Antietam Humane Society has come quite a long way in just one year! In April 2021, we made it our mission to become a no-kill shelter, and in a very short time we learned as much as possible to insure our success. Our rate for 2021 was 86%. In the animal sheltering community, no-kill means having a live-release rate of 90% or above, statistically speaking, but it is so much more.
For us, it is also philosophical. We want to do what is best for every animal that comes through our doors on an individual level. This means:
- Returning feral cats to their outdoor homes rather than euthanizing
- Making them barn cats if it is not safe for them to return
- Opening our own spay/neuter clinic for the public to help control the population of our community cats so they do not even have to come into the shelter at all
- Working with fellow shelters and rescues, to transfer cats and dogs, who have been with us a long time, have a different environment, and be provided a better opportunity to be adopted and gain their forever home.
- And sometimes this can mean humanely euthanizing if the quality of life for the animal is poor; but only after careful consideration and discussion
Overall, while reaching the 90%+ threshold is certainly a bonus, what matters most is that the animals thrive.