News

A Community Must Step Up

by John Ficarro

Man hugging dog

Letter to the Editor (Submitted to The Pilot January 22, 2020 – Status: Unpublished)

The recent Pilot editorial attempting to evaluate the latest animal-killing crisis in Moore County is somewhat misleading. Although well-intentioned prevention programs are helpful in reducing animal intake (although not eliminating it) they are not an exclusive solution. Certainly, the kill numbers would be even more appalling but nobody can determine with exactitude to what extent. They are non-quantifiable and do not prevent the ongoing killing of adoptable animals currently at our public “shelter” at the alarming rate of nearly 100 per month.

A Troubling Trend

by John Ficarro

Puppy looking up

The Pilot -Letter to the Editor “Stop Killing Animals” (January 28, 2020)

I read with disappointment the Pilot article about the latest animal-killing crisis at our publicly funded Animal Services. First, killing adoptable animals due to lack of space or ineffective programs is not “euthanasia.” It is simply: killing. Euthanasia is ending life out of mercy, not convenience. The ASPCA says “shelter” killing is the leading cause of death for healthy companion animals in the United States and occurs at a staggering rate. Approximately 90% of animals killed are adoptable. North Carolina ranked third worst in the United States in 2018, killing 55,900 animals, behind Texas and California, states with populations exponentially larger.

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Why Are We Killing So Many Animals

by John Ficarro

It was recently reported through several news outlets that Best Friends Animal Society, a 35 year-old non-profit animal rescue organization and the nation’s largest homeless animal sanctuary, completed a state-by-state study of the number of animals killed in public facilities. North Carolina ranked third worst in the United States by killing 55,900 animals behind only Texas and California, states with populations three and four times larger. On a per capita basis, at least among these top three, North Carolina would be the worst.

Sadly, the situation here in Moore County has regressed with respect to this issue. After a few years of improvement after the end Fiscal Year 2015, the number of animals killed in the Moore County Animal Center has risen dramatically in the fiscal year just ended.

Making The Case For A No-Kill Community

by John Ficarro

Where Do We Start?

I am often asked (perhaps not often enough) by friends, family and acquaintances in what way they might help advance the “no-kill” shelter philosophy and save the lives of adoptable animals that are unnecessarily destroyed. This sort of inquiry is not the problem.

The real problem lies deep within the minds of those who do not ask such questions and those who are generally indifferent to the killing of approximately five million dogs and cats in public facilities each year in the United States. My preference is to use the term “facility” in lieu of “shelter.” Words are very important and should reflect reality. A place where healthy, adoptable dogs and cats are intentionally killed cannot be a “shelter” under any definition.
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Advocacy For A No-Kill Community

by John Ficarro

You Can Help Safeguard the Future of Countless Animals in Our Community

As you know, Kill No More was recently established for the purpose of promoting a No-Kill philosophy for all community animal shelters locally and elsewhere in North Carolina. Our mission is to help provide solutions to what is a serious problem in many communities throughout North Carolina.

Shelter killing is the leading cause of death for healthy companion animals in the United States. Adoptable animals are surrendered to public “kill” facilities for a variety of reasons and usually through no fault of their own. For example, here in Moore County alone in 2015, 37% of all animals surrendered to its facility never made it out. That’s over 1000: nearly three every day. And that’s an improvement over prior years. A decade ago, it is estimated that over 7,000 animals were killed annually.