Recently, the fifth international No Kill Conference brought together experts in animal sheltering, veterinary and legal fields to discuss how we can create a No Kill society, and save the lives of millions of companion animals. The presenters included shelter directors, veterinarians, and attorneys.
The first conference of this kind was held in 2005 in California, and was attended by about two dozen people representing rescue organizations. Then in 2009, the George Washington School of Law joined with the No Kill Advocacy Center to co-host what has become an annual event. This year the sold-out conference was attended by 400 people from 45 states, and 10 nations. Attendees at this year’s conference included not only rescue organizations, but also municipal shelter personnel, veterinarians, attorneys, and animal advocates.
In 2005 there was one single jurisdiction that had achieved the milestone of saving 90% or more of all animals presented at its open admission (must take all animals) municipal shelter. This year there are more than 150 such municipalities. In fact, they have come to the conclusion that, although saving 90% is a milestone, it is not a goal, and they have gone on to save as many as 98% or 99%.
Shelter personnel from Allegany County were in attendance celebrating two years of 90%+ life saving. When their previous shelter director left, workers at the county facility adopted the No Kill policies and achieved a No Kill save rate almost instantaneously. This success gained the attention of government officials who decided that the next shelter director must be willing to continue the new policies.
Two representatives of the City of Greenbelt Animal Control were taking advantage of the valuable information and techniques presented at the conference.
The Director of Animal Control for Anne Arundel County was in attendance as well as representatives of rescue groups and other individuals, so we are looking forward to great things happening in our neighboring County.
There were 43 presentations given, five or six at a time, over the two-day conference. They covered a broad range of subjects including general No Kill Philosophy, Animal Control policies, shelter design, shelter policies, shelter medicine, advocacy, legislation, litigation, social media, fundraising, and more. All had the objective of enabling the saving of the life of every adoptable, treatable, or rehabilitatable pet.
Although Prince George’s Animal Management Division was not represented at the conference, PG AMD was presented by at least two of the conference speakers.
Peter Wolf, author of the very scientific and profusely footnoted Vox Felina blog, presented “Saving Community/Feral Cats” in which he classified local laws in a matrix of Simple vs Complex and Enabling vs. Punitive. A current proposal by Prince George's Animal Management Division was used as an example which, without question, fell at the limits of the Complex + Punitive quadrant.
Ms. Anne Benaroya, J.D., presented on the subject of "Innovative Litigation," using examples from Prince George’s County policies of the many violations of individual civil rights which can be challenged in court.
About 6,000 animals are needlessly killed every year at the Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility, yet, when compared to other jurisdictions, our county has among the most favorable environment for saving all healthy, as well as treatable or rehabilitatable pets. If only County officials will simply avail themselves of the proven No Kill principles and consider performance above politics.
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Tim Saffell is the President of Prince Georges Feral Friends, SPCA, www.PGFerals.org, which sponsors No Kill Prince George’s County MD www.NoKillPrinceGeorgesCountyMD.org .
