May 26, 2008

Pet Pulse Photo Illustration by Tim Mattson

San Francisco, C.A. -- For more than a decade, shelters across the country have tried to accomplish a goal started by the San Francisco society for the prevention of cruelty to animals: to be "no kill."

The San Francisco SPCA celebrated its 140-anniversary last month. It's the fourth oldest animal shelter in the country, but the first established west of the state of New York. In 1994, San Francisco's SPCA ended the killing of all of its healthy, adoptable animals, making it the first shelter to be truly no-kill in the country.

"It's made a big difference in our community," said Jan McHugh-Smith, San Francisco SPCA president.

With Animal Care Control as its partner, that philosophy continues today.

"The definition of 'no kill' has taken on different meanings in the past 13 years," McHugh-Smith said. "In my mind, it means no healthy animal is euthanized for (lack of) time or space in the organization."

Of the 7,000 animals that come into Animal Control and the SPACA, only 1,400 that have serious irreparable behavioral and medical problems are euthanized.

"We're proud of the 85 percent release rate for the city of San Francisco, which is amazing when we have 750,000 residents," said McHugh-Smith.

He credits the SPCA's success to its spay and neuter program, feral cat program, and most of all, its shelter medicine programs.

"The shelter medicine programs help animals that come in that get sick, have a broken leg, or may be abused become healthy, adoptable pets."

Once the animals are ready to be put up for adoption, the facility is not full of the typical cages and crates you might expect to see at a shelter.

One of the unique features of the adoption area of the SPCA is that it includes a home life area, where potential owners can interact with potential pets in a more comfortable environment. So comfortable in fact that it includes furniture, artwork and televisions.

And it's effective; adoptions skyrocketed 23 percent the first year the SPCA opened the adoption center in 1998.

McHugh-Smith says none of this would be possible without the generosity of the community. One who gives time and money, and demands healthy adoptable animals be given every chance to find a permanent home.

"We have to raise the value of pets in the community. You must have people care about them and want to financially support their care if they're no longer in a home." McHugh-Smith said.

With community support – the combination of both time and money – any shelter can accomplish the no kill goal.

Tell us what you think about "SPCA Celebrates 13 No-Kill Years" below, and be sure to watch this video at the top right of your page. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. Send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.