Utah Wants to Become a No-Kill State

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Utah is not satisfied with rescuing animals, it wants to bring down the number of killed shelter pets to zero by 2019.

The state’s Best Friends Animal Society announced on Sunday the No-Kill Utah (NKUT) initiative, which aims to make the state a safer place for animals placed in shelters. In order to officially be a no-kill state, the number of animals who enter the shelter system and remain alive must be 90 percent, with the remaining 10 being too sick or having behavioral problems too severe to allow for adoption. Today, that number is 70 percent.

“We’re going to be one of the best places for pets in America,” said deputy chief of staff for Utah’s governor, Mike Mower.

Utah has strongly decreased the numbers of animals killed in shelters since 1999, when another initiative, No More Homeless Pets, started. In 1999, 46,000 animals were killed. Last year, that number dropped to 18,000. To accomplish the goal of becoming a no-kill state, that number would have to drop to 6,000 but the advocates behind NKUT have bigger goals in mind.

“Our plan is straightforward: provide spay/neuter services where they are needed most so that fewer animals go into shelters, and increase adoptions so that more animals are placed into new homes,” explains the NKUT website. “Step by critical step, we believe that together, we can bring the number of pets killed in Utah shelters to zero.”

Over 36 local animal rescue organizations and city shelters have joined No-Kill Utah so far.

Via The Salt Lake Tribune

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