No-kill shelters are those that strive to place all healthy animals into homes. With the number of healthy animals being euthanized increasing, the no-kill shelters are trying to stem the destruction by implementing a number of different programs. Many of these involve the support entire community and, in return, the entire community benefits.
Spay and neuter. An animal that does not reproduce will not be adding to the unwanted population. By implementing spay and a neuter program, an animal shelter helps communities control the overall population of pets. These programs are usually no-, or low-cost to give everyone the opportunity to have their animal seen.
Adoption. No-kill shelters frequently have visiting areas that allow those seeking to adopt an animal a chance to interact with the potential pet as well as extended hours to give working families more options for times to visit. These animal shelters advertise to get pets adopted, often having an “adoption day” in local pet stores. Additionally, many shelters offer training classes, veterinary care and advice about behavioral problems in adopted animals. These continuing support opportunities may encourage more first-time pet owners to adopt an animal.
Community involvement. No-kill shelters generally try to partner with local veterinary and other local businesses to encourage adoption of shelter animals. They also take advantage of volunteers who may help maintain the facility and assist in socializing animals. Volunteer foster homes take in pets to provide personalized care and help keep the animals well socialized before they are adopted.
Feral cat populations. Many shelters, in conjunction with local veterinarians, have programs to spay and neuter feral cats before either returning them to their environment, or finding them homes as barn cats. Feral kittens, if captured young, may be socialized to become family pets. By controlling the feral cat population, an animal shelter also helps protect the birds and other wildlife in the area.