Exceptions to the No-Kill Policy
11/13/2006
To the extent that is possible, PAR wishes to be a no-kill rescue organization. However, we recognize that this is not always possible. Below is the policy for when euthanasia may be necessary.
1) Injured or very sick animals in PAR’s foster system – PAR does not wish for animals to continuously suffer nor cause adopters continual medical expenses that they may be unable to afford. PAR also does not have the facilities or funding to care for such animals over the long term. If an injury to a dog or cat is going to cost over $100.00 for treatment, the PAR Board must give prior approval.
2) After-hour Emergency vet visits must be approved by either 1 board member or the Foster Home Coordinator prior to treatment being made. The office or vet clinic must make contact with the PAR contact person with description of ailment or injury and estimate quote on treatment and options.
3) All puppies brought to PAR will first be tested for PARVO if they are showing symptoms consistent with the PARVO virus and all felines 12 wks old or older will be tested for FeLV/FIV. Animals with positive test results will be euthanized. PARVO tests are done only on puppies where no history is known and they have not received their first vaccine; (vaccines alter the test results sometimes giving false positives). PAR authorizes batch testing for same litter kittens for FeLV testing. Exceptions to this euthanasia policy may be granted with Board’s approval if a Foster Home wishes to try alternative healthcare for treatment.
4) In the case of injured or very sick animals brought directly to a vet clinic and not in PAR’s system: These animals will be evaluated by a veterinarian immediately. The participating vet must contact PAR’s board with animal’s prognosis and treatment options. If the animal is clearly suffering greatly or has a bad long-term prognosis, and the veterinarian is to contact PAR’s Board with their recommendation of euthanasia, then PAR may euthanize the animal. Any PAR Board member must approve the euthanasia within 12 hours. In this case a time limit is being set to limit the suffering of the animal. This situation falls under PAR’s Community Service Account.
5) In the case of dogs within PAR’s system with positive heartworm test, the dog will be kept for one month at which time PAR will try to secure funding for treatment of the dog. If funding is not found within that time period, the particular dog will be discussed at the next scheduled board meeting to discuss options. The HW positive dog is not spayed or neutered until HW treatment is received. During this 30 day period, the dog’s behavior will also be evaluated with temperament testing. If there are any concerns after testing, the board will discuss if treatment is the right decision.
6) Aggressive dogs: PAR will use PAR’s Temperament Test on each dog brought into our foster care that shows behavior issues to gather comprehensive data for evaluation. Based on that evaluation, the PAR Board will discuss these dogs at the monthly board meeting and vote on whether the dog will receive training to correct their behavior or be euthanized. In voting, the Board needs to balance cost against achieving a positive result. The intent is to be sure that the dog will not harm other animals or people at a later time because it is prone to be aggressive in certain situations, thus bringing liability to PAR. Foster homes or boarding issues may play a part in this decision since only trained and willing fosters can be asked to place themselves and their family in this position. A formal release must be signed by the foster and/or volunteers before the pet is moved into their care. If no openings are available, the animal must be euthanized. If a dog becomes aggressive after they have been in our foster care for some time, the Quad Leader and President need to evaluate the situation by using the Temperament Test and look into other foster home or living conditions to alleviate the aggression. If not, the board will be presented with the issue and vote on euthanasia or other alternatives. If the dog has already bitten or killed another animal, a phone call to the board members to discuss euthanasia are to be made due to limited time for boarding the animal. Behavior issues will be discussed at each monthly board meeting on all dogs that are of concern to the staff and/or foster home providers. Majority vote of board will be the deciding factor in the decision of the dog’s future. Each dog is handled in a case-by-case vote by the entire Board at the monthly meetings.
7) Cats that are have long term medical or special needs: The strong preference of PAR is to not euthanize cats at all. We either should allow some small number of adult cats to live at the ranch to help control rodents, find sanctuaries where they may go, or give them at no cost to trusted people who will allow them to live in their barns/garages. It is also a PAR volunteer’s option, at no cost to that PAR volunteer, to allow them to live as barn cats at that volunteer’s property. Any transfer of adult cats from foster care at no cost must be approved by the Board President and an adoption form must be completed for Dept. of Agriculture paper flow requirements. These special needs pets will be discussed at the monthly board meetings to evaluate options for finding homes for the pets in discussion. Each cat will be discussed in a case-by-case discussion for the options on finding them a permanent home.
8) Long Term Resident Dogs/Cats in Foster Care: It is vital to PAR that each pet in our foster program are taken to off-site adoptions and be given equal opportunity to be placed in a new home. Rotations of fosters and Ranch fosters should be made for off-site adoptions by the adoption coordinator. If a foster is not cooperating in getting their pet to the adoptions, a Board member will talk with the foster, explain the importance of the adoptions held off-site, and find out the reasons for the pet not making to these adoptions. If transportation or scheduling is the problem, PAR’s Board may decide, for the best interest of the pet, to relocate the pet to another foster home. If there are available foster homes that are willing to foster in these situations, we need to move the pets to give them the maximum exposure. If a foster home has grown attached and wants to adopt their long term foster, no adoption fee is required if the pet has been in their care longer than 6 months. A completed adoption form is required for a paper trail and a donation is always appreciated. No long term foster will be euthanized only because the right home has not been found, PAR will discuss options in promoting these pets to put them in the spotlight for finding new homes.