Euthanization still a common practice at US animal shelters, despite shift to 'no kill' policies

CLEVELAND - If you have a pet, you know putting it down is one of the toughest things you have to do as a pet owner.

But what about the animals that don't have loving owners? A Scripps Howard News Service investigation found there are millions of animals euthanized at U.S. shelters each year, despite efforts to adopt what are known as "no kill" tactics.

The "no kill" movement started in San Francisco's city pound in the 1990s, according to the Scripps Howard News Service. Employees worked to reduce animal euthanization rates through a combination of adoption outreach, spay and neuter programs and other policies.

The movement quickly spread throughout the U.S., including to northeast Ohio.

"We're doing everything can to get animals out of here alive," said Sharon Harvey, the executive director for the Cleveland Animal Protective League.

"We don't reject anybody," said John Baird, the chief animal control officer for the City of Cleveland Kennel.

Harvey and Baird said euthanization rates in their shelters have significantly declined during the last decade. However, both shelters said they still euthanize animals.

"No kill was not intended to mean that no animal is ever euthanized," said Harvey.

Harvey said the Cleveland APL puts down 16 percent of dogs and 35 percent of cats it takes in each year. Baird said he personally puts down approximately 1,500 dogs each year.

"I do it because I want it done the right way. It's not a fun job," he said.

Nationwide, the statistics are more startling. Half of the eight million dogs and cats that end up at U.S. shelters are euthanized, according to the Scripps Howard News Service.

Baird and Harvey said euthanization is often the best choice for animals in their shelters.

"For as long as I've done this, that's the comment I hear the most, 'You're a kill shelter.' It bothers us in this field when we get them kind of comments," said Baird. "A lot of these dogs are coming in with open sores and open wounds and broken legs and just a multitude of injuries."

Harvey said many cats arrive carrying contagious diseases. Baird and Harvey both said some animals are too aggressive to ever become pets.

"There are days when this work can be excruciating," said Harvey. "Some of these animals we can save. And some... we can't."

Harvey said the APL's Second Chance program has helped the shelter save more animals' lives. The program provides extensive medical care to animals that were once deemed too sick or injured to be saved.

Geoff Hall, the general curator at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, adopted two cats from the program.

"Wolfie" had the "left side of his body... ripped away from his body," said Hall. "His ear was detached and he had a lot of skin falling off when he was found."

"Boca" had his lower lip ripped off. After being nursed back to health, Hall said both cats have become wonderful pets.

"I'm just very, very fortunate to share my life with such special animals," he said.

Harvey and Baird said continuing to reduce euthanization rates will require community-wide efforts. They said spaying or neutering your pet; adopting, instead of buying pets; and volunteering or donating money to reputable shelters will help save more animals' lives.

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