Anexample is the kill rate ? or conversely, the save rate ? at the nation'sanimal shelters: how many rescued strays or donated animals find homes, and howmany are euthanized because they're too sick, too dangerous, too old, too wild,or weren't quite cute enough to get adopted.
Ahandful of shelters profess to employ a no-kill policy. Even feral catsare neutered and returned to the wild. That makes for good publicrelations; people like to donate to shelters with high save rates. Andthey like to volunteer there, too.
Butsaving a high percentage of animals is not always easy. Some sheltersdon't have room or cannot afford, to keep large numbers of crittersaround. Rural shelters take in lots of wildlife that can't be placed inhomes; shelters in some poor areas must put down vicious dogs that have beentrained to fight.
In2004, the Humane Society of the United States and other animal-welfare groupsagreed on uniform standards for describing the condition of sheltered animals ?such as treatable, unhealthy, and untreatable ? as well how to report thesave-kill rate. But lots of shelters don't subscribe to theseguidelines. And some refuse to make their euthanasia rates public.
Thisis serious business in a field in which statistics take on the real andadorable face of a playful kitten, a cuddly puppy, a sassy bird, or a sad-eyedolder animal.