Euthanasia & “No-Kill” Labling

Our current facility was designed several years ago to serve approximately 7,000 animals annually. Today, in a world post-pandemic, CAA consistently takes in approximately 9,000 animals annually.

There are days when our shelter takes in 30 to 50 animals. Every animal that comes through our doors requires food, housing, medical care, behavioral assessment, enrichment, and ultimately, a positive outcome. Our staff and volunteers work tirelessly to meet those needs, often under incredibly difficult circumstances.

For perspective, LASPCA serves as the designated shelter for both Orleans Parish and Plaquemines Parish, with an annual intake of about 5,000 animals. While Baton Rouge is different from New Orleans, looking at parish-level data, East Baton Rouge Parish is most comparable to Jefferson Parish, where JPAWS also takes in approximately 5,000 animals annually.

It's also important to understand that Companion Animal Alliance serves a unique role in our community. We serve as the only open-intake animal shelter for East Baton Rouge Parish.

What that means in practice is that we do not have the option to close our doors when we reach capacity, when staffing is limited, or even during a disease outbreak. Every day, we accept stray animals, sick and injured animals, owner surrenders, cruelty cases, neonatal kittens, and animals that have nowhere else to go.

This responsibility makes our role fundamentally different from that of private rescue organizations. Our local rescue partners do incredible work, and we rely heavily on those partnerships. However, private rescues have the ability to manage their intake based on their capacity for care. When they reach the limits of their available space, staffing, funding, or foster homes, they can pause or close intake until they have the resources to accommodate additional animals.

As the parish's contracted open-intake shelter, we do not have that privilege. The animals continue to arrive regardless of our capacity for care, staffing levels, or operational challenges.

With that being said, we are NOT a “no-kill” shelter. We have never been, and we will never claim to be, because the term “no-kill” is incredibly misleading. For an organization to be considered “no-kill,” it must maintain an average save rate of 90% or greater. That does not mean they DON’T euthanize animals. “No-kill” is a polarizing label in the animal welfare industry. Not only is it misleading, but it can also lend itself to poor housing practices and false data reporting.

As an open-intake municipal shelter, our obligation is to accept and care for every animal that comes through our doors, regardless of age, medical condition, behavior, or temperament. Our goal is always to achieve the best possible outcome for every animal, and we invest heavily in adoption, foster care, rescue partnerships, transport, and medical treatment to save as many lives as possible. At the same time, we must balance lifesaving efforts with public safety, animal welfare, and our capacity to provide humane care.

• Why isn't Companion Animal Alliance a no-kill shelter?

  • Companion Animal Alliance serves a fundamentally different role from many private rescue organizations. We are the only open-intake shelter contracted to provide animal sheltering services for the City of Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge Parish. That means we are obligated to accept animals regardless of age, medical condition, behavior, or capacity challenges.

• How many animals does CAA euthanize each year?

  • Over the last several years, we have consistently maintained a save rate of 80% or greater.

• Why can't you just stop taking animals?

  • As the contracted open-intake shelter for East Baton Rouge Parish, we are legally and contractually obligated to provide animal sheltering services to our community. Unlike private rescue organizations, we cannot simply pause or close intake when we reach capacity or experience operational challenges.

• Do you think Baton Rouge should have a no-kill shelter?

  • Baton Rouge benefits from having a diverse animal welfare community that includes municipal shelters, private rescues, foster-based organizations, and specialty rescue groups. Each serves a different and important role.

• How do you decide when euthanasia is necessary?

  • Euthanasia decisions are never made lightly. They are made collaboratively by our veterinary team and shelter leadership and are determined by factors including the animal's medical condition, prognosis, quality of life, public safety concerns, and ability to provide humane care.

  • Our goal is always to pursue treatment, placement, or alternative outcomes whenever possible. When euthanasia becomes necessary, it is because we believe it is the most humane option available for that individual animal.