No-Kill - Should My Animal Shelter Go for It?

                                             

No Kill – Should Our Shelter Go for It?

When the “No Kill” movement was introduced two decades ago it generated a great deal of controversy. Folks in animal welfare began taking sides for and against the concept and its claims and challenge to the industry as a whole.

The world has changed dramatically in the last several years and the “No Kill Blueprint”, articulated by Nathan Winograd in his seminal book “Redemption”, has been applied in animal shelters across the country with remarkable results.  We have assisted more and more groups dedicated to working toward the goal of saving every healthy companion animal in their care, and consistent application of the programs articulated in the “No Kill Blueprint” is the common denominator for achieving successful results.

We have witnessed success with organizations that have confidently declared themselves “No Kill” as well as organizations that have applied the “blueprint” quietly, without any formal declaration.  Results are usually positive in either case and once the community begins to realize success is at hand, a groundswell of support develops in a variety of forms – donations, volunteers, and governmental support. 

If a new shelter (or improvements to an existing shelter) is part of the community’s no kill strategy, animal shelter architects should incorporate specific building plans to match the community’s no kill vision.

More and more we are witnessing local government responding to the desire for improved conditions and outcomes.  Cooperation between humane and rescue groups working positively with animal control elevates the conversation, bringing about a more cooperative effort on behalf of the community’s stray companion animals.

Whether your organization adopts the “No Kill” moniker or not is less important than bringing to bear the strategies that ultimately produce results. After all, improving your animal shelter is less about the grand announcement that you plan to be a no kill, and more about improving the community and saving animals. 

Why Building a New Animal Shelter Alone Won't Save More Animals

Simply stated, we can’t build our way out of shelter overcrowding.

Sure enough, a properly sized, well designed, and well planned animal shelter is essential to maintaining healthy animals and can contribute to some extent to increased adoption rates.  All of our newly designed shelters have, but long term adoption success requires a great deal more.

Animal welfare organizations that have implemented the array of programs originally put forth by the No Kill movement have experienced significant advances in their animal save rates.  No longer a controversial set of guidelines as they were when first introduced, engaging the community in the “animal rescue mission”; investing in low cost spay neuter; partnering with rescue groups; implementing “TNR” of feral cats; promoting comprehensive adoption programs and fiercely defending the life of every animal in the shelter are now proven components of success.

We have clients looking to build new shelters that are already experiencing save rates above 90% for all of their sheltered animals – all in an older shelter in dire need of more space – consistently reminding me and the Shelterplanners’ team; it’s all about the programs, stupid!

A new animal shelter provides an attractive, stable platform from which your organization can successfully implement programs that will accomplish the goal of saving every healthy companion animal in your care.  The well designed shelter provides you with a bright, cheery, healthy environment that attracts potential adopters - but without the essential programs to keep those adoptions on track, it will be quickly overrun.

Does Your Animal Shelter Have a Customized Plan to Improve Conditions?

“ShelterPlanners.com worked closely with me and my staff, developing a study that analyzed our situation and accurately predicted the size and scope of our new shelter.  The resulting layout includes everything we wanted to achieve.  The design has given us the exciting vision we needed to launch our capital campaign.” 

Gina West, Director

Lewis & Clark Humane Society

Helena, MT

It’s difficult to think about a plan when you’re busy trying to care for and save the animals at your animal shelter. However, we sincerely hope you have a specific plan and measurable goals to improve your current conditions.  How can you clearly communicate your mission and vision to potential donors and your community without a customized plan?

We know you are extremely busy and you likely don’t have the resources to create a blueprint for the future of your shelter.  That’s why we created a Needs Assessment Study.

The Needs Assessment Study provides the following: 

• Proposed shelter size  based on animal intake statistics
• Proposed shelter size for the future: 10-year and 20-year projections calculated
• A detailed description of sizing and space needed to house and support the animals you serve. Also provides description and size for every space needed for your staff and volunteers to properly care for the animals
• A cost range projection based on recently constructed animal shelters

This in-depth report is customized to your shelter’s specific mission and vision.  The report will allow the shelter director to easily communicate not only the mission/vision but also the capital requirements to the community and local government.  It’s one of the first steps to transforming your animal shelter.

Make time to create your plan with Shelterplanners.  We have all the tools necessary!  If you would like more information about the Needs Assessment Study, please contact us: contact@shelterplanners.com or 434-971-8848. Together we can: Save Time. Save Money. Save Animals!