it's not going to happen. Just not going to happen."
That's the number one step we all can take to help solve Pittsburgh's pet euthanasia problem: spay and neuter your pet.
The three major shelters in Pittsburgh have all made improvements in recent years in the numbers of animals they are adopting and euthanizing, but Pittsburgh is still a long way off from being a no-kill city.
www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/3307115/detail.html