by Barbara Fairbanks, President-Elect of HSNTX Board of Directors

It happens on a fairly regular basis.  I’m happily connecting with another animal lover and engaged in conversation about our mutual passion when the dreaded question comes.   “So, this humane society you’re with, is it a no-kill?”    I answer honestly that the Humane Society of Northeast Texas (HSNTX) is an open admission shelter and that we do unfortunately have an animal intake that exceeds our current capacity and prohibits us from being able to place all adoptable animals out.    And suddenly, there is a palpable tension in the air, and the response is a stilted, “Oh”.   Suddenly, the comradery of the moment is gone, and the conversation usually ends shortly after that.   It doesn’t matter what I say now or how engaged we both were in an enjoyable conversation about animal advocacy prior to THE QUESTION.     

With the strong “no kill” movements sweeping through the country, too many organizations just decide to take the no kill label, limit their intake by turning animals away, and enjoy the positive publicity and abundant funding that comes their way.    

As a chemical engineer, I guess I take logical thinking for granted and forget that the whole world doesn’t think like I do.    Without a doubt, the HSNTX wants the same thing every other animal rescue group wants, and that is for every domestic animal to have a loving home, a place to belong and to be loved.   Every single animal rescue group that I am aware of shares this vision.  So why are we so often pitted against one another?  

Kill shelters, no kill shelters , low kill shelters, high kill shelters.   The terminology is pretty ridiculous, really.   No one should claim to be a no kill or low kill organization as long as there are still shelters like the HSNTX that must take the overflow.   Turning away animals that have no other option besides landing on the streets or in a facility that euthanizes and then claiming nobly to be a no kill organization makes no sense to me.    

In my mind, no one is no kill until we’re all no kill.   Those that claim to be no kill or low kill are not on an equal playing field with facilities that take all animals coming to them in need.   I love the work done by rescue groups claiming the no kill status, and I think they deserve support just as any other animal advocacy group does.    However, even groups that take animals from open admission shelters like the HSNTX usually take the smaller, cute dogs that are easily adopted, or they take attractive and friendly cats.   They don’t usually choose the large dogs, the not-so-friendly cats (which are often simply frightened cats), the feral cats, or the dogs with serious medical or behavioral problems.   Those are left to the open admission facility which then gets criticized for euthanizing animals, and often by some of the very groups that take only the attractive animals out.   Another common occurrence is for no kill groups to take those animals that can bring the group positive publicity.   Several animal organizations literally battled over the right to take the pit bulls in the Michael Vick case, because where those dogs went, publicity and funding would follow.

The HSNTX is working hard to bring about the kinds of changes that will result in a lower euthanasia rate in our open admission facility so that all animal groups in Northeast Texas can proudly wear the no kill or low kill label while on an equal playing field.   Adopting homeless pets saves lives while the animal overpopulation is addressed by a concerted campaign supported by the animal advocacy groups, the city and county governmental agencies, and the public.    In the meantime, I will continue to respond honestly when asked THE QUESTION, and I hope that groups taking the no kill label will give the whole truth when asked the same question.  

The HXNTX is passionate about adopting out animals, lowering our euthanasia rate, improving our shelter services and obtaining the funding for a new and progressive facility that is comfortable for the animals as well as warm and inviting to the public.    If you would like to learn more, visit us at 303 Enterprise in Longview, or call us at 903-297-2170.