No Kill Movement Growing In Florida, More Counties Looking To Catch The Wave

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Manatee County sparked a No Kill Movement in Florida last October when the Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed a No Kill resolution and No Kill action plan with the goal of ending the killing of healthy and treatable pets at the county-run shelter.  That effort began when Kris Weiskopf, Chief of Animal Services, read the book "Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation and the No Kill Revolution in America."

However, when Weiskopf attended a conference on Building a No Kill Community and heard the author of Redemption, Nathan Winograd, speak about the methods that have created over 30 No Kill communities across the country that is when he had a revelation -- there is a better way!  Inspired, Weiskopf pushed the county to adopt this new shelter model.  Since implementing new programs and services, and shifting focus toward lifesaving, Manatee County has increased its save rate to 80% of all animals in their open-admission shelter, with the goal of reaching 90% or better by year end.

Now, other Florida counties are looking to follow suit.  Broward County passed a No Kill resolution last month supporting the same programs and goal.  Hillsborough County announced its intent to become a No Kill community, recently hiring a new shelter director from Austin, TX, which boasts a 90% save rate there.  Members of the public are pushing for it in Hernando, Citrus, Brevard, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties.  In addition, Sarasota just announced that they are looking to collaborate with Manatee to replicate their success. 

A groundswell of shelter reform efforts is sweeping across Florida.  Who will be next to catch the wave?  There are no more excuses for killing in the face of lifesaving alternatives.  Saying it cannot be done, when it is already being done, is a non-starter.

Today, No Kill is a humane, sustainable, cost-effective model that works hand in hand with public health and safety, while fulfilling a fiscal responsibility to taxpayers.  The success of this approach across the country proves the viability of the No Kill model and the above principles.  In every community where No Kill is a reality, No Kill has been achieved through rigorous implementation of programs and services that have come to be known as the "No Kill Equation."  It is time to reject the failed philosophies and poor performance of the past.  We have an unprecedented opportunity for a new beginning in Florida.  Floridians are kind, caring, and generous.  They deserve animal shelters that reflect, rather than undermine, their values.

SOURCE No Kill Nation, Inc.