Frequently Asked Questions

I HAVE A PET I NO LONGER WANT OR HAVE FOUND AN ANIMAL THAT NEEDS HELP.

To find a No Kill shelter, you can do an internet search. Please keep in mind that some shelters call themselves No Kill but may be killing sick, injured, or behaviorally challenged animals since they have not fully implemented the programs and services of the No Kill Equation. You should consult our Animal Evaluation Matrix to determine what injuries and illnesses are savable and ask the local shelter if they will treat those. You should also try to find the animal a home using this guide.

THE SHELTER IN MY COMMUNITY IS A KILL SHELTER. WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

The No Kill Equation is the only model that has been successful in creating a No Kill community. As a result, No Kill will only be achieved when shelters fully and comprehensively implement the programs and services of the No Kill Equation. But when shelter directors refuse to do so willingly, we must force them to do so or force them aside. Use our No Kill Advocate’s Toolkit.

I WAS BANNED OR FIRED AS A VOLUNTEER FOR SPEAKING OUT ABOUT INHUMANE CONDITIONS; WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS?

Complaining about inhumane conditions, abuses, or law violations at shelters is a constitutionally protected right. A volunteer, rescuer, or any other member of the public not only has the First Amendment right to speak out against abuses and violations of law committed by a government shelter, they also have a constitutionally protected right to demand that the government correct the wrongs that are identified. Learn more here.

I WANT TO START MY OWN NO KILL SHELTER OR GROUP. WHAT DO I DO?

There are many resources on how to start a non-profit organization. To get started, visit nolopress.com.

I AM A STUDENT AND NEED INFORMATION FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT. WHERE CAN I FIND THAT INFORMATION?

Information about the No Kill philosophy, programs, and the current state of animal sheltering in the United States is available on the website. We also recommend reading Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation & The No Kill Revolution in America, described as “the best informed overview of animal sheltering ever written.” Finally, we suggest watching our documentary.

WHERE CAN I FIND A JOB IN THE NO KILL MOVEMENT?

Although we are not currently hiring and do not keep resumes on file, many shelter jobs around the country are available, and the importance of having No Kill advocates in those positions cannot be overstated. Check out Indeed.com or do a Google search for No Kill shelter jobs. Periodically, we post new jobs on our Facebook page.

MY DOG IS THE SUBJECT OF A DANGEROUS DOG HEARING. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Learn what to do by reading this article.

IS THERE A NO KILL SHELTER IN MY AREA? HOW DO I KNOW IT IS NO KILL?

You can find a local No Kill shelter through Google. Please remember that due to public pressure, some shelters are adopting the language of No Kill but not the programs and services that save lives. As a result, they may call themselves No Kill but may be killing as they have always done, unfairly reclassifying the animals as “unadoptable.” Or, they may have a narrow, overly restrictive definition of “adoptable,” which condemns too many animals to death. Between 95% and 99% of all animals entering shelters are savable. You should, therefore, ask them for their statistics, but if they refuse to provide them, they should be available through a state public records act or freedom of information law request. But a good rule of thumb is that if they refuse to provide them, they probably have something to hide. But keep in mind the following regarding statistics and terms: 90% or better does not necessarily constitute No Kill, and the term can obscure as much as it illuminates when it comes to specific animals and other species of shelter animals who may be outside the safety net of care.

CAN I LINK TO THE NO KILL ADVOCACY CENTER FROM MY WEBSITE? CAN I REPOST YOUR MATERIALS?

Yes. You can repost if you state it is from The No Kill Advocacy Center. (Please note that this does not apply to articles on our director’s personal website or column. For more information, visit NathanWinograd.org.)

MY ANIMALS WERE SEIZED BY ANIMAL CONTROL. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

You need to get an attorney. If you cannot afford one, you must find a local legal aid office or public defender. An attorney can file an emergency restraining order to prevent them from being killed. You must also alert the media to try and bring public scrutiny to the needless killing.

WHO SHOULD I DONATE TO?

We hope you consider supporting The No Kill Advocacy Center.

When The No Kill Advocacy Center was founded, mass killing in shelters was the norm. There was only one No Kill community in the U.S., the one our director created in central New York. Thankfully, that is not true anymore. Today, millions of Americans from coast to coast live in communities served by shelters that have dramatically increased the number of lives saved. While these communities share very little in common geographically, economically, and demographically, they do share how they achieved success — by embracing The No Kill Advocacy Center's revolutionary approach to animal sheltering.

While we are a small organization, we have a huge impact by steering the conversation about animal sheltering nationwide and fostering seismic shifts in our nation's approach to caring for the neediest companion animals. We do that in primarily four ways: legislation, litigation, advocacy, and hands-on, direct assistance to shelter directors, government officials, and shelter reformers.

We provide free consulting for shelter directors to get them to embrace the No Kill Equation and succeed in its implementation. We work closely with legislators to draft, introduce, and pass shelter reform and other forms of animal protection legislation. In addition to legislation, our litigation unit files lawsuits to protect animals and those who care about them. For example, our civil rights cases have successfully protected rescuers and volunteers who have been “fired” or banned from pounds for speaking out against inhumane and abusive treatment. We also assist rescuers and shelter advocates with the help they need to reform the shelters in their local communities.

Thanks to our work, we are closer to becoming a nation where every animal finds a new beginning rather than the end of the line in their local shelter. And unlike some wealthier organizations that take donations and put them in the bank, we use every dollar for immediate lifesaving impact. Indeed, the scope of our work is directly proportional to the generosity of our donors.