What does 'No-Kill' mean for a cat shelter?
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A 'no-kill' shelter is an organization that does not euthanize healthy or treatable animals, even when the shelter is full. The standard benchmark to achieve no-kill status is a 90% or higher live-release rate. Euthanasia is reserved strictly for animals that are terminally ill and suffering, or those considered too dangerous for public safety.
Are all shelters in Seattle no-kill?
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Many of them are! The Seattle area has one of the highest save rates in the country. Both large shelters (like Seattle Humane and Seattle Animal Shelter) and smaller rescues boast live-release rates well over the 90% threshold, effectively making them no-kill communities.
Why do no-kill rescues sometimes turn cats away?
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Because no-kill shelters will not euthanize animals to make room for new ones, they can only accept animals when they have physical space in their facility or available foster homes. When they are full, they have to turn intakes away or place them on a waiting list.
How can I help Seattle's no-kill mission?
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The best ways to help are to adopt your pets rather than buy them, foster cats temporarily to free up shelter space, donate to local rescues, and ensure your own pets are spayed or neutered to prevent overpopulation.
What happens to feral cats at no-kill shelters?
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Feral or community cats that cannot be socialized as indoor pets are often entered into Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, where they are fixed, vaccinated, and returned to their outdoor homes. Many shelters also run 'Barn Cat' programs, adopting them out to farms or warehouses as working mouse-catchers.