Well, I work at a low kill shelter. Only really sick animals or aggressive animals are euthanized. But, we try to get the sick animals better. You cannot adopt out an aggressive animal. The only ones we have euth'd were bite cases or if they didn't come around in a certain period of time. They do all deserve a chance, yes but you cannot adopt out aggressive animals knowingly. In a perfect world, there would be a home for every animal. I think midwestern and southern shelters get in a lot of animals a day. We usually don't. I blame it on the backyard breeders and irresponsible owners why there are so many animals in shelters today. I am not sure exactly how the Michigan shelters are run. But, gassing is really inhumane and I couldn't see myself shoving animals into a gas chamber and dying a really cruel death. We take them to the vet. Heart sticks are a really inhumane way to die as well. It is not that expensive to take them to the vet AND I could not work at a shelter that gasses or uses heart sticks.

I am not sure I agree with the no kill movement. I have mixed feelings on the issues. I do not think healthy animals that are stable in temperament and health should be put down at all. Nor should a dog be put down for being a certain breed. I think the only animals that should be put down are the ones that are aggressive with proper evaluation of course. Because sometimes the behavior evaluations aren't done correctly. I do not think a dog should be put down for food aggression or dog aggression.

Only human aggression. Also, animals that are really sick and are not going to get better should be put down. Too many people try to play "hero" to really sick animals that will never get better. I also do not think that animals should be warehoused in a shelter for all of their lives. If there are foster homes available USE them. Don't make a dog or a cat spend it's life in a kennel with minimum socialization. It's not fair for them and so many shelters should accept volunteers. Some just don't, but SHOULD. It makes the animal's stay much better. If done right, shelters can be no kill but there needs to be made known one just cannot save them all, regardless if it's a no kill shelter. Shelters don't have a million kennels to house animals, so most are euth'd for space which isn't fair but make no mistake it's hard for the shelter workers who are true animal lovers. They don't kill them for the sake of killing, but as long as we have pet overpopulation and irresponsible owners; there will never be an end to it. JMO.