A population balance of companion animals and support of programs to eliminate euthanasia of adoptable and treatable homeless animals. Homeless animals are cared for in state-of- the-art, home-like shelters and/or foster homes until permanent families are found. A farm/camp is home for animals that are difficult to place or require long-term treatment where they receive training or medical treatment so that they may become adoptable. Animals requiring extraordinary medical care or those that for other reasons may not become adoptable are cared for at a pet sanctuary.
Financial support and programs are widely available to provide and promote:
- Pet sterilization;
- Pet training;
- Medical treatment;
- Assistance to needy individuals in keeping and caring for their companion animals;
- High-visibility adoption events; and
- Community education
Collaborating Partners have agreed to the following definitions.
The term "healthy" means and includes all dogs and cats eight weeks of age or older that, at or subsequent to the time the animal is taken into possession, have manifested no signs of a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal, or that is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future.
The term "treatable" means and includes all dogs and cats that are "rehabilitatable" and all dogs and cats that are "manageable."
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Rehabilitatable: The term "rehabilitatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are not "healthy," but who are likely to become "healthy," if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
- Manageable: The term "manageable" means and includes all dogs and cats who are not "healthy" and who are not likely to become "healthy," regardless of the care provided; but who would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life, if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring owners/guardians in the community; provided, however, that the term "manageable" does not include any dog or cat who is determined to pose a significant risk to human health or safety or to the health or safety of other animals.
The term "unhealthy and untreatable" means and includes all dogs and cats who, at or subsequent to the time they are taken into possession,
- have a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that poses a health or safety risk or otherwise makes the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or
- are suffering from a disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the animal's health or is likely to adversely affect the animal's health in the future, and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable" even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or
- are under the age of eight weeks and are not likely to become "healthy" or "treatable," even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
