Merits of No-Kill Animal Shelters Debated

Despite their noble goal of not killing animals, no-kill shelters sometimes cause more suffering than they alleviate, reports the Associated Press.

The article focuses on a shelter in San Antonio that plans to convert to a no-kill facility by 2012. During one recent week, the shelter put down 925 stray cats and dogs. This is part of a larger national movement toward no-kill care, the article reports.

However, animal-rights activists caution that no-kill shelters can lead to crowded and unhealthy living conditions, especially since most of the animals are wild and not suitable for adoption. Therefore, some shelters might switch to a policy of accepting only animals they know families can adopt.

Read a story in The Chronicle about a so-called super-shelter founded by a California man and also of a $93-million grant to establish an animal welfare foundation.

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