I'd like to offer some clarification: a 90% save rate is not a "gold standard." It should be our EXPECTATION that animal welfare organizations* don't kill healthy and treatable animals. We should expect that those put in situations to protect the lives of animals implement proven and effective lifesaving programs and that they have the resources and community support to effectively do so.
90% is a benchmark for that expectation - understanding that a small percentage of animals (usually less than 10%) that enter shelters are too sick, injured, or aggressive to be responsibly rehomed.
Yes, there are absolutely other things that animal welfare organizations can and should be doing (which was the primary point of the webinar). But first and foremost, they should be not prematurely ending their lives.
*In this case, I'm using a very broad definition of "animal welfare organizations" to include animal shelters, humane societies, SPCAs, rescues, animal control organizations, animal services and animal protection organizations.
While some may consider having a 90% or higher save rate to be a "gold standard" for measuring the success or failure of an animal shelter or rescue, save rate focuses only on a singular point in a complex societal issue.
Later today, Dr. Ellen Jefferson, DVM, President and CEO of Austin Pets Alive! will join Cole Wakefield, MS, Executive Director of Good Shepherd Humane Society, to discuss how many animal sheltering organizations around the country are operating beyond humane capacity (while only receiving a fraction of the resources they need), and what must change in order to continue to see increases in positive outcomes for homeless pets.
![Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Beyond the Save Rate: Integrating People into the Sheltering Equation. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.]()
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Beyond the Save Rate: Integrating People into the Sheltering Equation. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
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