Responsible Sheltering

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People often ask, “Are you a “no-kill” shelter?” At the Humane Society of Scott County, we firmly believe in the sanctity of life for every animal. We also respect that life should be free of fear, distress and pain, and should not threaten the welfare of humans or other animals. This belief forms the basis for what we call “Responsible Sheltering.”
 

Under current industry practices, we are considered a “no-kill” shelter. And we do not euthanize animals for length of stay or space needs. However, our Responsible Sheltering approach goes beyond these metrics, and is comprised of the following basic tenets:

• Physical Health
• Behavioral Health
• Long-term Animal Welfare
• Transparency 

Each of these elements is further discussed below. However, to put them in context, consider that we receive animals from a variety of sources, including community strays, transfers from partner organizations, and owner surrenders, just to name a few. Many incoming animals have unknown backgrounds, but we firmly believe that our mission compels us to accept animals with difficult or unknown conditions, not just animals that are easily adopted. All beloved creatures deserve our time, our energy, our resources, and our compassion to help them find a forever home.  
 

The basic elements of Responsible Sheltering are outlined below:
 

Physical Health – in cooperation with our partner veterinarians, each animal we receive is assessed for medical conditions that may affect their health and well-being. We make every effort to treat medical conditions of animals that come to us, so they can live pain-free lives. Our donors help us provide vaccinations, surgeries and medicinal regimens to help save the animals in our care.
 

Behavioral Health – in addition to medical assessments, each animal we receive is assessed for behavioral conditions that may adversely affect their ability to live safely with others and avoid mental distress. When conditions are identified, such as aggression or anxiety, our staff work with the animals to try to address the issues, sometimes in cooperation with volunteers, foster homes and partner organizations.  
 

Long-term animal welfare – We work very hard to find the right home for each animal in our care. Not every animal is a fit for every home, due to behaviors, medical conditions or other reasons. The right “match” of animal and adopter leads to a mutually beneficial, long-term relationship. 
 

Transparency – Euthanizing an animal in our care is a very difficult decision, and not one we take lightly. However, despite our best efforts, it is sometimes necessary for the welfare of the animal or for the safety of our communities. 

Our Responsible Sheltering approach is consistent with the ASPCA “Five Freedoms”. It is also consistent with nationally established ASILOMAR guidelines.

Shelters and rescue groups exist because they want to help animals – to reduce their suffering, provide for their safety, and allow them to lead a fulfilling life with humans and other animals around them. No reputable animal welfare organization would ever choose to “kill” an animal. However, if we limited our intake to animals with no health or behavioral concerns, thousands of animals would remain at risk in our communities or put people at risk. We choose to act, take a chance, and save lives.