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"June 30, 2004, marks the end of an era for the Sequoia Humane Society. Beginning July 1st, stray animals will all go to a new county-owned facility. After more than 38 years, the SHS will be able to shed, once and for all, its "pound" image. On July 1st, it will become a "No-Kill" Humane Society and Pet Adoption Center." 1
Ever since Kathleen Kistler became Executive Director, the Sequoia Humane Society (located in Eureka, CA, approximately 200 miles north of San Francisco) has focused its efforts on going no-kill. In 2002, SHS told the County Board of Supervisors that when the fiscal year was over, it wanted out of its animal control contract. When they said they needed more time, the Humane Society gave them an extra year to build a new facility and hire staff.
In the meantime, preparations for the transition began. A big part of that effort was informing county residents that change was in the offing. SHS produced an informational pamphlet that explained the impending policy shift and described the future functions of the Humane Society and the new county agency. It was widely distributed to members, donors and the general public. The local media was engaged to support the effort. Early stories about the transition ran on television and in three local newspapers, and Kistler was given the opportunity to write a regular column. The Humane Society newsletter and website also kept folks aware of progress and timetables.
At the same time, SHS implemented an array of new lifesaving adoption and spay/neuter programs that would significantly decrease deaths even before the no-kill transition. Staff also worked closely with county supervisors to help ensure that the new shelter would be well-designed and well-run. Thanks to advanced planning and great media support, the transition went smoothly.
"Even before July, we were saving almost all of our healthy and treatable animals, but now we're officially no-kill," said Kistler. "Our next goal is to work with the new county agency and the nine member Animal Welfare Coalition to become a no-kill county as well."
1 From an article by Kathleen Kistler in the June 30th Eureka Reporter.
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