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Answer to the Difficult
Euthanasia Question
September 25,
2003
Every now and then I receive a letter asking why the LA/SPCA is still euthanizing animals and when are we going “no-kill.” Many people are afraid to ask the question, so I thought I’d share the substance of my response with you.
Every city has the unfortunate task of collecting stray and unwanted animals. The LA/SPCA assumes that duty for New Orleans and receives up to 1,000 animals each month. Shelters like these are called “open admission” shelters. They accept animals regardless of injuries, pedigree, or reason for surrender; they provide refuge for all. “Limited admission” shelters are often called “no-kill” shelters because they do not euthanize. These shelters cannot accept any and all animals as they would be forced to euthanize because of the sheer number of animals that require housing. Consequently, limited admission shelters must ration their intake, which leaves hundreds more animals for another agency to accommodate.
Unfortunately the inflow of unwanted animals continues to be far greater than the number of available homes for those animals. What is the most humane way to address the needs of all these surplus creatures? Shelters across the country accept 6-8 million cats and dogs each year. If the LA/SPCA alone receives a thousand animals in a month, where would they stack the animals until new homes are found? Sadly, there are not enough homes and there is not enough sanctuary land to house 6-8 million pets each year. Imagine if the nation stopped euthanizing for 4 years. Over that period, the country would be housing 24 million homeless dogs and cats. Is that reasonable? Is warehousing in the best interest of the dogs and cats? This is the difficult debate caused by owners who have neglected or refused to have their pets sterilized.
The LA/SPCA believes that every animal deserves a high quality of life. Living in cages over the long term does not support this principle. Since an agency in New Orleans must take in these animals, the LA/SPCA accepts the responsibility. If an animal must be euthanized, the LA/SPCA compassionately puts them down via injection, a traumatic method for staff but the most sensitive and dignified for the animal.
Euthanasia and sheltering are not the solution, but a temporary necessity. Spaying, neutering and education are the only answers to the deep rooted problem of overpopulation which is why the LA/SPCA invests so heavily in sterilization programs. Until all dogs and cats are sterilized or the numbers of homeless animals are significantly reduced, our community will continue to euthanize.
The ultimate goal is to be a city where adoptable animals are no longer euthanized by any agency. Until then, someone will be required to perform the tough task.
- Laura Maloney |
