If you’ve ever gone to an animal shelter, you probably think you know what a “no-kill” shelter is. But it’s not. Well, at least if you think that “no-kill” shelters mean they don’t kill animals there. Wrong! So what does it actually mean? Let’s find out!
The Asilomar Accords are kinda like a guidebook to animals shelters. They tell you the definitions of terms that have to do with animal shelters. Now, you probably know that in “kill” shelters they euthanize cats that are unhealthy. Most people may think, that’s sad, luckily “no-kill” shelters don’t do that! But how do The Asilomar Accords define the term healthy as? Let’s take a look. According to The Asilomar Accords, the term healthy is described as…”all cats and dogs eight weeks of age or older that, at or subsequent to the time have manifested no sign of a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet.”
Wow. So so far we know this: “no-kill” shelters also kill kittens under 8 weeks and unfriendly cats, like feral ones. Since many people are unaware, they’d think; oh, I found this feral cat out in the streets, but don’t worry, I brought it to a no-kill shelter! Or they might think; I live in a no-kill city, so they don’t need my help! But that’s not true at all.
What about the term treatable? Does it help the “unhealthy” cats’ situation? Treatable is defined as…”who are likely to become “healthy,” if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other care equivalent typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners. ”
Now that just confirms suspicions about the kittens. Kittens take much more energy to take care of than other pets and do not count as “treatable”. Unless taken in by a foster family, a kitten under 8 weeks wouldn’t last a day in an animal shelter. But it isn’t the shelter’s fault. It just doesn’t have the time and money to take care of the kittens.
All of the animal shelters need YOUR help. Without any foster parents, so many kittens and feral cats could get euthanized. Foster isn’t even that difficult, or complicated. So support your local animal shelter, kill or no-kill.
Inspired by Kitten Lady at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iUjy243-Fs
The Feline Queen ❤️