Glossary

Euthanasia - The act of putting to death painlessly or allowing to die, as by withholding extreme medical measures, a person or animal suffering from an incurable, esp. a painful, disease or condition.  Reference: “euthanasia.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 14 Jul. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/euthanasia>.

Irremediable - Impossible to remedy, correct, or repair; incurable or irreparable.  Reference: “irremediable.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 14 Jul. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/irremediable>.

Kill - To deprive of life, animal or vegetable, in any manner or by any means; to render inanimate; to put to death; to slay.  … To kill does not necessarily mean any more than to deprive of life.  Reference: “kill.” Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary. MICRA, Inc. 14 Jul. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/kill>.

Limited Admission - A shelter or rescue that limits the admission of animals.  Limitations may be based on factors such as the amount of space available or the breed or type of animal.  For example, certain rescues limit their resources to animals of a particular breed or type.

No Kill - A philosophy that believes in the saving of savable animals and limits euthanisia to animals who are irremediably suffering or vicious.

Open Admission - A shelter that accepts all companion animals usually including both stray and unwanted animals.  Open admission shelters may be municipal or private organizations.

Shelter - A building serving as a temporary refuge or residence for homeless persons, abandoned animals, etc.  Reference: “shelter.” Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Random House, Inc. 14 Jul. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shelter>.

Vicious - Marked by an aggressive disposition; savage. Used chiefly of animals.  Reference: “vicious.” The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 14 Jul. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/vicious>.