No-Kill Mandates Save More Animals!

At our magazine, we are big believers not only in animal wellness and improving animals' lives, but also of saving animals' lives. After all, almost everyone who works at the magazine has a rescue dog, cat, or horse (one of us even has a rescue rat!).

This is why the statistics from kill shelters saddens us. Every year, millions of animals are killed in shelters. We understand the challenges shelters face- things like funding and lack of resources can put shelters out of business- and don't fault shelters who do all that they can to be no-kill but sometimes fall short. 

What we can't stomach is hearing stories like Sabrina's- a dog who had a family that was on their way to pick her up for adoption, but was killed before the family got there because the shelter did not stick to the mandatory 72 hour hold time. 

Sabrina's story was told by members of Triumphant Tails and there is now a petition circulating that addresses the horrible practices at Galveston County Animal Resource Center. 

There are plenty of amazing shelters and refuges dedicated to being no-kill and we'd like to see them thrive. It's the reason we started the Ambassador Program. Sometimes people need an incentive to donate, and this way their donation helps a shelter AND gets them a subscription to our magazine!

We recently welcomed a new Ambassador to our program and they are a perfect example of the work that goes into keeping a shelter no-kill. Joey’s Feline Friends (JFF) is a non-profit, no-kill shelter and rescue organization dedicated to the care of abused, abandoned, and physically-challenged cats and kittens on the island of O‘ahu.

They have been in business since 1997 and shelter between 200-300 cats and kittens at any given time. Maintaining a no-kill mandate has meant high vet bills, relying heavily on volunteers, and routinely running diagnostic testing.

So what does this all mean?  It means that while they continue to do the work, the donations and the volunteers are not sufficient to carry the load.  It means that after 20+ years of dedication, there is a risk of Joey's Feline folding. Most of all, it means that they urgently need your help.  They've helped thousands of people over the years. The cats are still here, and they still need the food and the care.

We'd like all shelters to be no-kill, and hope that the No-Kill Conference in Washington, D.C. on July 13-14 will achieve their educational goals. In the meantime, everyone can help simply by donating to or volunteering at a rescue organization. If working with animal rescues has taught us anything, it's that the power of one person really can make a difference.

Want to help save Joey's Feline Friends? Please visit their page and make a donation! www.joeysfelinefriends.com

Want to become an Ambassador or learn more about the program? Click here for info: http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com/aw-ambassadors/