Trailblazing Unleashed

Animal shelters play a critical role in rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming pets—but not all shelters operate the same way. We talked about what you can do to help your local shelter in the last post, but a thought occurred to me. Many shelters are designated either Kill or No-Kill shelters, and this terminology can really deter volunteers when they start their shelter research. The terms “kill” and “no-kill” shelters are often used to describe different approaches to animal care, but the reality is more complex than the labels suggest.

What is a Kill Shelter?

A kill shelter, more accurately called an open-admission shelter, accepts all animals, regardless of health, temperament, or space availability. Because they cannot turn animals away, they often face overcrowding, leading to euthanasia of animals that cannot be placed. Most local shelters and humane societies that are supported by the government are these types of shelters.

Public shelters can be no-kill shelters, it’s all dependent on a percentage of animals who enter and exit the shelter. For a shelter to be considered no-kill, it must save at least 90% of the animals that enter its doors. This means that there can be no more than 10% of animals with untreatable medical conditions or behavioral conditions that prevent them from being rehomed or cause them to pass away under shelter care.

Why Do Kill Shelters Exist?

✔ They provide a safety net for stray, abandoned, and surrendered pets. These shelters MUST take in any and all stray animals, so they provide a last resort for many.

✔ They take in animals that no-kill shelters may turn away due to space or behavioral concerns.

While euthanasia is heartbreaking, many open-admission shelters only euthanize animals that are severely ill, injured, or aggressive. Many shelters cannot adopt out dogs that have bitten and drawn blood because they pose a safety risk to the public. These dogs have to be either rehomed to a rescue equipped to handle their behavior or they may be euthanized. This decision is usually made by shelter and veterinarian staff in the best interest of the animal or community. Most shelters do NOT euthanize for space reasons and reach out to other shelters to take their animals instead.

What is an Limited Admission Shelter?

A limited-admission shelter only accepts animals they have space and resources to care for. They commit to not euthanizing healthy or treatable animals, maintaining a 90% or higher live-release rate. Once again, open admission shelters can be classified as no-kill shelters, they just have to operate under that 90% rule.

The Bigger Picture: Working Together

Instead of viewing kill vs. no-kill shelters as “good vs. bad,” it’s important to recognize that both models serve different needs.

🐾 Open-admission shelters provide a lifeline for all animals, even when space is limited.

🐾Limited-admission shelters focus on long-term care and adoption but may turn animals away.

🐾 Rescue groups and foster programs help bridge the gap, ensuring more animals find homes.

The best way to support shelter animals is to adopt, foster, volunteer, and advocate for responsible pet ownership. All of these types of shelters need volunteers.

Final Thoughts

Both kill and no-kill shelters play vital roles in animal welfare. Instead of focusing on labels, we should support shelters that prioritize humane care, responsible adoption, and community education.

Have you volunteered or adopted from a shelter? Share your experiences in the comments!

Trailblaze and volunteer on!

–Kaya, Skully, and Trace