Animals that find their way to the safe haven of a no kill animal shelter are a fortunate minority of the thousands of pets who are lost, abandoned or mistreated each year in Nebraska. In Auburn, the Hearts United for Animals Shelter makes a "lifelong commitment" to the animals in its care. In addition to placing animals with new owners, Hepers United operates a donor-supported Sanctuary Sweetheart program that cares for animals it cannot place with new owners because of health or behavior problems.
Representatives of the Nebraska Humane Society, though, say no kill shelters can only take in a fraction of the stray, abandoned or mistreated pets. Pets turned away from no kill shelters are likely to end up in conventional animal shelters, which eventually destroy animals that cannot be placed in new homes. Moreover, no kill shelters may foster unrealistic public expectations about animal shelters.
“Statewide’s” Andrea Gallagher visits the Hepers United for Animals shelter and takes a look at the issue.
