No kill, open admission: What it really means.

Terms like "no kill" and "open admission" have become buzz words in the animal welfare community. While the intent in using such terms has been to help clarify how animals are handled, in practice these terms have confused or even submerged important problems affecting companion animals and, in turn, cast doubt on the good work of many organizations.

Many people don’t realize that "no-kill" does not mean "no euthanasia". What "no-kill" really means is selective admission - meaning services are not provided to all of the people and animals in the community who need and ask a selective admission organization for help. At the newly-merged humane society we believe in an open admission philosophy, which means we do not turn away any people or animals that need our assistance. Selective admission facilities turn away pets. In the cases where a pet has a terminal illness or a rescue organization is filled to capacity, where can people turn for assistance? Our organization is for all animals and people in need of help -- regardless of the animal’s age, health or temperament.

When people speak out against open admission and in favor of "no-kill" or selective admission, the consequences are often overlooked. When an animal is turned away from a selective admission facility the problem is not resolved. That person and animal still need help. They have just asked for assistance and been given a clear message that they are in the wrong a for having done so. Yet, they still have a problem they don’t believe that they can resolve and an animal they believe they cannot continue to take responsibility for. Where do they turn? They go to an open admission facility and receive the help that they need and deserve. If they do not make that choice, sadly, the animal could end up abandoned.

Choosing to have an open admission policy brings with it the responsibility for making choices about which animals can or cannot be placed based on each animal’s health and temperament. We are concerned about the welfare of every animal that we care for and euthanasia is always a last resort, but sometimes it is the only choice.

I think a great deal of the public’s confusion is created by the terms that are used with this issue. Unfortunately, using the term "no-kill" implies that shelters that don’t follow this philosophy are "kill" shelters. At our organization the last thing we want to do is euthanize animals. We want to be able to place all the animals that come to us that are adoptable. That’s our goal. We are striving to enhance our services so that any animal that can be placed in a new home does gets placed. Those that aren’t adoptable - who have significant health and/or temperament problems - are humanely euthanized.

I think our record speaks for itself. Currently, about 80% of adoptable animals are placed in new homes and we are working to make that 100%. However, we’re not willing to turn animals in need away, just to achieve our goal.

Every one of us who works in animal welfare would like to see euthanasia become a thing of the past. To make this a reality we, as a community, need to make changes in how we care for and commit to the animals in our lives. It is important to work toward a future where every animal is given a life-long home. To do so we will need to continue working and educating our friends, neighbors and community about the responsibilities involved in having a pet and the value of a lifetime commitment. We also need to convince pet owners that the way to reduce animal overpopulation is through spay and neutering programs. In our minds, this is the long-term solution to creating a humane world for all animals.

**Northwoods Humane Society appreciates all open admissions shelters and would like to state that our views are supported by this article.**