Many people look down on kill shelters without fully understanding what they are and why they still exist. Just because a shelter is forced to put dogs down doesn’t mean it’s automatically a bad place. So, what is a kill shelter? And how can we help the dogs that are at risk of euthanasia?
Fostering a dog at risk of euthanasia would save their life. So, if you live near Memphis, please consider fostering one of the critical dogs.
What is a Kill Shelter?
A “kill shelter” is a name given to any shelter that euthanizes over 10% of the dogs in their care. Dogs could be euthanized in shelters for several reasons, such as lack of space, illness, untreatable injuries, or severe aggression. Currently, hundreds of thousands of dogs are put down in shelters every year, many of which are healthy with no behavior issues.
Why Do Kill Shelters Exist?
Kill shelters still exist because many shelters are left with no choice but to put dogs down. Many shelters are overcrowded and the rescues that take dogs out of kill shelters are often crowded too. It’s not easy to just turn dogs away because if shelters don’t take in surrenders, those dogs could end up dying in inhumane ways instead.
So, kill shelters exist for a number of reasons, such as not enough people are spaying and neutering, too many breeders are mass-producing dogs, and not enough people are fostering and adopting dogs in need. All those concerns combined cause shelters to have more dogs than they can handle. Shelters aren’t putting down dogs because they want to, they’re doing it because they’re left with no other choice.
How to Tell if a Shelter is a Kill Shelter
A kill shelter won’t label themselves as such, so how do you know which shelters are euthanizing healthy dogs? There’s no clear way to tell, and the sad reality is that most shelters put down some dogs. Even if a shelter is labeled as “no kill,” they may still put down a small percentage of dogs.
What is a No Kill Shelter?
There’s a false belief that no kill shelters never put dogs down. However, the actual definition of a “no kill shelter” is that the organization has at least a 90% placement rate for the dogs in their care. Thus, no kill shelters typically save a lot more dogs than kill shelters, but to reach that no kill status, they may have to turn dogs away.
Don’t Overlook Dogs at Kill Shelters
Sadly, some people don’t adopt dogs from kill shelters because they don’t want to support those organizations. But those are the dogs that need homes the most. Kill shelters need support to help them reduce the number of dogs they have to put down. With more adoptions, foster families, and donations, they can reduce their euthanasia rate greatly.
So, if you’re looking to adopt or foster a dog, please consider a dog at a kill shelter. Taking them into your home will directly save their life!
How Can We Put an End to Shelter Dog Euthanasia?
There’s no way to instantly stop shelters from euthanizing dogs, but little by little, we can help more dogs each day. Below are a few things you can do to reduce the number of dogs dying in shelters.
Fostering
Fostering dogs saves lives. When you foster a dog, you’re taking them into your home and freeing up space in the shelter. With fewer dogs in shelters, fewer dogs have to be put down. So, if you’re able, please consider fostering dogs as frequently as you can because it makes such a huge impact.
Adopting
For the same reason as fostering, adopting saves lives. If you’re looking for a new four-legged family member, adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue can free up space for more dogs to be saved so fewer dogs have to be euthanized. Rescue dogs make excellent companions because the shelter or rescue can learn a lot about their personality before they get adopted, which can make it easier for you to determine which dog is the best fit for you.
Avoiding Puppy Mills
Many breeders mass-produce dogs for profit, which adds to the dog overpopulation problem significantly. These dogs are often surrendered to shelters if they don’t sell, and people who buy them without doing enough research on the breed often surrender them too. No breeder is going to tell you they’re a puppy mill, so you need to do a lot of research to ensure you don’t support one of these businesses that are causing the overpopulation problem.
In general, puppy mills sell their puppies through puppy stores and online retailers so you won’t be able to meet the parents of the dogs or see where the dogs were bred. They will often have a surplus of puppies available, often of several different breeds. If anything seems suspicious to you when buying a puppy, it’s best to walk away and find a dog elsewhere.
Spaying/Neutering
If you get a dog from a reputable source, they should either be fixed already or there should be an agreement in the paperwork to get them fixed. However, if your dog isn’t spayed or neutered for whatever reason, it’s a good idea to do so. If your dog escapes your home when they’re not fixed, they could quickly reproduce. Unwanted litters of puppies frequently crowd shelters and rescues, so spaying and neutering is an essential precaution to take.
Microchipping
No one expects their dog to get lost until it happens. So, take necessary precautions by microchipping your dog and having them wear identification tags. That way, if they get lost, it will be easy for someone to contact you when the dog is found. Without any information on the dog, they could take up space at a shelter, causing them or another dog to eventually be put down. Even if your dog always wears a collar, it’s a good idea to have a microchip too in case the collar falls off.
Spreading the Word
Education is very important for helping dogs in need. Lots of people are unaware that so many dogs are still put down in shelters. By letting more people know and encouraging others to foster and adopt, more dogs can be saved. Lots of dog lovers are willing to help, but they just don’t know how. So, make social media posts about the topic and mention it to others when it’s relevant in conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Kill Shelters Near Me?
There are likely some shelters that put down dogs near you. No shelter will label itself as a kill shelter, and even no kill shelters may put down a small percentage of dogs. If you want to help the shelters near you stop euthanizing dogs, please consider fostering or adopting to save a life.
Will the Shelter Kill My Dog if I Surrender Them?
Sadly, if you surrender your dog to a crowded shelter, there’s a chance they could be put down if they’re not adopted quickly. So, if you need to rehome your dog, find a no-kill rescue to surrender to or give them to someone you trust. If you need help keeping your pet, there are plenty of resources available to help you.
Can I Adopt a Dog from a Kill Shelter?
Absolutely! The dogs in kill shelters are in desperate need of adoption. So, adopting one would not only help you find your new best friend, but it would save a life in the process.
What Happens to the Dogs that Aren’t Adopted from Kill Shelters?
Sadly, dogs are often put down if they’re at a kill shelter for too long. Rescues frequently try to pull dogs out of kill shelters, but it’s not a guarantee. So, consider adopting or fostering a dog from a kill shelter to save their life.
What Can I Do to Help Animals in Kill Shelters?
Fostering and adopting are the best ways to make sure animals aren’t put down in shelters. If you’re unable to do that, consider making a pledge to make it easier for rescues to take dogs out of crowded shelters. (View our home page for information on how to pledge).
Fostering Dogs Reduces the Shelter Euthanasia Rate
Fostering dogs can help reduce the shelter euthanasia rate greatly. You can foster directly for a crowded shelter or you can foster from a rescue that pulls dogs from shelters. Either way, you’re making a huge impact by lowering the number of dogs euthanized in shelters.
If you live near Memphis, there are currently a lot of dogs in need of foster homes. Please consider fostering one of these at-risk dogs to save a life. Even if you’re currently unable to foster, please spread the word about these dogs to increase their chances of adoption. All these dogs deserve a second chance at life, so we need to help them get that.
