Are we ready for no-kill?
By Peter Fernandes, DVM
What is No-Kill? It is a slogan that defines a movement. The term No-Kill
clearly and powerfully protests the status quo, that being the killing of
millions of savable animals in our nation’s animal shelters every year. That is,
No-Kill means saving both adoptable (healthy) and treatable dogs and cats, with
euthanasia reserved only for non-rehabilitable animals.
There are a few No-Kill shelters in operation at present, including Pet Rescue.
The Humane Society of Greater Miami’s board has taken the decision to implement
the No-Kill philosophy at their shelters.
The No-Kill philosophy represents a paradigm shift, a revolution of sorts, if
you will, in the way we consider and treat animals. The priority is on life, not
the killing of animals because society says they are too many. Is our furry,
four-legged, purring and tail wagging machine a possession to be discarded, or a
cherished loved one?
In a recent nationwide poll, 70 percent of the respondents said their little
four-legged friends were as important as human family members.
The No-Kill movement is about the responsibility of humans in general and
veterinarians and animal shelter personnel in particular, to cherish and protect
the living creatures on the earth who depend on us for care. When we allow
defenseless animals to die needlessly, our own human spirit is diminished. In a
world that has become more violent, more crowded, and more competitive for the
scarce resources we depend upon, the No-Kill movement envisions our larger hopes
of creating a more peaceful, tolerant world.
The change in the philosophy of the Humane Society of Greater Miami (HSGM) is a
step in the right direction, but it is only a beginning.
During 2001, over 20,000 animals were euthanized between Animal Services and
HSGM. How many more were euthanized by the veterinary community? This is
unacceptable in a civilized society such as ours.
Other Articles of Interest
Back
|
