Welcome!
Welcome to No Kill Canada! We are a group of ordinary citizens who are impressed with the success of the No Kill Equation taking place in American shelters. In Canada, there is a lot of discussion and passion for No Kill, especially amongst the small rescue groups for cats and dogs. The Nova Scotia SPCA has No Kill as its philosophy in its vision statement, with a very high live-release rate. We think this is a model that can - and must - come to Canada.
The No Kill movement is about ensuring shelter managers are 100% committed to live saving, and that the board members are also committed to life saving. As has been proven in the USA, the story of "There are too many pets, not enough homes" is mathematically, and practically, untrue. Is it the public's fault for the deaths of these animals? Or is it the shelter management, who say it is okay to kill, when their mandate is first and foremost to rescue and protect these animals? If a shelter is regularly killing healthy animals (which they call euthanasia, even though it isn't), who is treating the animals as disposable? Yes, the public has some culpability, but the ultimate decision of life and death rests with the shelter management.
The No Kill movement is about ensuring shelter managers are 100% committed to live saving, and that the board members are also committed to life saving. As has been proven in the USA, the story of "There are too many pets, not enough homes" is mathematically, and practically, untrue. Is it the public's fault for the deaths of these animals? Or is it the shelter management, who say it is okay to kill, when their mandate is first and foremost to rescue and protect these animals? If a shelter is regularly killing healthy animals (which they call euthanasia, even though it isn't), who is treating the animals as disposable? Yes, the public has some culpability, but the ultimate decision of life and death rests with the shelter management.
Did you know? Nathan Winograd, author of Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Movement in America describes in this, his first book, how he turned a shelter from kill to no kill literally overnight. Over time, support for the shelter grew and so did revenues that went into saving the animals.
Many people feel mislead by their local shelter. They are told their kittens they drop off will almost certainly be adopted, unless they get sick. Then, they fall sick at the shelter and are euthanized. Or they tell their volunteers and donors that they put all adoptable animals up for adoption, when in actually fact they mean all 'readily' adoptable animals. I was even told the cats get playtime during the day, so I shouldn't play with the cats. They might get excited and scratch somebody later. Yet, I had been part of the cat stress reducing program, and the cat I was entertaining didn't have a tag for that program, so nobody would have been playing with that cat. Do you want this doublespeak to stop? You can help! We need your help, and most of all, the animals need your help! It won't be easy, but it is a commitment that will make the difference between life and death.
You Can Make a Difference in the Survival of Companion Animals
The facts show that if just a few percentage more people adopted from shelters and rescues instead of from breeders and puppymills (via pet stores and on-line sites), there would be no more homeless pets!
1. Learn about the No Kill Equation and how this really works! This means things like intensively promoted low-income spay/neuter programs, all season and highly subsidized trap, neuter, release programs for feral cats, and high recruitment of foster homes. It takes a community.
2. Make your money count: Do your research. You can donate to (subsidize) an organization that is high-kill, or you can donate to (subsidize) an organization that is No Kill. To find out if an organization is high-kill or no-kill takes work (and sometimes courage). [Please note that No Kill does allow for very limited euthanasia - for animals that are suffering or a very few dogs that are not rehabilitatable.] You should ask what their euthanasia rate was last year (It should be under 10%). If they don't tell you the rate, then they are not No Kill. You should also ask who does the euthasia (vet, vet technician, or other), and what methods they use. Many groups, even some small rescues, use the wrong methods. Clearly, gas chambers and pulmonary embolism are never considered humane. This should be performed by a veterinarian, and the death confirmed by eye reflexes, stethescope to heart and lungs. This is a sad and disturbing topic for most people, but donors and volunteers should be educated on these matters of reality and not sheltered from them. According to recent research, many Canadian shelters and pounds do not confirm death, which could leave some animals suffering.
I have found that money goes a lot further with my local no kill rescue group than it does in the big shelter. The reason why: the shelter costs money to run and operate, and uses mostly paid staff. So even if I don't get 20% back on my taxes, if I donate 20% less, my money will be more successful at saving lives. Some say that if you stop giving money to the shelter, more animals will be killed. Well, if you give 20% less to a no kill rescue, more animals will be saved overall.
3. Spread the word: Tell your friends and family about how shelters have become No Kill overnight. It isn't easy, but with determination and commitment from the organization's leadership, it can be done and it must be done! I also worked with my local library to bring in books on the No Kill movement. You could blog, tweet, or use a rotary dial phone. Each person you meet can have an influence. People still need to hear the message about spaying and neutering their pets and most importantly, adopting from rescues and shelters. When people do this, the demand for puppymill puppies, for example, will make puppymilling less profitable.
4. Volunteer. Become a foster parent, board member, and/or an advocate from outside the organization/s you need to reform. Just as you have educated friends and family, the important decision makers of your community need to be informed. Start with town council members, and work your way up to the Mayor. Make sure you have prepared materials in advance to leave behind with each individual. These should present the business case for why No Kill is needed now, it should be succinct, easy to read, and based on facts (especially ones that you can reference).
5. Take part in a coup, if needed. This means, if your SPCA or humane society is sticking its feet in the mud and not willing to save all savable animals, you need to get thousands of people to join the shelter, show up at the AGM, and vote in a meaningful board. Expect the meeting to be full of conflict, and people from all sides will pull all the procedural stops to prevent you from helping the animals. If you think the shelter board of directors is amenable to a No Kill resolution from members, you can do this instead. Most boards (and staff) are convinced, however, that killing healthy animals is necessary, so beware!
6. Bring in the big gurus! If you need to build more awareness, find a director of a local, national or international no kill organization to talk about how they switched. This costs a bit of money, but will bring forth media interest and help make skeptics of no kill to become advocates for no kill. By now, you will have probably organized at least a core group of people. You can plan, strategize and implement projects and events that will make no kill the future for your community. Be prepared for the long-haul. Turning your community into No Kill could take months or up to a decade.
7. Have fun and be creative! If your events and attitude are positive, the volunteering you do won't feel like work. If you find a way to have fun and use creativity in all its forms, it will be easier to stay motivated for the time it will take to turn your community into no kill.
1. Learn about the No Kill Equation and how this really works! This means things like intensively promoted low-income spay/neuter programs, all season and highly subsidized trap, neuter, release programs for feral cats, and high recruitment of foster homes. It takes a community.
2. Make your money count: Do your research. You can donate to (subsidize) an organization that is high-kill, or you can donate to (subsidize) an organization that is No Kill. To find out if an organization is high-kill or no-kill takes work (and sometimes courage). [Please note that No Kill does allow for very limited euthanasia - for animals that are suffering or a very few dogs that are not rehabilitatable.] You should ask what their euthanasia rate was last year (It should be under 10%). If they don't tell you the rate, then they are not No Kill. You should also ask who does the euthasia (vet, vet technician, or other), and what methods they use. Many groups, even some small rescues, use the wrong methods. Clearly, gas chambers and pulmonary embolism are never considered humane. This should be performed by a veterinarian, and the death confirmed by eye reflexes, stethescope to heart and lungs. This is a sad and disturbing topic for most people, but donors and volunteers should be educated on these matters of reality and not sheltered from them. According to recent research, many Canadian shelters and pounds do not confirm death, which could leave some animals suffering.
I have found that money goes a lot further with my local no kill rescue group than it does in the big shelter. The reason why: the shelter costs money to run and operate, and uses mostly paid staff. So even if I don't get 20% back on my taxes, if I donate 20% less, my money will be more successful at saving lives. Some say that if you stop giving money to the shelter, more animals will be killed. Well, if you give 20% less to a no kill rescue, more animals will be saved overall.
3. Spread the word: Tell your friends and family about how shelters have become No Kill overnight. It isn't easy, but with determination and commitment from the organization's leadership, it can be done and it must be done! I also worked with my local library to bring in books on the No Kill movement. You could blog, tweet, or use a rotary dial phone. Each person you meet can have an influence. People still need to hear the message about spaying and neutering their pets and most importantly, adopting from rescues and shelters. When people do this, the demand for puppymill puppies, for example, will make puppymilling less profitable.
4. Volunteer. Become a foster parent, board member, and/or an advocate from outside the organization/s you need to reform. Just as you have educated friends and family, the important decision makers of your community need to be informed. Start with town council members, and work your way up to the Mayor. Make sure you have prepared materials in advance to leave behind with each individual. These should present the business case for why No Kill is needed now, it should be succinct, easy to read, and based on facts (especially ones that you can reference).
5. Take part in a coup, if needed. This means, if your SPCA or humane society is sticking its feet in the mud and not willing to save all savable animals, you need to get thousands of people to join the shelter, show up at the AGM, and vote in a meaningful board. Expect the meeting to be full of conflict, and people from all sides will pull all the procedural stops to prevent you from helping the animals. If you think the shelter board of directors is amenable to a No Kill resolution from members, you can do this instead. Most boards (and staff) are convinced, however, that killing healthy animals is necessary, so beware!
6. Bring in the big gurus! If you need to build more awareness, find a director of a local, national or international no kill organization to talk about how they switched. This costs a bit of money, but will bring forth media interest and help make skeptics of no kill to become advocates for no kill. By now, you will have probably organized at least a core group of people. You can plan, strategize and implement projects and events that will make no kill the future for your community. Be prepared for the long-haul. Turning your community into No Kill could take months or up to a decade.
7. Have fun and be creative! If your events and attitude are positive, the volunteering you do won't feel like work. If you find a way to have fun and use creativity in all its forms, it will be easier to stay motivated for the time it will take to turn your community into no kill.
Can you help them after they get to the shelter?
Do you have resources that other Canadians could print off and use in order to make No Kill a happy reality in their community? Let me know! Printable posters for houses, cars and bikes, especially if editable. Draft letters to the editor. Materials used in presentations to city councilors. Provide me the details in your contact form. Thank you, meow meow and ruff!
Now
*** Author's note about food animals. The unnecessary suffering of companion
animals is a huge problem in Canada. It is important to be aware that the
suffering of Canada's 1 billion food animals is a much larger problem. For
example, pigs are smarter than dogs and yet sows are kept in confined pens and
bred as often as possible. Chickens can count, and yet most hens are kept in
battery cages without being able to express their natural needs, such as
scratching and perching. Efforts to end prolongued and intentional suffering in
the agricultural industry are also needed.
animals is a huge problem in Canada. It is important to be aware that the
suffering of Canada's 1 billion food animals is a much larger problem. For
example, pigs are smarter than dogs and yet sows are kept in confined pens and
bred as often as possible. Chickens can count, and yet most hens are kept in
battery cages without being able to express their natural needs, such as
scratching and perching. Efforts to end prolongued and intentional suffering in
the agricultural industry are also needed.