ABOUT US

Who is No Kill Pima County?

No Kill Pima County (NKPC) is an all-volunteer, non-profit  501 (c) 3 organization working to build, support and sustain a community that saves the savable dogs and cats in Pima County through the implementation of the No Kill Equation.

Our grassroots organization began in the fall of 2012 when only 48% of the cats and dogs at our public county shelter were leaving the shelter alive. NKPC promotes the No Kill Model, and its 11 components, as a proven framework with demonstrated successful outcomes across the country to achieve our purpose.

The vision of NKPC is a community that saves the savable animals in our local shelters. Savable animals are those that are healthy, treatable or have maladjusted behaviors who can be rehabilitated. We believe that euthanasia should be reserved for those who are incurably physically suffering.

 

GUIDING PRINCIPLES and CORE FUNCTIONS

IMG_1026We strive to create a compassionate community that recognizes the intrinsic value of animals. We agree on the shared principles of accountability, respect, transparency and community collaboration.

Our primary functions are

  • Raise community awareness of the problem, the needless reasons that cats and dogs are killed in our county shelter, and evidence based solutions -No Kill Equation.
  • Identify gaps and weaknesses in the policies, programs and services available in the shelters and the community to address the needs of lost, abused, feral, orphaned and homeless pets.
  • Garner community support, collaboration and participation in the solution.
  • Influence the goals and policies at the county shelter, Pima Animal Care Center, and the county’s governing Board of Supervisors.
  • Provide direct services identified to address relevant unmet needs in the community.

NKPC believes it will take the commitment of the County, Pima Animal Care Center, The Humane Society of Southern Arizona and the community to achieve a No Kill Pima County. None of the above entities could do this without the full participation of the others. NKPC is identifying the gaps in the services and programs offered at the shelters within the county, as well as community resources available to meet the needs of the public,  advocating for change through public awareness and providing direct support.

Over the past 8 years, Pima County’s municipal shelter has raised the live release rate from 48% to 92%.

The County implemented more components of the No Kill Model and accepted many tenets NKPC has advocated for. PACC now has a foster program at the shelter, has 4 shelter veterinarians to provide medical services, started a Trap Neuter Return program for community cats, hired a trainer  and collaborated with NKPC to provide shelter prevention and diversion services. The NKPC Help Desk diverted over 30% of the people we talked to, close to 1,500 animals from the shelter  intake door in almost 3 years.  In March, 2017, PACC  incorporated the Help Desk into the public services of the Pet Support Center.   The community can call the Pet Support Center for info/resources.

Our hope and goal is to continue to support life saving strategies that keep pets out of shelters, support them in shelters, and get them out to appropriate placements. and ultimately be able to save all of the saveable.

NKPC INITIATIVES

NKPC is actively working on several components of the No Kill Model while supporting the county shelter and community in their plans to implement/improve other components. Our services are intended to achieve and sustain practices, policies and methodologies in line with the No Kill model.

Our services have the purpose of keeping animals out of the shelter, supporting the quality of care they receive in the shelter and helping them leave the shelter to quality placements as soon as possible.

CURRENT PRIMARY FOCUS

Support Options and Solutions to Keep Pets out of Shelters (S.O.S.)

NKPC maintains an online Resource directory:  Support Options and Solutions (S.O.S.) to Keep Pets and Ferals out of shelters featuring low cost resources in the community, current ‘specials’ available and a multitude of helpful info pages to help pet owners.

NKPC also offers financial assistance for pet owners in Pima County with short term unexpected needs like vet care, supplies or behavioral training.  Veterinary support is also available for community cat caregivers.

A key strategy to reaching and maintaining a No Kill community is to prevent shelter intakes in the first place and helping owners avoif shelter surrender or shelter impound.

Lost Pets Initiative

More than ½ of the dogs and cats that come to the county shelter are strays. The majority are never reunited with their owners. NKPC is working to prevents animals from going to the shelter and/or get them back home from the shelters, particularly by offering low cost or free microchip events, free collars and direct support to those who lost their pets.

 

Organization

No Kill Pima County is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.
The Board of Directors includes: Marcie Velen, Jessica Shuman , Jeanette Regan-Anders and Justin Pope.

Contact us

No Kill Pima County
PO Box 86231
Tucson, AZ 85754

Phone: (520) 477-7401
Email us here

There are many people interested in learning more about this model and working to create a No Kill Pima County. We hope you’ll join us in this effort, a very achievable reality.

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