Animal shelter policies can be better. Particularly as regards replacing Euthanasia with No-Kill policies.

1. ANIMAL LAW:
REDUCING EUTHANASIA
IN CITY SHELTERS
By Suzana Gartner

2. DEFINITIONAL CONFUSION
NO KILL
 A term for a method of animal sheltering that
does not sanction any method of killing of
adoptable companion animals
 And only to relieve irremediable suffering or
destroy behaviorally vicious animals

3. DEFINITIONAL CONFUSION
Euthanasia
 Dictionary: Taking the life of one for whom no
reasonable alternative exists in as painless and
compassionate a fashion as possible for the good of
the one whose life it is
 In sheltering, ending a
companion animal’s life
for various other reasons.

4. INTRODUCTION:
1) Overview
2) Best Practice Models
3) Legislation and Policy
4) ACAP Model
5) Consensus

5. BEST PRACTICES SHELTERING MODELS:
1. Responsible Pet
Ownership
Model
2. No Kill Equation
Model

6. CALGARY ANIMAL SERVICES 2011
RESULTS
 Funded entirely by animal related revenues
 Primarily from licensing
 Receives no tax revenue.
 High license compliance
 90% dogs licensed
 45% cats licensed
 Low euthanasia rates
 Highest return-to owner-rate in North America.

7. PRINCIPLES OFPRINCIPLES OF RESPONSIBLE PET
OWNERSHIP:
1. License and provide permanent
identification for pets;
2. Spay or neuter pets;
3. Provide training, physical care, socialization
and medical attention for companion pets;
4. Do not allow pets to become a threat or
nuisance in the community; and
5. Ethical procurement of companion animals.

8. PRINCIPLES OF NO KILL EQUATION MODEL
 Feral Cat TNR
Program
 High-Volume, Low-
Cost Spay/Neuter
 Rescue Groups
 Foster Care
 Comprehensive
Adoption Programs
Pet Retention
 .Public
Relations/Community
Involvement
 Volunteers
 Proactive
Redemptions
 A Compassionate
Director

9. DISTINCTIONS IN ADMISSIONS POLICIES:
Open Admission Shelters
No Kill Equation Model
 (Toronto Animal Services)
vs.
Limited Admission Shelters
Responsible Pet Ownership Model
 (Toronto Humane Society)

10. LIMITATIONS OF BOTH MODELS
No Kill Equation Model
relies on private philanthropy
instead of licensing fees and
relies on a shelter that operates
as open admission.
 Too specific legislation and not
enough flexibility for adaptive
policy changes.
 Responsible Pet
Ownership Model relies too
heavily on shelter policy and
lacks strong bylaw protection.
 Relies on shelter that operates
as limited admission.

11. CHAPTERCHAPTERCHAPTER 349349349 -ANIMALS
OF CITY OFOF CITY OF TORONTOTORONTO MUNICIPAL CODE
1) REGULATES THE OWNERSHIP OF ANIMALS, INCLUDING
LICENSING, NUMBER OF PERMISSIBLE ANIMALS, RESTRICTED
ANIMALS AND THE REQUISITE STANDARD OF CARE.
2) THE BYLAW ALSO GOVERNS THE AUTHORITY IN REGARDS TO
IMPOUNDED AND SEIZED ANIMALS.
3) CURRENTLY, THIS BYLAW IS UNDER REVIEW.

12. JURISDICTION TO PASS BYLAWS:
The Municipal Act,
S.O. 2001, CHAPTER 25
Sections:
10 (2) (9) and
103 (1).
City of Toronto Act,
S.O. 2006, CHAPTER 11
Sections:
8 (2) (9) and
106 and 107.

13. THE MUNICIPAL ACTTHE MUNICIPAL ACT, 2001
S.OS.O. 2001, CHAPTER 25
 10 (2) A single-tier municipality may pass by-laws respecting the
following matters:
 9. Animals.
Impounding animals
 103. (1) If a municipality passes a by-law regulating or prohibiting
with respect to the being at large or trespassing of animals, it may
provide for,
 (a) the seizure and impounding of animals being at large or
trespassing contrary to the by-law; and
 (b) the sale of impounded animals…..

14. THE CITY OF TORONTO ACT , 2006
S.O. 2006, CHAPTER 11
8. CITY BYBY-YYY LAWS
(2)(2) THE CITY MAY PASS BYTHE CITY MAY PASS BY-THE CITY MAY PASS BY LAWS RESPECTING THE FOLLOWING
MATTERS:
9.9. ANIMALS.
IMPOUNDING ANIMALS
106.6. IF THE CITY PASSES A BYIF THE CITY PASSES A BY-IF THE CITY PASSES A BY LAW REGULATING OR
PROHIBITING WITH RESPECT TO THE BEING AT LARGE OR
TRESPASSING OF ANIMALS….
MUZZLING OF DOGS
107.7. (1)(1)(1) IF THE CITY REQUIRES THE MUZZLING OF A DOG UNDER
ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CITY COUNCIL SHALL, UPON THE
REQUEST OF THE OWNER OF THE DOG, HOLD A HEARING….

15. MODEL MUNICIPAL BYLAWSMODEL MUNICIPAL BYLAWS:
1) Companion Animal Protection Act;
2) Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw;
3) Canadian Federation of Humane
Society “Model “Bylaw.

16. RECOMMENDED MUNICIPAL BYLAW: ACAP
1) PREAMBLE;
2) ANIMAL CARE STANDARDS;
3) EUTHANASIA GUIDELINES;
4) COMMUNITY RULES;
5) FERAL CAT TNR;
6) PROCEDURAL
RULES:
7) PET RETENTION;
8) FUNDING

17. PRINCIPLES OF THE ACAP MODELPRINCIPLES OF THE ACAP MODEL:
1)1) PREVENTIONNN;
2)2) PROACTIVE PROGRAMSSSS;
3)3) FERAL CATTTT TNR;
4)4) IRRESPONSIBLE PET OWNERSSSS;
5)5) LICENSINGGG ANDAND STERILIZATIONNN ;
6)6) BYLAWWWW ANDAND POLICY;
7)7) OWNER SURRENDERSSSS;
8)8) CONSENSUSSSS.

18. PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
 Impound rates
 Return to owner rates
 Euthanasia rates
 Aggressive animal
incidents
 Animals licensed
 By-law infractions
 Financial performance
 Evaluation of Policies
 Continuous Improvement

19. CONSENSUS BUILDINGCONSENSUS BUILDING:
KEY STAKEHOLDERSKEY STAKEHOLDERS:
1)1) REGULATORYREGULATORY ––– THE CITY OF TORONTO, ANIMAL1)1) REGULATORYREGULATORYREGULATORY THE CITY OF TORONTO, ANIMALTHE CITY OF TORONTO, ANIMAL
SERVICES, THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO;
2)2) HUMANEHUMANE ––– TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY (OSPCA),2)2) HUMANEHUMANEHUMANE TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY (OSPCA),TORONTO HUMANE SOCIETY (OSPCA),
ANIMAL RESCUES,
3)3) MEDICAL/SERVICE PROVIDERSMEDICAL/SERVICE PROVIDERS ––TORONTO VETS,3)
O
MEDICAL/SERVICE PROVIDERSMEDICAL/SERVICE PROVIDERSMEDICAL/SERVICE PROVIDERS –TORONTO VETS,TORONTO VETS,TORONTO VETS,3)3) MEDICAL/SERVICE PROVIDERS
OOOVMA, BREEDERS, TRAINERS, PET STORES; AND
44)4) ANIMAL ADVOCATESANIMAL ADVOCATES-ANIMAL ADVOCATES-POLITICIANS, ANIMAL44) ANIMAL ADVOCATESANIMAL ADVOCATESANIMAL ADVOCATES
WELFARE GROUPS.

20. ROOT OF THE PROBLEM:
1)1) IRRESPONSIBLE PET
OWNERSHIP;
2) COMPANION ANIMAL
OVERPOPULATIONNN.

21. RESPONSIBLE
PET OWNERSHIP
COMPANION
ANIMAL
POPULATION

22. Suzana Gartner
is a Canadian Lawyer who focusses on
Animal Law and Dispute Resolution.
For further information:
SuzanaGartner.com
Gartner Kostanza
Gartner’s Animal Law practice
The Dispute Resolution Specialists
Gartner’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice