In keeping with the growing national No-Kill movement, No-Kill Hampton Roads seeks to end the euthanasia of healthy, treatable animals in shelters in Hampton Roads, VA.

May 11, 2015 4:42 pm

The Definition of No-Kill

No-Kill is a term describing the philosophy of eliminating euthanasia of healthy and treatable (medically and behaviorally) companion animals. It is a commitment to ensuring that every healthy and treatable companion animal has the opportunity to live in a safe, loving home for his/her lifetime. No healthy & treatable animals will be killed simply because there is a lack of cage space or as a means of population control. See the jurisdictions in Virginia and throughout the country saving at least 90% Saving 90.  Many jurisdictions in Virginia have already achieved such success or are well on their way.  Check out our local statistics page here which lists private and public shelters as well as open admission and limited admission shelters, all each playing equally important roles in Hampton Roads becoming a no kill community.

Not enough homes? It is a myth!
Naysayers of No-Kill suggest that there are not enough homes or that no-kill shelters warehouse animals but those myths are quickly being debunked. Study after study reports that a shortage of homes is not the problem; rather it is inadequate outreach to the public to raise awareness about shelter pets, most of whom are loving animals. One only has to visit the Norfolk SPCA or Portsmouth Humane Society to see how well cared for sheltered animals are in a no-kill facility.

A revealing Associated Press-Petside Poll reported that 71 % of pet owners feel that shelters should only be allowed to euthanize animals when they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be adopted. It is time for citizens to demand that policy makers embrace No-Kill for every Hampton Roads community and implement the components of the No Kill Equation.

Learn about the No Kill Equation.

Let’s be a NoKill Nation for Just ONE Day – June 11th

May 11, 2015 4:36 pm

Kudos for our Hampton Roads shelters who have signed up – Virginia Beach Anima Care and Adoption Center and the Portsmouth Humane Society. For those shelters that have not signed up, please contact them and express your desire for them to participate.
http://www.justoneday.ws/

No Kill Hampton Roads Animal Welfare Voter Information Guides Rate Candidates on Views of Programs Needed to Improve City Shelters’ Save Rates.

April 28, 2014 4:35 pm

April 28, 2014

Animal advocacy group No Kill Hampton Roads has developed animal welfare voter information guides rating Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News candidates according to their views on programs and policies proven to save sheltered homeless and lost pets.

“People need to know which candidates will support proven, cost effective programs and policies that will lead our communities to much needed improved save rates,” said Jean Linman, member of No Kill Hampton Roads.

According to the shelter statistics reported by the city-run shelters to the State Veterinarian for 2013, the Save Rates for dogs and cats were:

  • Chesapeake Animal Control-48%
  • Peninsula SPCA-53%
  • Norfolk Animal Care Center-57%

People are needed in public office who will push for the lifesaving programs of the No Kill Equation and insist that municipal shelters save all healthy and treatable animals. Hampton Roads is a community of animal lovers and for the past decade our municipal shelters have shown little improvement in saving homeless and lost pets’ lives. Over 200 communities across our country save at least 90% of their impounded animals. It is time for Hampton Roads to join these communities and save our healthy and treatable lost and homeless pets.

Candidates responded to a series of 12 questions about their support for programs and policies that the group says will save lives.

60% of the candidates running for mayor and city council responded. Responses were received from 10 out of 15 Norfolk candidates, 5 out of 8 from Chesapeake, 6 out of 11 from Hampton and 5 out of 10 from Newport News.

“We are pleased that most of the candidates take the public’s concern about the more than 14,000 dogs and cats killed in 2013 in our Hampton Roads’ shelters seriously,” Linman said.

The No Kill Hampton Roads Animal Welfare Voter Information guide for Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News can be found on the group’s website at www.nokillhr.org

Candidates Respond to No Kill Hampton Roads Questionnaire

April 27, 2014 3:13 pm

April 23, 2014

Candidates from Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, and Newport News running in the May 6 election have shared their views regarding programs and policies affecting pets in our municipal animal shelters.

In 2013, Hampton Roads’ shelters euthanized over 14,000 dogs and cats. According to the shelter statistics reported by the city-run shelters to the State Veterinarian for 2013, the Save Rates for dogs and cats were:

  • Chesapeake Animal Control-48%
  • Peninsula SPCA-53%
  • Norfolk Animal Care Center-57%

Candidates responded to a series of twelve questions about their support for programs and policies that the group says will save lives. An example of these programs is a full comprehensive adoption program, which includes off site adoptions and public-friendly adoption hours.

60% of the candidates running for mayor and city council responded. (Responses received from 10 out of 15 possible Norfolk candidates; 5 out of 8 Chesapeake; 6 out of 11 from Hampton and 5 out of 10 from Newport News.)

Candidates’ responses to the survey will be compiled and the final result will be a voting guide ranking candidates according to their views on policies and programs needed to improve the save rates at our municipal shelters. The voter’s guide will be published and shared on the group’s website and social media outlets.

No Kill Hampton Roads urges those concerned with the high kill rate at their city-run shelter to make their vote count on May 6.

No-Kill Hampton Roads polls candidates from Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton and Newport News regarding policies and programs needed to save our sheltered pets.

April 27, 2014 3:05 pm

March 24, 2014

Animal advocacy group No Kill Hampton Roads is putting Hampton Roads shelter animals front and center for the May 6, 2014 elections by asking candidates running for public office to share their views regarding programs and policies affecting pets in our municipal animal shelters.

In 2013, Hampton Roads’ shelters euthanized over 14,000 dogs and cats. According to the shelter statistics reported by the city-run shelters to the State Veterinarian for 2013, the Save Rates for dogs and cats were:

  • Chesapeake Animal Control-48%
  • Peninsula SPCA-53%
  • Norfolk Animal Care Center-57%

Candidates are asked a series of twelve questions about their support for programs that the group says will save lives. An example of these programs is a full comprehensive adoption program, which includes extensive off site adoptions and public-friendly adoption hours.

Candidates responses to the survey will be compiled and the final result will be a voting guide which will be published in local newspapers and on the group’s website and social media outlets.

No Kill Hampton Roads urges those concerned with the high kill rate at their city-run shelter to make their vote count on May 6.

No-Kill Hampton Roads invites citizens to learn HOW to reform animal control and save more homeless animal’s lives.

April 10, 2013 2:31 pm
April 10, 2012 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No-Kill Hampton Roads, a group of united local citizens, seeks to end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals in Hampton Roads shelters. No-Kill Hampton Roads aims to reform animal control in our area and push for the implementation of the No Kill Equation at our cities’ shelters.

Animal advocates and interested citizens across Hampton Roads are invited to learn HOW.

May 22, 6:30PM
Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library
4100 Virginia Beach Blvd. Va. Beach

The group will be showing “Reforming Animal Control” a dynamic presentation webinar by Ryan Clinton, an attorney and well know animal advocate from Austin Texas.

In this 1.5 hour video, Clinton outlines the steps he took to transform Austin from a high kill, low save rate shelter system to a city that embraced the lifesaving No Kill Equation.

Our communities killed over 15,000 dogs and cats in 2011. No-Kill Hampton Roads wants to see at least 9 out of 10 dogs and cats leave each Hampton Roads shelter alive. This is entirely achievable when citizens insist that those are the results wanted and expected from our tax-payer and donor funded shelters.

 

Local Citizens Unite to Create No-Kill Hampton Roads

May 1, 2012 2:24 am
Norfolk, March 5th, 2013 – Citing the growing national no-kill movement, a group of animal welfare advocates and citizens have joined together to form No-Kill Hampton Roads (www.nokillhr.org). No-Kill Hampton Roads is a coalition seeking to end the euthanasia of healthy, treatable animals in Hampton Roads shelters. The No-Kill equation is a proven, cost-effective method that has successfully ended shelter killing in other cities nationwide. No-Kill Hampton Roads is dedicated to a future where no healthy or treatable animal shall be killed for lack of space or resources. This coalition is open to all Hampton Roads citizens, animal rescue groups and shelters who embrace this mission.

Achieving No-Kill status occurs when there is a 90% or more live release rate for all sheltered animals. Many jurisdictions in Virginia have already achieved such success or are well on their way. For example, The Charlottesville SPCA (CASPCA) and Lynchburg Humane Society (LHS) are open-admission shelters and serve as their respective community’s animal control or “pound”. In 2011, CASPCA had a 93% live release rate with LHS at 90%. While in contrast, the total live release rate at Suffolk Animal Control was less than 47%.

Since the boundaries of Hampton Roads cities are blurry, No-Kill Hampton Roads believes that each shelter must embrace the proven life saving strategies of the No-Kill Equation in order to give the animals in all of our cities the same chance at life.

Naysayers of No-Kill suggest that there are not enough homes or that No-Kill shelters warehouse animals but those myths are quickly being debunked. Study after study reports that a shortage of homes is not the problem; rather it is inadequate outreach to the public to raise awareness about shelter pets, most of whom are loving, adoptable animals. And one only has to visit CASPCA or LHS to see how well cared for sheltered animals are in a No-Kill facility.

A recent Associated Press poll reported that 71% of pet owners feel that shelters should only be allowed to euthanize animals when they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be adopted. No-Kill Hampton Roads believes that our citizens are extremely compassionate and if done locally, that percentage would be even higher. No-Kill Hampton Roads hopes the region will unite in this cause and citizens will demand that each and every shelter in Hampton Roads commits to life saving.

For more information and to join No-Kill Hampton Roads, visit www.nokillhr.org.