I volunteer at a “kill shelter.” Many people hear this and immediately launch into the reasons why they could never volunteer or adopt a pet from such a shelter. That’s because they don’t understand the difference between the term “kill shelter” and the realities of an open-admission shelter, better known as your local Animal Care and Control.
I am a “newish” volunteer at Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control (PBCACC), located in West Palm Beach. I started volunteering for pretty selfish reasons:
- As a small business owner, I had just joined my local Chamber of Commerce, and by helping them promote dogs to get adopted, the Chamber would also help promote my business.
- I missed having animal time. As a lifelong equestrian, most of my spare time was spent around horses. Being currently horseless, I was looking to fill that void with something related to animals.
- I prefer any exercise over going to the gym. Walking cute dogs for a couple of hours negated the need to join a gym and was more fun!
My first couple of months volunteering, I was in a sweet La La Land: walking dogs, getting puppy kisses and having a carefree time. I did not know how an open-admission shelter worked, until one day, a dog I adored named Bailey was euthanized.
I was so upset and confused. How? Why? This must be a mistake! I needed to know why a really nice dog would be euthanized.
To make a multifaceted issue a bit less complex, I learned that the PBCACC (like most government-run animal care departments) has to take every dog that comes through its doors. Owner surrenders, lost dogs, strays, cruelty cases, police investigations — they cannot turn any animal away.
PBCACC has over 210 dogs and only 144 kennels. When the shelter is full, and dogs come in faster than being adopted out, they will try to pair dogs to share a small kennel to make room. If a dog doesn’t want a roommate, they become at risk for euthanasia, and a rescue request is sent to affiliated private rescue organizations to see if they can take the dog into their care.
Additionally, networking volunteers and staff look for foster homes and raise money to help entice a private rescue to take a dog that is at risk. Unfortunately, Bailey was dog-friendly, but did not want to share a small kennel for 23.5 hours a day, and there was not a foster or a rescue who committed to her.
Private rescue organizations are the lifeline for many of these dogs. But many rescues are also full, and unlike PBCACC, when they are full, they can close their intake and do not have to accept any more dogs until the ones in their care are adopted.
An average of 84 to 105 dogs a week enter the county shelter, which is already more than full. Adoptions in the summer are typically 30 to 40 dogs a week, and in the winter that number can rise to 45 to 55. Obviously, that math doesn’t work, and it’s why an open-admission shelter is labeled a “kill shelter.”
These dogs need you. The shelter is government-run and relies heavily on volunteers to help get the dogs out of their kennels to be walked and exercised, and it relies just as heavily on the community to adopt from the shelter to limit euthanasia due to overcapacity.
The employees work tirelessly during business hours, and many also volunteer their free time to foster and rescue animals. They love animals — why else would you work a job where the pay is low and hours are long? They don’t want to have to make life-or-death decisions. Unfortunately, it comes down to space and quality of life, since many dogs who remain at the shelter for extended periods of time start to mentally deteriorate due to fear, anxiety and stress.
PBCACC and other open-admission shelters need help from the community to control the overcrowding crisis at their facilities. Spay and neuter your pets. There are many low-cost and no-cost options available. Consider your lifestyle and the breed of dog that fits into it before you buy or adopt. Have a plan for your pets should something happen to you. Don’t support backyard breeders. Adopt, foster, volunteer, donate and, if you aren’t able to do any of that, help spread the word that these animals need our help. These are just small steps that can help save many amazing dogs.
Bailey was a great dog that was failed by the community, not PBCACC. She just needed someone to care enough to let her live.
Siobhan Gallagher is a Realtor at Douglas Elliman specializing is residential sales, farms sales and rental properties. She also has a pet sitting business that she has just launched with a fellow PBCACC volunteer. She lives in Wellington.
