Communities in Minnesoita and Wisconsin join
the No Kill Club, with others aggressively
moving in that direction.
Minnesota-based Animal Ark formally announced the formation of the first No Kill communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin. This news comes as a result of an agreement signed by Animal Ark and the local agency which provides animal control sheltering services to Hastings and Rosemount, Minnesota and Prescott, Wisconsin. The agreement provides an adoption guarantee for any and all healthy and treatable homeless animals in these communities.
They join other No Kill communities across the country: in California, Virginia, New York, Utah, Indiana, and more. But the good news does not stop there. Duluth, MN is close, with an 88% save rate and climbing…
According to the official announcement,
While the cities of Hastings and Rosemount may be the first official No Kill cities in Minnesota, [Mike] Fry hopes they will not be the last. “Now, all eyes are on Duluth,” he said.
A few years ago a leadership change occurred at the Animal Allies Humane Society. Since then the organization has been actively implementing the various programs and services often referred to as “The No Kill Equation”. During that time, the community-wide save rate has climbed from to 88% of all animals. With improvements continuing, it is commonly expected that Duluth could exceed a 90% save rate in 2010…“While the US population has been growing, deaths in shelters have been dropping dramatically because shelter directors across the nation are implementing the programs called The No Kill Equation,” said Fry. “Programs like comprehensive adoption programs, high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter, trap-neuter-release services for feral cats and others are making a huge difference.”
Communities across the globe are embracing No Kill.
Saving 100% of Baby Kittens
For the last few years, Michael Linke, the head of the RSPCA in the Australian Capital Territory, an open admission animal control shelter, has been implementing the No Kill Equation and has saved 93% of all dogs. Last October, he attended a workshop I did at the national conference in Australia on lifesaving programs for cats, including setting up a foster care program for motherless neonatals kittens. This week, I got an e-mail from Linke which included what may be the understatement of the year: “I did what you said regarding infantile kittens, i.e., saving them. 100% saved this year.” 100% saved!
Austin takes a step closer to its No Kill ambitions.
Austin Sees Light at the End of the Tunnel
Congratulations are due for Austin, Texas No Kill advocates at FixAustin.org who have overcome a major hurdle in their fight for a No Kill city. The director at the pound responsible for killing animals with ruthless efficiency—over 100,000 animals during her tenure—while saying “No” to the programs and services that make ending the killing possible, has been relieved of her duties.The shelter director routinely ordered animals killed despite state inspection reports that found hundreds of empty cages on any given day. Simple requests—such as an end to convenience killing (killing when space is available)—were rebuffed time and time again.
Their uphill battle for decency and compassion included opposition from the ASPCA, which tried to undermine reform efforts and backed the kill-oriented director; and HSUS, which wrote a letter of support to move the shelter from a centralized location close to where people live, work, and play to a remote “out of sight, out of mind” part of the city so that managers could get bigger office spaces.
In spite of the opposition, they won unanimous passage by the City Council of their No Kill plan. The plan includes what may be the first ever moratorium that makes it illegal to kill savable animals when there are empty cages. And that is just one of the many provisions, which closely track the No Kill Equation. However, the director tried to sabotage that plan by allowing animals to languish without care, and then claiming the moratorium on convenience killing was leading to warehousing. Now she has been forced out, and Austin is conducting a nationwide search for a progressive director.
Looking to the Future
We are the generation that questioned the killing. We are the generation that discovered how to stop it. And we will be the generation that does. A No Kill nation is within our reach.
And with communities in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada achieving No Kill level save rates, it has become a race to see which will become the first No Kill nation. The future looks very bright indeed.
Will The Empire Strike Back?
The No Kill Equation has invaded the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. We now have communities across these countries saving in excess of 90% of the animals. And our numbers continue to grow. Will Europe be next?
I will be in London, England this winter. If any group there is interested in hosting a free Building a No Kill Nation seminar, please get in touch with me. The seminar has been called “a prerequisite for animal lovers, rescue groups and organizations that are serious about changing their communities to No Kill.”
Irreconcilable Differences Wins Bronze
Following in the footsteps of Redemption, Irreconcilable Differences: The Battle for the Heart & Soul of America’s Animal Shelters wins a bronze medal for Best Book in the Animals/Pets category by the Independent Publishers Association, which will be given at an event at Book Expo America in New York City. Almost 4,000 entrants from 42 states, 7 Canadian provinces, and 6 countries overseas competed for honors.
The Sweetest Way to Save a Life
The makers of Rescue Chocolate say it is “the sweetest way to save a life.” That’s their tag line and it is
appropriate because 100% of all net profits are donated to No Kill groups. And during the month of May, my favorite charity, the No Kill Advocacy Center, is the beneficiary. But more importantly, my package of Rescue Chocolates—one of every flavor—arrived.
At the risk of sounding like a commercial, there are so many great things about them. First of all, the chocolate bars come wrapped in a beautiful box. They really are stylish to look at; you almost don’t want to break into the packaging. Second, they support only No Kill groups, so animal lovers can buy with a clear conscience. Third, they are cruelty-free, as the chocolates are vegan (without sacrificing taste) so you can eat with a clear conscience. All great reasons to buy, gift, and consume Rescue Chocolate. But, of course, when it comes to chocolate, it’s not the packaging or anything else that makes you want to buy it, it’s the taste. And when it comes to taste, I have two words: Oh my.
My favorite was Peanut Butter Pit Bull. My other favorite was Pick Me! Pepper, which did have just the right amount of heat, but don’t just get those at the expense of the others. My advice: do what we did and get one of each.
Learn more at rescuechocolate.com.
If you order before May 31, you’ll also help the No Kill Advocacy Center work to end the systematic killing of animals in shelters. What could be sweeter than that?
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If you like Nathan's articles, you'll love his books. Redemption is the most acclaimed book on animal shelters ever written and the winner of five national book awards. His new book, Irreconcilable Differences, is a collection of essays on animals, animal lovers, and the No Kill revolution.
Visit his bookstore by clicking here.
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I dig the chocolates from Rescue Chocolate.Now that this month all 100 percent proceeds do directly to help NO Kill Advocacy they are cool with me. Niiice.
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