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"The
Dumb Friends League is an open door shelter. We turn no companion
animal away. That is the defining difference between ours and the
limited admission shelters, i.e., those that say they do not euthanize
the animals they take in. (These organizations sometimes advertise
themselves as "no kill" shelters.)
To
operate a "no kill" (hereinafter referred to as "limited admission")
shelter, an organization must restrict both the type and the number
of animals it will receive. It must focus on healthy, behaviorally
sound animals that are the best candidates for adoption. Rapid turnover
is essential, because when the cages are full, the shelter must
turn away the next animal, regardless how compelling the circumstances.
Very
few limited admission shelters take in sick and injured animals
or provide for lost or stray animals. They rarely investigate and
prosecute complaints of cruelty and neglect. They often turn away
older animals or those with health or behavior problems and may
be unable to accept the return of unsuccessful adoptions.
Although
the simplicity of the limited admission shelter philosophy is appealing,
reality is not that simple. Here at the League, we receive an average
of 63 animals a day. We adopt 38 and return four to their owners.
We shelter others for weeks, sometimes months, while we try to find
new homes for them. But more keep coming every day, and only so
many can be housed at a time.
As
a result, last year we had to euthanize 2,103 adoptable animals
for which we could not find homes.
Inevitably,
as we reach out into the community, we hear this: "If you don't
want to euthanize animals, why don't you just stop?"
The
answer lies in our mission: to shelter and care for them all - the
helpless young kitten, mistreated pup, sick old dog and every creature
in between - even if all we can offer some of them is a humane death.
Our choice is to not "just stop" euthanizing. Within days, we would
be full and have to close our doors. Later, we may have animals
suffering from the psychological trauma of long-term confinement.
Our
choice is to engage in an active campaign to reduce the number of
homeless animals in our community.
Last
year, for example, we worked for legislation that would have provided
funds for spaying and neutering pets all over Colorado. We educated
22,000 children and adults about pet overpopulation. We were part
of a collaborative, free spay/neuter clinic held in the Curtis Park
neighborhood, and we sterilized every animal adopted from us - 8,700
in all.
Our
philosophy is to keep working at the root causes - to stop indiscriminate
and over-breeding, educate the public about the problem, nurture
the sick and socialize the ill-behaved animals we receive so that
they can be adopted, and support pet owners who need help in keeping
a lifelong commitment to their pets.
We
acknowledge the role that responsible limited-admission shelters
serve. We work collaboratively with many of them. Because of their
narrow scope, their success depends on having an organization like
ours that is willing and able to care for every animal that comes
to its doors.
We
honor the memory of the 2,103 lovable, adoptable dogs and cats that
we had to euthanize last year. Each and every one caused us great
sadness. But we will stay focused on the progress we are making.
One day soon, with your help, we will reduce the euthanasia of adoptable
animals to zero. And, through it all, our door will remain open."
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