Last week, I recommended that everyone use objective standards and evaluate “shelters” for themselves to determine if they are truly humane.
To do that, I suggested several resources, including The No Kill Advocacy Center’s Animal Evaluation Matrix which provides a comprehensive list of conditions that are treatable.
The Matrix is available for free download here.
I also recommended the Autumn 2026 issue of No Kill Sheltering, The No Kill Advocacy Center’s digital magazine, which features the (updated) policies and practices every shelter should implement, based on the latest scientific studies.
Anyone can use the Matrix, those policies, and the resources provided in the article last week to evaluate organizations and shelters, and then continue to check their policies and outcomes over time. In particular, shelter placement rates should consistently exceed 95 percent and, in a truly successful shelter, can reach 99 percent without closing the door to animals in need.
As a courtesy to my subscribers, the Autumn 2026 issue of No Kill Sheltering can be downloaded below.