About The Low-Kill Philosophy

Many organizations have decided that there are some scenarios for which a humane euthanasia policy is in the best interest of the animal. Most humane euthanasia policies are based on the definition of "unhealthy and untreatable" established by the Asilomar Accords, which is:

Unhealthy and Untreatable: The term "unhealthy and untreatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who, at or subsequent to the time they are taken into possession,

(1) have a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that poses a health or safety risk or otherwise makes the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or

(2) are suffering from a disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the animal's health or is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or

(3) are under the age of eight weeks and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable," even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.

For more information on this definition, please visit the Asilomar Accords. Some of the organizations listed in the nØkill Network directory adhere to this policy, and those which we know of have been designated as "low-kill" organizations.