Drinking the No Kill Nation's "Kool Aid"

Thought I'd share this from a fellow blogger on how incredibly simple implementing the No Kill Equation is - makes one wonder why only a hand full of the 3,500 shelters out these have been successful in implementing the steps.

The Incredible Simplicity of the No Kill Equation

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Hannah Sentenac

It’s funny how many people have the same reactions when faced with the concept of No Kill.
“There are too many animals, not enough homes.”
“There just aren’t enough resources.”
“Pet overpopulation is due to public irresponsibility.”
“It’s going to take a long time to become No Kill.”
“We need to punish irresponsible owners.”
Etc., etc., etc.
All erroneous. Well meaning, maybe, but erroneous. The No Kill equation is so brilliantly simple. Some concepts MAY seem counter-intuitive to those who are used to blaming the public, assuming that it’s the fault of bad pet owners, etc., but when you look at the facts – it’s so damn clear.
For example, mandatory spay/neuter programs DO NOT work. They’ve been demonstrated ineffective time and time again.
There is no pet overpopulation. No Kill can happen overnight when a shelter is determined to make it happen.
Often, No Kill can actually happen UNDER a community’s budget – resources are not the real issue.
And so on.
Below are the steps of the No Kill Equation. This formula is PROVEN effective. Click here to learn more about the NKE and how to implement it. Please, please, educate yourself. Then, you can educate others – and the No Kill movement will grow, and spread, the way that ideas whose times have come, do.
I. Feral Cat TNR Program
II. High-Volume, Low-Cost Spay/Neuter
III. Rescue Groups
IV. Foster Care
V. Comprehensive Adoption Programs
VI. Pet Retention
VII. Medical and Behavior Rehabilitation
VIII. Public Relations/Community Involvement
IX. Volunteers
X. Proactive Redemptions
XI. A Compassionate Director

Of course, despite several attempts at getting clarification from the leaders of No Kill There are serious questions about implementing these steps.  They include:

I Community TNR Program - Are there adequate feral cat rescue groups to handle all the feral's needing rescue from MDAS?  Does the county commissioners endorse Trap/Neuter/Release as a viable option for feral's? 

II Low cost spay/neuter - MDAS already has a number of low cost spay/neuter programs in placed including a mobile bus that goes into neighborhoods - how would NKN suggest that program be expanded and where will the resources come from to pay for that expansion? 

III Rescue Groups - MDAS has expanded it's "rescue partner" program since Dr Pizano took over - specifically what other changes would NKN suggest?

IV Foster Care - in this context the NKE calls for shelters to foster out dogs/cats who have not been adopted.  Since the shelter is killing about 400 dogs/cats a week exactly how many foster homes would be needed EACH week to handle that number?  Who would pay for the cost of fostering - including food and medical care?  Who would manage/inspect the foster care homes.  Those who are involved in rescue know all too well how difficult it is to find enough foster homes - does NKN know something the rescue community doesn't?

V Comprehensive Adoption Programs - Adoptions from MDAS have increased dramatically under Dr Pizano's watch.  Specifically what adoption methods could be utilized and who picks up the cost involved and staffs those programs?

VI Pet Retention - As an open admission public shelter MDAS has a major problem with owners surrendering pets at the shelter.  Specifically what programs does NKN recommend to alleviate that problem?

VII Medical and Behavioral Rehabilitation - Who picks up the cost of evaluating and treating the 100 dogs/cats that enter the shelter each day?  What are those costs projected to be?  If we use a figure of $100 per dog/cat for a physical exam and shots wouldn't the cost projection be in excess of $3.5 million?  This area alone could easily add two to three times that amount to the expense of running the shelter?  Can the county justify that expense during an economic slowdown where many social programs are facing serious cutbacks?  Of course, that figure would not include treating/rehabilitating the huge number that enter the shelter lacking any type of medical care by their owners.  Considering the fact that the county ordered budget cutbacks that resulted in cutting the shelter's innovative volunteer program how does NKN get the commissioners to reverse the budget cutbacks?

How does one control disease in a high volume shelter that was never designed for this purpose?

VIII Public Relations/Community Involvement - this is one area where common ground dictates success just as was witnessed with the recent effort to save those who potentially could be exposed to the distemper outbreak.  Can the shelter management team rely on the community to step up next week when there isn't a crisis?

IX Volunteers - The volunteer program has been expanded dramatically under Dr Pizano's watch.  Specifically what programs have been overlooked?

X Proactive Redemptions - How does the shelter overcome the problem of owners surrendering pets in huge numbers that has plagued MDAS for years?

X! A Compassionate Director - Who specifically does NKN have in mind when it suggests a "compassionate" director will be able to end the killing?  What can and should that director do differently to overcome the limitations placed on the shelter operating with the same budget and regressive animal ordinances - including the ban on pit bulls.  How do you increase the number of pits and pit mixes rescued when there is a breed ban that needs repeal?

These are the questions that NKN leadership works diligently at dodging.  These questions are NOT welcome on the NKN Face Book question.  If implementing the No Kill Equation is so simple why aren't the answers to advocates questions quite as simple to find? 

Please educate yourself.