Pets without homes will no longer be killed in Los Angeles thanks to this NKLA initiative.
When the Best Friends Animal Society launched the No-Kill Los Angeles (NKLA) initiative in 2012, 56% of cats and dogs were making it out of shelters in the city and finding new homes. Now, after sustaining a “save rate” of 90.4% for 2020 the city has become the largest no-kill shelter city in the country according to the organization. In order to reach this status, a city has to maintain a rate of over 90%.
The group attributes the success of the model to local shelter services, the community, volunteers, Mayor Eric Garcetti and the NKLA Coalition. They hope this achievement serves as an example of how the model can be rolled out country-wide. Right now, the United States has a collective save rate of 79%, says Best Friends. Factors that justify humane euthanasia are taken into account such as behavioral and medical issues. This applies to roughly 10% of pets who enter shelters.
While the pandemic created a few hurdles, as well as the temporary closure of two L.A. shelters, it also spurred on a huge community effort. Over 150 NKLA coalition partners teamed up to ensure that families were able to foster and adopt pets in spite of restrictions. Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats, Michelson Found Animals Foundation, Paws for Life K9 Rescue were among the few organizations that spreaheaded the action.
Best Friends Animal Society anticipates reaching a no-kill status across the country by 2025. The nonprofit organization runs the biggest shelter for abandoned animals and provides adoption, spaying or neutering in addition to educational programs.
From adoption to donating, here are ways you can get involved in saving a life.
[Featured Image: Alvan Nee via Unsplash]