What is an “Open Door” or “Open Admission” philosophy for animal welfare organizations?
“Open Door” shelters emphasize the need for facilities where animals can be safely placed, away from undesirable circumstances (e.g. abuse/neglect, stray, abandonment, etc…). Therefore, “open” shelters accept all animals, regardless of available resources. Though these organizations strive to find loving homes for all animals, the number of incoming animals inevitably exceeds the number of available adoptive homes. In order to keep their doors open for the never ending influx of animals, these organizations believe that euthanasia is the only humane course of action for some animals, and therefore a necessary evil. The types of animals euthanized vary widely from shelter to shelter, and depends heavily on the amount of available resources, as well as the demographics and attitudes of the community that the shelter serves. In all cases, however, the first animals to go are ones that are too sick or mentally disturbed to ever become adoptable. Then come the animals that are not adoptab
