A no-kill animal shelter provides adoption services and euthanizes only in rare cases.
Abandoned pets and stray animals are a growing problem across the country. If dogs and cats are not neutered or spayed, the population continues to rise. Although animal shelters exist in most regions, many will euthanize an animal if it has not been claimed or adopted within a few weeks. This has led animal advocates opposed to euthanizing to create no-kill or kill-free shelters. Starting this type of shelter requires an enormous commitment, a dedicated team of volunteers and ongoing funding sources.
Instructions
1. Recruit a team of volunteers dedicated to creating a no-kill animal shelter. Create a list of tasks and appoint team leaders. Choose leaders for fundraising, organization, location, operation, medical assistance, education, animal rescue and promotion. Direct each team leader to build a strong committee of volunteers.
2. Tour other no-kill shelters around your region, as well as model shelters in other areas of the country. Ask questions about what works and what does not. Inquire about issues that have arisen and how they have been handled. Seek guidance on programs offered, including any resources and materials other shelters could possibly share.
3. Volunteer in a no-kill shelter. Serve in all capacities and encourage your team of volunteers to do the same. Learn the daily routine of operating a no-kill shelter and the costs involved.
4. Choose a name for the no-kill shelter. Additionally, review bylaws from other no-kill shelters and then prepare your own, including a mission statement. Elect officers and board members for the no-kill shelter. File for incorporation as a non-profit organization with your state's corporation division and pay the required filing fee. Seek non-profit designation from the Internal Revenue Service. Enlist a local attorney to prepare these documents as a donation to the organization.
5. Obtain space for the no-kill shelter. Tour available spaces -- or land if you choose to build a new facility. Enlist an architect to prepare building plans. Promote the proposed shelter through your local media to seek out a potential site donor. Meet with your local planning and zoning authority to determine if shelter use is permissible as the property is zoned. Apply for a special permit or rezoning of the site if it is not acceptable as currently zoned.
6. Secure funding for medical care and supplies, animal food, cages and related shelter equipment, as well as operating costs like rent or mortgage payments and insurance. Hold fundraising events including a pet parade, bow-wow ball or Dash for Dogs 5k run. Seek private donations and research foundations that contribute to animal shelters. Contact your county commission and city council to request funding assistance.
7. Promote the no-kill shelter and programs offered. Host a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration when the shelter opens and invite community members to attend. Use this as an opportunity to recruit volunteers of all ages. Keep the lines of communication open with local media to feature adoptable pets, educate the public, solicit donations and advertise events. Join online animal adoption sites like Petfinder.com, a source for shelters all over the country to connect potential owners with available pets.
Tags: no-kill shelter, team volunteers, animal shelter, animal shelters, local media