The No Kill movement is prompting people around the country to get involved, save lives and change the status quo.
By Alexis Fasseas
For more than a century, homeless pets were killed on a massive scale behind closed doors in animal shelters. The No Kill movement has brought light to this tragic epidemic, prompting people around the country to get involved, save lives and change the status quo.
But transformation requires leadership, innovation and action. With an ever-growing number of animal groups in the marketplace, PAWS Chicago has received frequent inquiries from individuals about how to conduct due diligence and ensure their local shelter is effective, sustainable and committed to the right practices.
Thus began the process of developing the Gold Standard for No Kill, designed to assist consumers with asking the right questions to ensure that their support for animals is maximizing lifesaving impact. The following are important Gold Standard cornerstones to consider, as well as a spotlight on two No Kill organizations making a tremendous impact in their communities: Austin Pets Alive and MN SNAP. PAWS Chicago magazine will continue to feature leaders and innovators in the field.
This Gold Standard for No Kill document will continue to evolve as individuals and organizations around the country continue to contact us with questions and to provide improved feedback on its application in the real world.
When looking for Gold Standard organizations in animal welfare, a mission statement that is committed to No Kill is the first thing to consider. Assess whether it is broad enough, whether it is realistic in scope, and whether it is active and solutions-based. Beyond the overall mission, the organization must demonstrate strategic thinking and capability.
Key Questions:
- Ask the organization what their overall mission is and how they plan to reach it. Ensure that their priorities align with yours. Listen for action words and results.
- Evaluate the leadership and whether they have a history of growing businesses or nonprofit organizations; whether they have a depth of knowledge about how to optimize resources and maximize impact; and whether they have shown a commitment to the No Kill movement.
Transparency is a frequent buzzword, but organizations must actually live it to be Gold Standard. Publicly reporting their detailed programmatic results and financial statements should be standard for all nonprofits. It provides insight into whether the organization is effectively stewarding resources, making an appropriate impact, and operating in a sustainable manner.
Key Questions:
- How does the organization present itself in the public space? Is it easy to find detailed information on their program results and financials?
- For larger, established organizations, consult Charity Navigator for a rating on financial effectiveness and transparency. Gold Standard charities will be rated 4 Stars in both categories.
- Look at Guidestar to evaluate the organization’s 990 filings. Become knowledgeable about the basics of nonprofit reporting so you can determine if Fundraising and Administration percentages are appropriate for the organization’s size and reach.
- Ensure the organization has sustainability and is operating within its means. Being able to say ‘no’ can be more important than saving every life if the long-term viability of the organization’s lifesaving would be compromised.
Developing programmatic expertise and operational excellence is critical to creating change. There are three core programs essential to building No Kill communities. Gold Standard organizations will be top performers in at least one of these sectors.
I. Affordable and Accessible Spay/Neuter Programs for Low-Income Families ANd Trap, Neuter, return (TNR) for feral cats
Free and low-cost targeted spay/neuter in low-income communities is critical programming for any organization looking to make major transformation toward No Kill in their community.
Every year, the dreaded kitten season brings waves of litters into shelters and many are ultimately killed. TNR programs are proven solutions to kitten overpopulation.
Key Questions:
- How many spay/neuter surgeries is the organization performing on the pets of the general public and are they targeting those surgeries to low-income families, providing them for free or low-cost? Spay/neuter surgeries performed on owned pets (compared to adoption program pets) is key to reducing pet overpopulation.
- Where are the services being provided? Are they convenient for low-income families or is transportation offered?
- How robust is the organization’s TNR program?
II. Comprehensive Adoption Programs Incorporating Best Practices in Shelter Medicine
Adoptions are the most tangible life saving work that an organization can perform. But many animal shelters have a long and continued history of killing dogs and cats as a population management tool. The No Kill movement was founded to end this inhumane reality and hold private shelters accountable for dedicating their resources to saving lives. Many of these traditional “open door” kill shelters have adopted the language of No Kill, but have not yet reformed and adopted these lifesaving practices. If you are committed to building No Kill communities, it is essential that you ask important questions below to determine whether a shelter you want to support is really living up to the expectation of saving–not killing–homeless animals.
With weakened immune systems from stress and exposure to disease, homeless animals present a myriad of illnesses. The most essential component of an adoption program is the field of shelter medicine, with a trained veterinary team working to provide each pet with the treatment and rehabilitation necessary so that they can be ready
for adoption.
For an organization to be No Kill, it must save all healthy, treatable and rehabilitatable animals and feral cats. A common rule of thumb is that they must have at least a 90 percent save rate, meaning that at least 90 percent of animals taken in make it out alive.
Key Questions:
- Assess the shelter’s data to determine what percentage of animals leave the shelter alive.
- Evaluate the shelter’s physical spaces to determine whether there are enough isolation areas to treat the wide range of disease that presents itself in shelters. In more progressive shelters, animals will be housed in suites with bleachable flooring and wall surfaces and isolated air flow.
- Do they have a robust shelter medicine program where they are treating diseases like ring
worm, parvo, all upper respiratory disease, calici, heartworm, mange and other common illnesses in shelters and perform orthopedic surgery, necessary dentals and other surgeries? - What is the shelter’s return policy? A No Kill should require that any adopters bring the pet back to them in the event that the adopter can no longer care for it.
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III. Innovation & Leadership in Animal Welfare to Challenge the Status Quo and Initiate Change
While lifesaving programs are essential to building No Kill communities, model organizations also innovate and provide leadership that can be shared within the animal welfare field at large.
Key Questions:
- How has the organization responded to challenges and innovated to solve problems?
- Is the organization perceived as a national leader in a particular program or arena?
Cornerstone 4: Volunteers & Community
The most essential foundation for any animal welfare organization is engaging the community in the cause of homeless pets. It is the public that will adopt, volunteer, and raise funds and awareness about the number of homeless animals in need. Gold Standard organizations know how to inspire people to join the cause and help! They invite the public into all aspects of the organization and have nothing to hide.
Key Questions:
- How vocal is the organization about the plight of homeless animals? Do they rally and motivate the community to get involved? Are they frequently on television, radio and in print, discussing animal issues and raising awareness?
- Are trained volunteers able to help every aspect of the organization, or are there areas where the volunteers are not permitted?
