Animal Shelter Aims for ‘No Kill’ Community by 2018

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Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — As the nation celebrates National Dog Day, the City of Columbia Animal Shelter is reminding people to think of the four-legged friends in search of a home. At the shelter, 14 month old Luke, a Boston Terrier German Shepard, is one of roughly 300 other animals who call the Columbia Animal Shelter his temporary home, but is looking to find a forever family. “It’s amazing what they bring to you,” said Superintendent Marli Drum. “They bring some responsibility but the joys are far much better.” Drum said shelter adoptions are on the rise, however, they still have strides to make to help decrease the euthanization rate. “When you get an animal out for adoption that gives us one more space to move one more forward, so it’s real important for folks to consider that, they are saving a life,” explained Drum. According to Drum, over the past 5 years animal euthanasia has been cut in half at the shelter thanks to spay and neutering along with fewer animals coming in. However, by 2018, the shelter is aiming for a ‘no kill’ community in which they no longer will have to euthanize adoptable, treatable pets and only those who absolutely need it. “When we reach the point where we are euthanizing those because we have to it’s because there’s some serious aggression, serious illness, serious injury things like that but right now sadly we still see animals get euthanized by minor illnesses or injuries or even space during out busiest times of the year which is right now,” said Drum. To help reach their 2018 goal, Drum is reminding people to spay and neuter their pets and also consider adopting from local animal shelters to help four-legged friends find a permanent home.