DENTON ANIMAL SHELTER FOUNDATION, INC.

Public/Municipal Shelter vs. Private Shelter

DASF Mission: save thousands more Denton animals through fundraising support for the city of Denton animal shelter programs and facility, and through public education on animal welfare. Our goal is to ultimately save 100% of adoptable pets in our community.

The DASF board believes that the solutions to pet overpopulation and reduction of stray/abandoned animals are:

1. A new larger and up-to-date shelter; together with increased emphasis on adoption programs, better marketing, and more volunteer support;

2. Stronger city ordinances on spay/neuter;

3. Stricter regulation of puppy and kitten mills;

4. Better education of pet owners.

We do not believe that just building more and bigger shelters will ultimately solve the growing problem. We cannot privately raise the $7 - $9 million needed per shelter; plus the $1 million+ per year to operate a shelter.

Overview: The new Denton Animal Care and Adoption Center will continue to be owned and operated by the city of Denton. It is a municipal shelter supported by taxpayer funds; however private funding is needed to build and support the “care and adoption” functions of a new shelter, as the city is not required by any state or city ordinance to provide these functions.

Currently, about 4,200 animals are handled in the Denton shelter annually; this does not include those placed privately in rescue facilities; nor does it include the estimated 20,000 feral cats in Denton. The current shelter holds 114 animals maximum. The new shelter will more than double our capacity, significantly increasing the opportunity for adoptions. We cannot afford a shelter big enough to hold thousands of animals indefinitely. But we can do a better job caring for shelter animals and placing them in new homes with a new facility and increased marketing.

“No Kill” Shelters: Private shelters are able to select “adoptable” animals to hold indefinitely and turn away animals that are not considered adoptable. These may be breed-specific, injured, elderly, not socialized (i.e. wild/feral), seriously ill, aggressive, etc. Private shelters may also decline intake of animals when funds are low or their shelter capacity is full. These shelters are called “no kill” because they do not euthanize any of the animals they have accepted.

So, what happens to a pet that is not accepted by a “no kill” shelter? Who is responsible to take that animal? Couldn’t the rejection of any animal from a “no kill” shelter be considered a possible death sentence, either by the pet being abandoned on the street or by turning it over to a municipal shelter for someone else to handle?

DASF is certainly glad that private shelters are available. It is great for pets that are accepted into one; a relief for an owner-released pet; and a happier outcome for animal lovers to contemplate. The majority of stray/abandoned pets never have this opportunity. There are simply too many animals needing help.

Public/Municipal Shelters: City shelters fall under “public safety” functions in most cities. Their primary purpose is protection from stray/abandoned and wild animals which may be a threat to the public. They are not required to provide “adoption and care” for stray/abandoned/abused pets. However, the city of Denton does provide these extra services through compassion and moral obligation.

The Denton shelter is required to take ANY animal, regardless of its “adoptability.” This includes animals that are aggressive (perhaps have attacked a child), sick, injured, old, etc. Certain animals are required by law to be euthanized due to circumstances beyond their control (i.e. rabies, viciousness, etc). Someone has to do this job.

The city shelter is the “court of last resort” for all animals that arrive there. NO animal is turned away; and unless the animal is a public threat, every dog and cat is evaluated for possible adoption or transfer to a rescue group. In fact, a pet has a 61% chance of being adopted, reclaimed or transferred to a rescue group in our shelter today. This is a very good percentage for municipal shelters, in fact “above average.” It is the highest live exit percentage in the past five years. This positive outcome is thanks to the shelter staff, volunteers and DASF program support.

The new Denton Animal Care and Adoption Center will significantly increase our ability to attain the goal of saving 100% of adoptable dogs and cats. Once the center is built, DASF will continue working on adoption programs, outreach, marketing and fundraising to ensure success.