State Is First to Achieve ‘No Kill’ Status for Animal Shelters

The non-profit Best Friends Animal Society is honoring Delaware as the first “no-kill animal shelter state” in the U.S.

A “save rate” of at least 90 percent for dogs and cats going into shelters is required in order to earn that designation, CNN reports.

Best Friends recognized the Brandywine Valley SPCA for its leadership in the initiative.

Linda Torelli, marketing director of Brandywine Valley SPCA, said: “The Brandywine Valley SPCA has a live release rate of 95% for the more than 14,000 animals a year we intake.

“Within Delaware, we intake more than 60% of the animals entering shelters and more than four times the next largest shelter, so our policies have had a significant impact on the state becoming no-kill.”

Numerous efforts helped Delaware become a no-kill state, Torelli said. They included “mega” adoption events, trap/neuter/spay programs for cats, and low-cost vet clinics.

Read more at CNN