What is a Kill Shelter?

A photo of dogs who are caged by Adolph Isaacson, who ran a rat-catching business– photo from the Library of Congress.

In animal welfare and shelter spaces, the term “no-kill” shelter is one that many strive to obtain. In Philadelphia specifically, a no-kill shelter is any organization that has a save rate of 90%. This means a shelter that euthanizes 10% or less of its yearly intake can be designated as a no-kill shelter.

But does a no-kill shelter actually do no killing? And if a shelter is not designated as a no-kill, does that mean they are quicker to euthanize? 

The Morris Animal Refuge started asking themselves the same questions a few years ago. With a steady save rate of 98% these past two years, Morris Animal Refuge has every right to call itself a no-kill shelter – but it doesn’t. Instead, Morris Animal Refuge staff go for the friendlier “Lifesaving Organization” label. 

Alissa Rubenstein, a Lifesaving Manager at Morris Animal Refuge, explains why designating a shelter as a no-kill can perpetuate a harmful misconception. 

“It creates this false dichotomy of no-kill versus kill shelters. It ends up vilifying folks who are on the front line doing the most difficult work at kill shelters, which are usually the most underfunded, overcrowded, busiest shelters that are doing their best. No one goes into the field to kill animals, so it feels like a framing of language that doesn’t feel very fair,” Rubenstein explained. 

Take ACCT Philly, for example. One of the only open-intake shelters in Philadelphia, it works to save and house all animals, regardless of their health or condition. As such, there is a severe lack of space and resources to care for all the animals. The staff has to think carefully and agonizingly about the few resources and space it has and which animals are the most likely to succeed within that space. 

The heart-wrenching decisions about where to allocate resources are already an onerous burden on shelters. And it’s no secret that without adequate support, sicker or more behaviorally challenged animals are more likely to be euthanized. These decisions are not made lightly or heartlessly, but they are common in shelters like ACCT Philly that struggle to stay afloat. 

Knowing ACCT Philly's efforts to remain operating and save as many animals as possible, it feels like a callous reminder when they’re described as not being a no-kill shelter. In an ideal world, all shelters would be no-kill shelters. 

“We’re all Lifesaving Organizations, so I think that’s more helpful with coalition building and not pitting shelters against each other. It’s also how the public looks at it too, because people get very up-in-arms about how animals are treated, which is great, but if they’re calling ACCT Philly a kill shelter, then that’s not very good,” Rubenstein stated. 

Aside from the tendency to vilify kill shelters or shelters that struggle to meet a save rate of 90%, the term no-kill shelter can be a little misleading. 

“We don’t call ourselves a no-kill shelter… It kind of gives, in our opinion, the public the wrong idea of what we actually do. Because sometimes euthanasia is the most compassionate choice for an animal.” Morris Animal Refuge does everything it can to take care of animals, and it can take sicker animals at higher rates. Regardless, euthanasia can be the most compassionate choice for animals who are really struggling, medically or behaviorally. Sometimes, it is the best option. 

And while they’re able to save the majority of animals that come into their facility, the term of a “no-kill” shelter is one they leave at the door. It’s harmful and reductive, and it creates the idea that some shelters are in the business of saving animals' lives while others are not. Considering our language and how we’re framing issues is important– Morris Animal Refuge has done just that. It will be interesting to see how other shelters respond to this careful consideration of a term that has long been considered in the animal welfare sector.