THERE ARE FOUR BASIC TYPES OF SHELTERS
BELOW ARE GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF HOW EACH WORK…
NO KILL:
On a first-come, first-served basis, all animals are accepted into this type of shelter. A sick animal is cured or a behaviorally-troubled animal is rehabilitated in order to make it adoptable. Should an animal fail rehabilitation, it will remain in the shelter until it dies from a natural death. If the animal doesn’t respond to medical treatment, it will be euthanized.Since this type of shelter has limited space, people who want to turn in their unwanted pets are put on waiting lists, which could mean a wait of several months to years. Unadoptable pets may remain in cages for life, which may affect their well-being for the worse.
NO KILL OF ADOPTABLES:
All animals are accepted into the shelter. The shelter will not euthanize any animal they view as “adoptable." They will euthanize animals that are deemed “unadoptable”. The term “adoptable” may be defined differently by each shelter. Once the shelter and or foster program is filled, all other animals are turned away.
LIMITED ADMISSION:
Not all animals are accepted in the shelter. Unwanted pets may undergo an evaluation by an animal behaviorist and/or veterinarian to see if the pet meets the shelter’s “adoptable” criteria. All animals that fail the evaluation are turned away. Should any of the animals that are up for adoption become unadoptable, they will be euthanized. If the shelter is full, owner’s pets that have passed the evaluation must wait for an open space. Some of these shelters may call themselves “no-kill”.
Evaluation process controversy: Since many pets are frightened or anxious when entering a new location, they may not present their normal personality during scheduled evaluation.
UNLIMITED ADMISSION / OPEN ACCESS / OPEN DOOR:
All pets that come through the door are accepted. The shelter will not euthanize any animal they view as “adoptable.” They will euthanize animals that are deemed “unadoptable”.
Before an animal is surrendered, the owner is informed if their animal is classified as unadoptable by the shelter due to that shelter's set of criteria. This allows the owner to make alternative plans.
Adoptable pets may be euthanized due to high numbers of incoming animals and need for room, or because the animal may have developed behavior or health problems.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
If you must give up your animal, we ask that you turn it into your local shelter.
Abandonment is against the law.
An abandoned pet will only suffer from disease, predators and the elements in a city or the wild.
Please see the FULL FIRST STATE ANIMAL CENTER AND SPCA POLICY