New Shelter Philosophy - Will it Work? By: Susan Rubinowitz Read
By: Pet Lovers The sign tacked to the wall just inside
Manhattan's Center for Animal Care and Control says it all:
"Animals will be held a minimum of 48 hours, as required by law,
to allow the original owner to claim their animals. Animals not
placed for adoption will be euthanized by a painless and humane
injection of barbiturate." That chilling message doesn't stop a
steady stream of pet owners from waiting in line to turn in
their animals at the busy East Harlem building. About 65,000
unwanted dogs and cats have been left at New York City's public
animal shelter doors each year, and most have been euthanized
because no one claimed or adopted them. Recently, the city has
started enforcing a new law requiring that most pets be spayed
and neutered, a move aimed at cutting down the bleak kill-rate.
Yet many private animal shelters say they've already found
another solution – a "no kill" policy that promises no animal
will be put to sleep unless i