NBC News in Philadelphia reports that several of the city’s animal shelters have banded together to create a city-wide no-kill policy, which would allow only very sick dogs or those who can not be rehabilitated due to overt aggression to be euthanized.
In the not too distant past, 90% of the animals taken into shelters were euthanized. Now, 80% of the animals are saved and adopted. Still, the city hopes to do better. With the support of the city’s mayor, Jim Kenney, more than a dozen shelters and other animal rights groups have created the Philadelphia No-Kill Coalition, which focuses on a few initiatives to reduce the number of healthy, adoptable pets being put down.
They are working with families to help them be able to keep their pets rather than dumping them in shelters due to unmet expectations, poverty, and no-pet policies when people have to move to new lodgings.
The group also works with the community to educate people about the benefits of adopting animals rather than purchasing from breeders.
Finally, Animal Care and Control has hired two community cat coordinators, tasked with trapping, neutering, and returning feral cats to their neighborhoods. This has lowered the number of cats coming into shelters from 30,000 to 18,000 over the past six years.
Kudos to the animal care groups in Philly for collaborating to create a better outcome for pets!
Until next time,
Good day, and good dog!