Shelters Across the USA to Stop Killing on June 11

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --  Monday, June 11, promises to be the safest day for dogs and cats in U.S. shelters in history, thanks to a nationwide campaign spearheaded by the No Kill Advocacy Center and Animal Ark No Kill shelter. Roughly 700 shelters and rescue groups, including some of the largest animal control shelters, across the country, are joining together to create a No Kill nation for Just One Day.

Every day, roughly 10,000 animals lose their lives in U.S. shelters. By coming together, the Just One Day campaign is trying to reduce that to zero. Shelters normally closed on Monday, such as the Houston shelter, are staying open to do adoptions. And others, like Kern County California Animal Control, are staying open for extended hours.

On June 11, "euthanasia" technicians all over the USA will put down their syringes. Instead, they will pick up cameras, cell phones and video cameras. Rather than injecting savable animals with fatal doses of sodium pentobarbital, they will take pictures and videos of them. They will post them on the Internet, on Facebook and Twitter. Instead of going out the back of the shelter in body bags, animals will go home into the loving arms of new families.

More than 40 municipalities in the USA have already stopped killing healthy or treatable animals community-wide. The Just One Day campaign leverages the programs and services already proven in these No Kill communities, and asks others to try them, even if for only Just One Day.

"We are creating a no-lose proposition for shelters, rescue groups and municipalities," said Mike Fry, Executive Director of Animal Ark in Minnesota and one of the coordinators of the campaign. "What could a shelter possibly have to lose by trying these programs for a day?"

Nathan Winograd from the California-based No Kill Advocacy Center, another of the campaign organizers, said, "The response to the campaign has been very positive. The number of shelters that have already taken the pledge is inspiring." Winograd added, "And if the shelters are emptier than when they started the day on June 11, then it should be easier to make June 12 Just One More Day."

Contact Mike Fry (651) 772-8983 ext 99 or Nathan Winograd at (510) 689-1530.

SOURCE No Kill Advocacy Center; Animal Ark