07/21/2026
One of the hardest parts of animal sheltering is talking about euthanasia. It’s not an easy conversation, but it’s an important one, and we believe our community deserves honesty.
While we are proud to be a no-kill shelter, our goal isn’t to reach a certain percentage or statistic. Our goal is to make the best possible decision for every individual animal who comes through our doors.
Euthanasia is, at its core, a humane medical tool. When used appropriately, it is a final act of compassion that prevents suffering. Over the past six months under new management, we have significantly reduced euthanasia by creating more lifesaving opportunities through foster homes, rescue partnerships, behavior support, and placement efforts. We are committed to exhausting every reasonable option before euthanasia is ever considered.
As a no-kill shelter, we do not euthanize healthy or treatable animals simply because we need kennel space. Every euthanasia decision is based on the individual animal and is only made when it is medically, behaviorally, legally, or humanely justified after every reasonable option has been considered. When appropriate, these decisions are made in consultation with our veterinary team and may include:
- Severe medical emergencies or untreatable suffering
- Dangerous aggression that cannot be safely placed in the community or with other animals
- Failure to thrive despite appropriate care
- Significant mental or kennel decline resulting in poor quality of life
- Cases where euthanasia is legally required
- Geriatric animals whose quality of life can no longer be maintained
These decisions are never made lightly. Every member of our staff chose this profession because we love animals. We celebrate every adoption, rescue, foster placement, and reunion, and we grieve the lives we cannot save. When euthanasia is necessary, our animals are treated with kindness, comfort, dignity, and love until the very end.
While we cannot speak for decisions made in years past, we can speak for the shelter we are building today - one where every animal is treated as an individual, every option is considered, and every life matters.
It's also important to address a common misconception. We haven't reduced euthanasia by taking in fewer animals. Compared to the first six months of last year, we've actually reduced euthanasia by 26% while increasing the number of animals coming into our care by 30%. Those are measurable, factual results that reflect the incredible work of our staff, fosters, rescue partners, volunteers, and supporters.
Every day, we're balancing two equally important goals: providing the best possible care for the animals already in our shelter while creating space and new lifesaving opportunities for the animals still waiting for help. That's why every adoption, foster home, rescue placement, reunion, and responsible pet owner makes such a difference.
Right now, our shelter is well over capacity, and we cannot continue this progress without our community. Animal welfare has never been the responsibility of the shelter alone - it takes all of us working together.
Our promise is simple: we will continue doing everything reasonably possible to create lifesaving opportunities for every animal in our care, while ensuring that when euthanasia is necessary, it is carried out with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Thank you for supporting our mission. We will continue to be honest, transparent, and committed to improving every day.
