What is the difference between
Open Admission and Limited Admission

An "Open Admission" facility will turn no animal away and with that open door policy comes certain realities and responsibilities. That is the defining difference between an "Open Admission" shelter and "Limited Admission" shelters.

"Limited Admission" shelters or groups must restrict both the type and the number animals it will receive. When the shelter cages or foster homes are filled, they will turn away the next animal regardless of the circumstances. That leaves the individual with a stray or unwanted animal to find another source for relinquishing the animal, usually an "Open Admission" shelter.

Often "Limited Admission" organizations bill themselves as "no kill" shelters. However, though these shelters/groups are also working toward placing companion animals in responsible homes, very few of them take in sick/injured animals or provide for lost or stray animals. They rarely investigate and prosecute complaints of cruelty and neglect. They often turn away older animals or those with health or behavior problems and may be unable to accept the return of unsuccessful adoptions. Rapid turnover is essential.

So we can think of animal welfare like a patchwork quilt, made of different organizations; some "Open Admission", some "Limited Admission" and others such as specific breed "Rescue Groups", "Sanctuaries" and even "Animal Control" who all want to get homeless and unwanted animals off the street and into a better place.

Although the simplicity of the "Limited Admission" shelter philosophy is appealing, reality is not that simple. The Christ-Yoder Animal Shelter takes in over 2000 animals each year. Some days we take in as many as 30 a day. We shelter some for days, others for weeks, sometimes months, while we try to find new homes for them. But more keep coming every day, and only so many can be housed at a time. When there is no more room, or animals are evaluated as having behavior or physical problems or it can be seen that an animal's quality of life has depreciated, after a reasonable length of time, that animal may be euthanized. It is REALITY.

So you can see that using the terms "kill" and "no kill" in describing an animal facility is really not accurate or fair. No one wants to see animals euthanized. The Humane Society of the United States has coined the terms "Open Admission" and "Limited Admission" as correct determinations and encourages no group to "look down" on one type of facility or the other, but acknowledge the benefit both offer in animal welfare. For more information go to  www.hsus.org.