No Kill Shelters
Are No Kill Shelters better than Shelters that Euthanize?
Shelters and Rescue Groups 
Shelters today are what used to be known as the dog pound. A shelter has a physical location to house the dogs until they are adopted. A shelter is usually contracted by the local city or county animal control department. These shelters are responsible for housing lost or stray dogs until owners can be found. They are responsible for housing dogs that may be involved in criminal cases. They also accept dogs from the general public that are in need of new homes.
A rescue group is typically a much small organization run by a few individuals. A rescue group may specialize in a certain breed or certain size of dog. They usually do not have a physical location for the dogs. Rescue groups care for the dogs by placing them with foster families until permanent homes are found. Kill vs. No Kill 
A shelter or rescue group with a no kill designation does in fact euthanize dogs. However, they will only euthanize a dog if he is gravely ill or if he is considered dangerous to the public. In truth, most of these shelters are actually low kill shelters.
A shelter that does not have the designation of a no kill shelter will euthanize a dog for a variety of reasons. If new dogs are being brought in and there is no more kennel space, the dog that has been there the longest will be euthanized to make room for the new dog. Some shelters have a policy on the number of days to keep the dog. When that time has passed, the dog is then euthanized. Some shelters may have time limits as little as a week to 10 days. The time is set based on the size of the facility and the available funding to care for the dogs. These policies have nothing to do with the dogs disposition, temperment, size or age. There are simply more dogs on our planet than there are homes for and the overpopulation must be managed in some way. It is not the fault of the shelter that the dogs are euthanized. It is a reflection on our society, our throw away mentality, and the irresponsible owners who refuse to spay or neuter their dogs. Today's society seems to have a more positive perception of the no kill shelters. People see the no-kill shelters as being more caring or civilized and the others as the "bad" shelters. Because of this, more shelters are attempting to be designated as no kill in an attempt to attract the public and boost their success rates. In order to get the no kill designation, they are turning away dogs that they feel will not be adopted quickly. They may only accept puppies and very young dogs. They may only accept some of the rarer breeds or only certain breeds etc. They may not accept the black dogs. This policy leaves all other shelters in the position of taking in the dogs that are deemed less desirable. A shelter without the no kill designation will take in any dog that is brought to them. Not all dogs brought to the shelter will be suitable for adoption, but ALL dogs are accepted and none are turned away. The Big Debate 
There is an ongoing debate on the effects of no kill shelters on the millions of homeless dogs. One of the concerns is the ability of these shelters to cherry pick. If they are allowed to cherry pick then who will take care of the dogs that are turned away? Another argument is whether it is humane to keep a dog in a shelter enviornment for an undetermined amount of time. Sometimes, in order to keep the no kill designation, some shelters end up housing a dog for many months and even years. Those that disagree with the no kill shelter policies believe that it is more humane to put the dog down than to keep him in a stressful environment for that length of time.
Despite the ongoing debate and which side of the fence you sit on, the vast majority of shelters and rescue groups are doing everything they can to help these dogs that were thrown away. Whether the workers are paid or volunteer, they put in many hours trying to find permanent, loving homes for the millions of homeless dogs on our planet. The job is a thankless and heartbreaking one that takes a toll on the people who care enough to try and help these dogs. Please do your part to reduce the number of dogs being euthanized or living their lives behind bars. Choose to adopt and save a life. Be sure to spay/neuter your dog to prevent more unwanted puppies from entering this world. Educate your friends and family on the importance of spaying and neutering. Where you choose to adopt from is not important. Choosing to adopt a dog and save a life is what really matters. Take a look at your local shelter, or speak with a local rescue group, or talk to a national breed specific organization. They all do tremendous work and one of them has the perfect match for you. Find rescue groups and shelters near you in our Directory Your new family member is out there waiting for you right now!
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