Most people have heard of “no kill” animal shelters, but most people are ignorant to high kill shelters. The irony is that most people don’t realize that if the shelter does NOT specifically state they are a “no kill” shelter, then they DO kill animals for any reason they choose.

People in general seem to think if they take their unwanted pet to a shelter, it will have a wonderful life with a perfect new owner and will get to live to a ripe old age. The sad fact is, this rarely happens. Most shelters, unless they are specifically designated a “no kill” will kill most pets within a few days of entering the facility.

This is the reality that people are just ignorant of. Most city, county, and state animal shelters are government funded and are not “no kill” and therefore a high kill facility. Most NON no kill shelters have kill rates of 60% and higher.

So why would anyone take their pet to a kill shelter? Simply put, they don’t know any better. That is why educating people about this is essential.

If a person honesty knew that their pet only had a one in four chance of making it out of the shelter alive, would they take their pet to a kill shelter? Some unfortunately would of course, however I expect that number of pets taken to kill shelters would drop considerably.

I hate the fact that kill shelters exist, I find the numbers of animals they murder, yes murder every year reprehensible.

However, just as much blame for the murder of millions of pets per year belongs to society and people in general. Why, because we let it happen.

Society hasn’t demanded change, and until it does these atrocities will continue. Also society doesn’t demand responsible pet ownership, such as, spay and neuter requirements to help control the pet population, strict breeding regulations, elimination of puppy mills, etc. If people are going to domesticate animals then it is also our responsibility to ensure the proper care of those animals.

I am very much an animal lover, and advocate. I don’t stick my head in the sand and ignore everything going on around me. I educate myself, and I try to help educate the public via articles like these, and talking to people. I also work with rescue organizations and volunteer my time, money, and home by fostering, transporting, and helping out rescues in any way I can.

I found the following posted on Craigslist by an anonymous shelter manager at a kill shelter. This post is shocking, but people need to realize the reality of what happens to the majority of abandoned and surrendered animals in the shelter system throughout the United States.

WARNING: This post is not for the faint of heart. It is difficult to read.

The post by an anonymous shelter manager:

“As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all, a view from the inside if you will. So how would you feel if you knew that there’s about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are “owner surrenders” or “strays” that come into my shelter are purebred dogs. They always tell me: “We just don’t want to have to stress about finding a place for her, we know she’ll get adopted, she’s a good dog.” Odds are your pet won’t get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn’t full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don’t, your pet won’t get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black, or any of the “Bully” breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don’t get adopted. It doesn’t matter how ‘sweet’ or ‘well behaved’ they are. If your dog doesn’t get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn’t full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long. Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don’t have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment. Here’s a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being “put-down”. First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk – happy, wagging their tails. Until, they get to “The Room”, every one of them freak out and put the brakes on when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it’s strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the “pink stuff”. Hopefully your pet doesn’t panic from being restrained and jerk. I’ve seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don’t just “go to sleep”, sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. Remember, you took on the responsibility for this pet. Their lives depend on YOU.”

I hope that was extremely difficult for you to read. I hope the thought of this makes you angry. I hope this makes you cry. But most importantly, I hope this inspires you to take action. Being angry, sad, and crying doesn’t correct the problem, but taking action will.

I take action by getting involved with the many small rescues out there that help pull animals from the high kill shelters and that are run entirely off volunteers and donations.

I take action by helping fund raise for dogs in need on my website.

I take action by fostering animals in my home.

I take action by educating others, in person, and on my website, etc.

And just as important, I take action by contacting my state and federal government representative’s via phone calls and email regularly, to let the know my concerns on these issues. Our power of the people is in numbers; we can all affect change and make a difference.

Education is key, most people are blissfully ignorant of this issue. Please help spread the word, so we have an educated society, because an educated society will demand change. And when change is demanded by the public, the change will happen.

So if you want to see high kill shelters, puppy mills, and the murder of millions innocent pets killed every year become a thing of the past, then take action to help do something about it.

Here is a great car decal to show your support for “no kill” shelters. Buy “Support Your Local No Kill Shelter” car decal here.

Here is a short informative video about high kill shelters.

Now TAKE ACTION!