HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2013.03.06 - 20732MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #13058
BY: Commissioners Marcia Gershenson, District #13 and Dave Woodward, District #19
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT OF THE OAKLAND COUNTY PET
ADOPTION CENTER AS A "NO KILL" ANIMAL SHELTER
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS there is a revolution — paradigm shift - occurring in the sheltering of homeless cats
and dogs across the United States and in Michigan; and
WHEREAS this revolution is referred to as "no kill" where the euthanasia of cats and dogs is
solely reserved for the true meaning of the word, "an act of mercy" for those too ill or vicious to
be rehabilitated and all healthy and treatable dogs and cats live and are rehomed; and
WHEREAS there is a proven set of programs used to achieve a "no kill" status for an open
admission shelter called the No Kill Equation and shelters following this formula achieve a live
release rate of 90% or better of their intake of cats and dogs; and
WHEREAS the No Kill Equation is based upon best practices and a problem solving proactive
approach using the result of research and studies which are dispelling many long-held animal
welfare beliefs such as overpopulation, predictability of behavior by breed, rehabilitatable
conditions and the influence of the shelter environment on medical and behavior responses; and
WHEREAS ten of Michigan's 83 counties are following the No Kill Equation and saving 90% or
more of the cats and dogs in their care; and
WHEREAS a study undertaken by the No Kill Advocacy Center in 2010 found no correlation
between shelter expenditures and the ability to save lives, demonstrating that success in saving
lives is not a matter of dollars and cents but instead a matter of creative and innovative
management; and
WHEREAS the AP Petside Poll taken in October 2011 found that 71% of Americans expect
shelters to save all healthy and treatable cats and dogs in their care and reserve euthanasia for
only those too ill or of danger to the community; and
WHEREAS Oakland County Pet Advocates have provided public comment at Board of
Commissioners' meetings in excess of six months, demanding that the Oakland Pet Adoption
Center achieve the no kill status sooner rather than later; and
WHEREAS Oakland County residents expect an effective and efficient use of their tax dollars
which aligns with the problem solving approach of no kill; and
WHEREAS the Oakland Pet Adoption Center has publically set as its goal to become a no kill
shelter; and
WHEREAS the Oakland Pet Adoption Center has demonstrated their successful ability to
improve performance by:
• reducing shelter intake through proactive low cost spay/neuter programs for low income
residents and Trap, Neuter and Return programs for free roaming cats and insuring all
adopted animals are spayed/neutered prior to adoption; and
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• increasing adoptions through social media marketing, off-site adoption events, satellite
locations and collaboration with rescue organizations; and
• implementing medical protocols including efforts to physically separate dogs and cats;
and
• leveraging community support through the use of volunteers.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
supports the Oakland County Pet Adoption Center in their goal to achieve a no kill status and
declares it to be the policy of Oakland County government to be a no kill county.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners establishes
that on or before January 2015 the Oakland Pet Adoption Center should achieve no kill status,
saving 90% or better of the shelter intake and rehoming all healthy and treatable cats and dogs.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to
forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Oakland County Executive, the Oakland County
Pet Adoption Center, the Michigan Pet Fund Alliance and the No Kill Advocacy Center.
claair\person, we mpveitihe adoption e foregoing resolution.
Commissioner Dave Woodward Commissioner Marcianefshenson
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Resolution #13058 March 6, 2013
The Vice Chairperson referred the resolution to the Public Services Committee. There were no
objections.