Language Matters: Creating a Shelter Euthanasia Policy

The recent situation at the Escondido Humane Society emphasizes just how important language is when communicating to the public.  Co-opting the language of No Kill without the definitions and appropriate actions behind it could quite easily backfire.  

So if you have a shelter that is seeking to achieve No Kill but is not there yet, how can you express this information to supporters in a way that they can understand and measure your progress?  One of the most important things you can do is to create a euthanasia policy that clearly outlines when and for what circumstances you will euthanize or kill an animal, implement that policy, share it with anyone who asks and publish your statistics.

I spent a lot of time working through the process of creating a shelter euthanasia policy that reflected No Kill values when I worked for a high volume animal control shelter.  In an effort to define lifesaving objectives that could be utilized in an Asilomar Accord format, it was very important that the language was as clear as possible.  Eventually this effort also helped in the development of the No Kill Advocacy Center’s Lifesaving Matrix.

The resulting policy is applicable to both No Kill shelters and shelters that are working to achieve No Kill.  The only gray area that remains in my mind is with behavior.  In cases where dogs have demonstrated the propensity for destructive aggression, but we cannot wait for an attack before making a decision to take that animal’s life, it’s most troubling.  Often behavior evaluators, trainers and veterinary behaviorists have varying opinions.  Given the imprecise nature of these decisions I keep a close eye on exactly what percentage of the total number of animals (for each species) is euthanized.  In my experience, the number of dogs who are truly dangerous out of the total impounds are a low, single digit percentage point.  Cats are a fraction of a percentage.  If you find that your shelter is creeping up into the high, single digit or even double digit percentage points - it’s time to re-evaulate your evaluators!

I will take one minute to point out that this policy is designed for No Kill shelters and shelters working to achieve No Kill.  A shelter’s goal is adoption for every animal.  No Kill sanctuaries (The Third Door) may choose to maintain aggressive animals or hospice care animals in a safe and fulfilling environment.  A sanctuary’s goal is to provide lifetime care.

Here is the policy courtesy of www.thenokillnation.com.  Most strikingly you will not find language describing animals as “adoptable” or “unadoptable”.  These types of labels are usually based on opinion and have no place in the honest evaluation of an animal’s condition or chances at finding a home.  You may find some similarities to other published policies because a lot of research went into creating it.   I encourage you to continue to develop and improve upon this policy as well as use and adapt it for your own organization.

LIFESAVING POLICY ON EUTHANASIA 

EUTHANASIA DEFINED

The word euthanasia is defined as: The act or practice of painlessly ending the life of an animal that has a terminal illness, injury or incurable condition, as by giving a lethal drug.   

At this organization we use the word “kill” when referring to the taking of an animal’s life for reasons other than the definition above.  When you, as a representative of this agency, speak to the public, you some find that some people are not familiar with the word “euthanasia” or its many euphemisms such as “put to sleep” or “put down”.  For clear communication employees are encouraged to use the words “kill” and “euthanasia” when appropriate.  In clear cases of terminal illness, pain and suffering, it is appropriate and recommended for you to use the word “euthanasia”.   

EUTHANASIA DECISION MAKING & TRACKING CODES

At ORGANIZATION, euthanasia decisions are made by only a few key individuals.  All shelter animal euthanasia decisions must be approved by the Executive Director or a Veterinarian.  Both the Executive Director and Veterinarian are almost always available via cell phone or text message.  In the extraordinary event that neither the Executive Director nor Veterinarian is available, an animal in severe distress can be euthanized with the approval of the ICU manager, Animal Care Manager or Veterinary Clinic Manager.  The euthanasia must be reported to the Executive Director and Veterinarian immediately via email or text message. 

THIS ORGANIZATION utilizes euthanasia tracking codes to keep accurate records of the disposition of animals.  Any animal euthanized must be assigned the appropriate code.   

            10 = Owner Surrender, non-savable medical condition

            20 = Owner Surrender, non-savable behavior condition

            30 = Savable medical condition (On Arrival)

            35 = Non-savable medical condition (On Arrival)

            40 = Savable behavior problem

            45 = Non-savable behavior problem

            60 = Savable Medical Condition (Acquired In-Shelter)

            65 = Non-savable Medical Condition (Acquired In-Shelter)

            90 = Wildlife, non-savable 

            99 = No space available

These definitions should be utilized based on an honest assessment of each animal’s medical or behavioral ability to be saved and not based on subjective notions of adoptability.  In cases of doubt, the default shall be a preference for lifesaving.  

Additionally and importantly, these tracking codes do not prescribe euthanasia decisions.  For example, an animal with cancer, deemed non-savable may still be successfully cared for, transferred or adopted to an individual or organization capable of providing hospice care.  Critically, it must never be assumed that any animal should be killed simply because it has a non-savable condition.  Follow DISEASE CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE protocols when applicable.  All efforts for treatment, rescue or foster care should be made and documented and recorded in an animal’s computerized records before a decision to kill the animal is made. 

Codes are divided into “savable” and “non-savable”.  To determine the appropriate euthanasia code, the person making the determination must start at the top of the list and choose the first code that is correct for that animal.  Codes are listed in priority order, beginning at the top.  For example, a dog that is sick with a non-savable disease, and is also aggressive would be categorized as “35, non-savable medical”.  This is because a medical condition may be causing a change in behavior and is why “35” comes before “40” or “45” on the list. 

SAVABLE: “Savable” shall include cats and dogs who are healthy or who have treatable or manageable behavior or medical conditions. 

Healthy: “Healthy” shall include any non-vicious cat or dog that is at least eight weeks of age and is not sick or injured.  Conditions such as fleas or pregnancy do not change the animal’s status from being healthy since they are resolved through professionally standard, routine shelter care, such as flea preventative and spay or neuter surgery, and do not require out of the ordinary care.  Healthy also includes animals who are exhibiting behaviors considered normal for dogs or cats such as house soiling, territorial marking, barking, chewing, digging or scratching behavior.   Likewise feral and free roaming cats who are inhibited in social interactions with humans are not exhibiting abnormal behavior for the species.  As long as a feral or free roaming cat is healthy, he meets the definition.

A dog or cat does not have to be cute and cuddly or easy to place to meet this definition.  Healthy is not the same as easy to adopt.  The animal may be blind, deaf, old, or missing a limb, or she may be a breed that certain organizations may choose not to adopt out, but as long as the animal is reasonably healthy and reasonably not vicious, she meets the definition.

Treatable and Manageable: “Treatable” or “Manageable” shall include any cat or dog that is younger than eight weeks; or has a medical or behavioral condition whose prognosis for rehabilitation is either excellent, good, fair, or guarded.  A dog or cat does not have to be “cured” to be treatable. Manageable animals include those who cannot be cured but whose condition can be managed.  For instance, a diabetic cat may never be cured but she is likely to live a normal life if given insulin shots.

NON-SAVABLE: “Non-savable” shall include: (1) cats and dogs who are sick or injured and whose prognosis for rehabilitation is poor or grave and (2) vicious dogs who have a propensity to or history of causing grievous bodily harm to humans or other animals whose prognosis for rehabilitation is poor or grave. 

Non-savable animals include irremediably suffering animals. An irremediably suffering animal is any animal with a medical condition who has a poor or grave prognosis for being able to live without severe, unremitting pain. 

LIVE EXIT GOALS

While we recognize that animals may be deemed non-savable, it is the stated goal of this organization to achieve a live exit for all animals.   

Prior to euthanizing or killing an animal, all efforts must be made and documented in each animal’s record regarding veterinary consultation, medical testing, rescue contacts, declined rescue responses, behavior evaluation, behavior history, hospice/sanctuary care etc.   

OWNER’S REQUESTS FOR EUTHANASIA

THIS ORGANIZATION has ceased the practice of performing owner’s requests for euthanasia.  This policy change was made to ensure all animal disposition’s are in accord with our mission to save lives.  While many euthanasia requests are for valid, non-savable conditions, others are simply for convenience or for unfounded reasons.  

While an animal with a non-savable condition may be euthanized at AWA, any animal surrendered to the shelter is considered an “owner surrender” and the ultimate disposition of the animal is at the discretion of this organization.  Any fee collected is a surrender fee and not a fee for euthanasia service.   

ORGANIZATION staff may not kill an animal without cause.  If it is found, after veterinary or behavioral review, that an owner is surrendering an animal to the shelter with a non-savable condition, owner surrender resulting in euthanasia may be an option.   

EUTHANASIA TRACKING CODES: 

10 = OWNER SURRENDER, NON-SAVABLE MEDICAL CONDITION

These are animals whose owners have surrendered them to the shelter with the intention of euthanasia because they have been diagnosed with a condition that has a poor or grave prognosis for recovery or who may be suffering from severe age related debilitation that is no longer manageable. 

20 = OWNER SURRENDER, NON-SAVABLE BEHAVIOR CONDITION

These are animals whose owners have surrendered to the shelter with the intention of euthanasia because their pet has demonstrated a propensity or history of causing grievous bodily harm to humans or other companion animals whose prognosis for rehabilitation is poor or grave. 

30 = SAVABLE MEDICAL CONDITION (ON ARRIVAL)

These are animals that have been diagnosed with a treatable/manageable medical condition but we may not have the ability to isolate, treat and/or manage.  

35 = NON-SAVABLE MEDICAL CONDITION (ON ARRIVAL)

These are animals that have a non-savable condition.  A non-savable condition is a condition that has a poor prognosis for recovery.  Examples include end stage kidney failure, liver failure, end stage cancer or extensive injuries from an accident or fire.  

40 = SAVABLE BEHAVIOR CONDITION

These are animals that have a treatable or manageable behavior condition such as kennel aggression, kennel stress or overly fearful animals, including feral cats.  Feral cats are demonstrating behavior that only presents a danger when confined.   

45 = NON-SAVABLE BEHAVIOR CONDITION

These are vicious dogs that have a propensity to or history of causing grievous bodily harm to humans or other companion animals, whose prognosis for rehabilitation is poor or grave and that pose a significant danger to staff, volunteers, adopters or the community at large.   Very rarely a cat may be determined by a veterinarian to have a non-savable behavior condition.

60 = SAVABLE MEDICAL CONDITION (ACQUIRED IN-SHELTER)

These are animals that have been diagnosed with a treatable/manageable medical condition acquired as a result of their stay in the shelter but we may not have the ability to isolate, treat and/or manage.  

65 = NON-SAVABLE MEDICAL CONDITION (ACQUIRED IN-SHELTER)

These are animals that have a non-savable condition that developed (or occurred in the case of an injury) during their stay in the shelter.  A non-savable condition is a condition that has a poor prognosis for recovery such as end stage kidney failure, liver failure, end stage cancer or extensive injuries from an accident or fire.  

90 = WILDLIFE, NON-SAVABLE

Although ORGANIZATION is not a licensed rehabilitator, members of the public occasionally bring injured wildlife to the shelter.  In the event that the animal is irremediably suffering, not a protected species and cannot reasonably and humanely be transported to a wildlife rehabilitator, the animal may be euthanized.

99 = NO SPACE AVAILABLE

Animals who are killed for no reason other than a lack of housing within the shelter and no foster care is available. 

VETERINARY SERVICES AND EUTHANASIA

Any veterinary service utilized by ORGANIZATION shall serve to provide veterinary evaluation reports.  Specifically, the veterinarian should report on a sick or injured animal’s prognosis for recovery.  Although a veterinarian may recommend euthanasia in the case of an irremediably suffering animal, it is not the responsibility of the veterinarian to choose which animals will be killed and it is the sole responsibility of the administrative staff to select or set policies for the selection of animals that will be killed.   

BEHAVIOR SERVICES AND EUTHANASIA

Any behavior service utilized by ORGANIZATION shall serve to provide behavior evaluation reports.  Specifically, the behavior evaluator should report on an animal’s personality and potential for aggression.  Although a behavior evaluator may recommend euthanasia in the case of a vicious dog, it is not the responsibility of the behavior evaluator to choose which animal will be killed and it is the sole responsibility of the administrative staff to select or set policies for the selection of animals that will be killed.