Clarifying 'no-kill' shelters

Area animal shelter leaders are trying to debunk myths about their organizations. Linda Balz, co-director of Wyandot County Humane Society, said her shelter does everything it can to take care of every animal, but it’s not always possible. “Calling yourself a no-kill shelter might make you feel better, but it’s not humane,” she said. Balz said her shelter took in 10,001 animals in 2014 and are approaching 10,000 for 2015. “We are unique, we have never turned an animal away since we opened in 1985,” she said. “A lot of shelters turn animals away, but, we know the shelter is a last option for people.” Balz said they do not ask questions when animals are surrendered, and they take animals from anywhere, even sometimes out of state. This year, the shelter has taken animals from New York and Michigan. “We know it is not an option for a family when grandma died and they need the animal taken now,” she said. “We are one of the smallest counties, but we take in more animals than we have people almost.” Seneca County Humane Society Director Lisa Kagy said the shelter in Tiffin also is an open-admission shelter. “This means that we never turn any animal from our county away for any reason,” Kagy said. She said the shelter operates that way because it better serves the community of animals and people. “When someone can no longer keep their pet for whatever reason, we are usually their last resort,” she said. Balz said there is a popular movement in the sheltering community to refer to shelters as “no-kill” or “kill” shelters. “Something has gone wrong in the sheltering community,” she said. “There is no such thing as a ‘no-kill shelter,'” she said. Balz said when other shelters turn away pets or put them on a waiting list, it often times ends badly for the animal, since shelters typically are needed to act quickly and they normally are a last resort. She said those shelters claim to be “no-kill,” but doesn’t believe that statement to be true. “We have a hard time seeing what is humane about turning animals away,” she said. Linda Balz’s husband, Dave Balz, co-director of the shelter, said when humane societies say they are full, it creates a tragedy for the public and for the animal. “If someone gets turned away from a shelter and doesn’t want to drive all the way here, those animals are sometimes just dropped off in the wild,” he said. “The animals aren’t equipped to deal with that.” Linda said it disappoints her when other shelters turn animals away because they “are full.” “We are all full,” Linda said. “You could stand on US 23 and hand out animals all day, there would still be more.” Dave said he thinks people use “kill” and “no-kill” as an inflammatory way to illicit an emotional response. “Some people in the sheltering community are misleading the public,” he said. “They take in animals and promise to find a home for them, when that isn’t always possible.” Kelly Marker, Seneca County dog warden, whose office is funded by the sale of dog licenses, said she knows not every dog will find a new home. “But, I try very hard to find a home for every dog,” she said. “I’m always trying to get them a home.” Linda and Kagy said there is no guarantee that an animal brought to a shelter will find a new home or even survive. “Every animal is attached to a person who needs our help,” Linda said. “We don’t have time frames for our animals, but sometimes we must humanely euthanize.” Linda said with such a large intake of animals, shelters are faced with tough decisions. Kagy agreed. “We have animals that have been here for months, and in the past we’ve had animals for two years or more,” Kagy said. “We have several factors to determine when euthanasia is warranted.” She said the animals temperament, any illnesses they have and their overall happiness are weighed to determine what animals might be put down. Linda said with low funding and space and staffing issues, difficult decisions have to be made. “It’s important to remember that animals live in the moment,” Linda said. “If the worst happens, they are in our arms. It is fast, humane and peaceful.” She said euthanasia is used as a last option. “We do everything we can to find a home,” Linda said. “But, we don’t make guarantees.” Marker said life for animals in shelters is not ideal for them. “It’s literally like doggy jail,” she said. Dave said shelters often are not something people concern themselves with. “Until they need it,” he said. Dave said adoption rates for “adoptable” animals are around 50 percent for dogs and 20 percent for cats. He said the ultimate goal is to find a good home for every animal. “Some parts of the country have already found that equilibrium with dogs,” Dave said. “There is no such thing as a no-kill shelter, there are no-kill communities.” Linda agreed. “Communities that are more conscientious and that spay and neuter at low cost are the ideal community,” she said. “The community has to want to take care of the animals.” “A shelter that says they are no-kill, but then turns animals away, are not no-kill shelters,” she said. “Now the animals likely die badly.” Marker said the solution to the problem depends on resources and community support. “It’s all about what your resources are,” she said. She offered advice for potential pet owners. “People need to become more responsible when owning a pet,” Marker said. “You have to have the mindset that we will keep this for 15-18 years, and people don’t always think like that.” She said her office keeps dogs as long as they can and she always tries to keep space open. “If I didn’t have that space, I would have tough decisions.” Linda said there is one thing they try and keep in perspective at the shelter. “We are here for the animals,” she said. “We are a full-access shelter, if you need to surrender an animal, we are here.” Animal surrenders in Seneca County can be brought to the shelter during open hours, 12:30-5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-noon Saturday. “We appreciate a call ahead of time so we can be ready in all situations,” she said. Kagy said there is no cost for surrendering animals, but donations always are welcome. Surrenders can be dropped off at Wyandot County at no cost 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the shelter, located at 9640 CH 330, Upper Sandusky.