Dollars & Sense
The economic benefits of no kill animal control
by Nathan J Winograd - published April 1, 2012
There are four myths that allow the paradigm of killing to continue. The myth that “open admission” shelters cannot be No Kill because of pet overpopulation. The myth that No Kill is not possible because of the irresponsible public. The myth that No Kill is inconsistent with public health and safety. And the myth that No Kill is too expensive. The first three are addressed in the document No Kill 101: A Primer on No Kill Animal Control Sheltering for Public Officials available at nokilladvocacycenter.org.
Here’s the fourth: “No Kill is too expensive. Our community cannot afford it.” At a time when economic challenges are being faced in communities across the country, legislators and policy makers are asking if they can afford to embrace a more humane alternative.
Thankfully, many communities have already proven that No Kill animal control is cost-effective, saves municipalities expenses associated with killing, and brings badly needed revenues into public coffers and community businesses. In just one community, a No Kill initiative yielded $250,000 in increased revenues at a time the shelter also significantly reduced expenditures. In addition, the positive economic impact to businesses due to subsequent spending by adopters on those animals totaled over $12,000,000 in sales annually. Over the course of the lifetime of those animals and subsequent adoptions, it is estimated that these animals will generate $300 million, bringing in over $20,000,000 in sales tax revenues.
When dozens of communities across the country have achieved No Kill, including those with per capita intake rates up to eight times higher than New York City, shelters which continue to kill in the face of lifesaving alternatives are not only engaging in morally bankrupt conduct (killing animals who have a place to go), they are bankrupting community coffers. No Kill animal control not only makes good sense. It makes dollars and cents.
A new tool in your fight for a No Kill community:
Dollars & Sense: The Economic Benefits of No Kill Animal Control - can be downloaded below or here: