Pet rescues have 'no kill' policy; can't say the same for pet shelters

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A lot has changed in the years since I've written the column "Fur Real."

I've stepped up more in cat and kitten rescue. But first allow me to explain Pet "rescue" and pet "shelter." 

To be considered a pet rescue there are a few requirements. First and foremost, we are 'no kill.' We do not ever put a healthy pet in our care to sleep. In our eyes, putting a healthy pet "to sleep" is akin to murder. Most of us who care for pets have had to have them put them to sleep because of severe sickness, altogether different and justified. It is a humane way of ending pain in a pet that would otherwise suffer.

Shira Beth Wild is a cat lover who believes in pet rescues instrad of pet shelters, the latter of which kill animals they can't get people to adopt / Headline SurferShira Beth Wild, who writes her colum, 'Fur Real,' is shown here holding a cat.

To be considered a pet rescue there are a few requirements. First and foremost, we are 'no kill.' We do not ever put a healthy pet in our care to sleep. In our eyes, putting a healthy pet "to sleep" is akin to murder.

Most of us who care for pets have had to have them put them to sleep because of severe sickness, altogether different and justified. It is a humane way of ending pain in a pet that would otherwise suffer. 

Second, we truly are always full. We do not have a facility, a building or an office. We bring unwanted, sick, injured, abused and/or neglected pets into our homes. We feed them, we vet them, we treat them as our own. We have high food and vet bills. We are truly nonprofit. No one is an employee. No one draws a salary. We file papers with the IRS. We are funded by donations. Then, if or when when a pet is healthy and happy, we adopt it out. Some do it from their homes. Some are lucky and adopt them from pet food stores. Sometimes we go to events and adopt from there.

Foster life isn't easy for anyone: Not for us nor for the pet, but it is a means to an end. That end is finding the perfect family for your foster, where they can live out their days being loved and cared for.

Some people ask "How can you foster and then have them leave?" The answer is simple: If we kept them all we wouldn't have room to help any others.

We also use an adoption application to gather information about the prospective new family. We meet with them. We do home checks.We become friends in Facebook. No pet leaves my charge unless I am 100 percent positive the pet is going to be happy and well cared for.

We also use an adoption application to gather information about the prospective new family. We meet with them. We do home checks.We become friends in Facebook. No pet leaves my charge unless I am 100 percent positive the pet is going to be happy and well cared for.

A shelter is that. a place that shelters pets. They take in everything from their zone. They receive the pets that Animal Control picks up. There are 'the good shelters' and there are the 'not-so-good shelters.'

 We have a great shelter in our area that has a young, forward-thinking, hands-on approach director who has brought wonderful ideas and programs to fruition. And she has dropped the euthanasia rate down drastically all in less then a year. You can't do all that sitting in an office, away from the pets in your care.

 There's also another shelter in Volusia County with a director -- well, let's put this way - it's rumored that he's never been seen on the adoption floor nor has he been seen in the intake area. I guess he likes to hang out in his office. That shelter, I feel, has a high kill rate. 

We have a great shelter in our area that has a young, forward-thinking, hands-on approach director who has brought wonderful ideas and programs to fruition. And she has dropped the euthanasia rate down drastically all in less then a year. You can't do all that sitting in an office, away from the pets in your care. 

We also have another shelter in our county with a director -- well, let's put this way -it's rumored that he's never been seen on the adoption floor nor has he been seen in the intake area. I guess he likes to hang out in his office. That shelter, I feel, has a high kill rate. 

And for those animal lovers who might not know, from my point of view, ARNI does not take in anything from our county. 

I hope to offer information, education and stories about our local pets in future "Fur Real" column write-ups.