Get Your Facts Straight

We have found that many people think they know, but don't. That was once us, and we are continuously learning. Misconceptions, terminology new and old, and opinions all too often shape people's understanding. We want to separate facts from fiction, allowing you to make your own educated decision from there. 

  • Shelter = Pound.  The word "pound" is an outdated term for animal shelters. An animal shelter or "pound" are city and county run facilities that take in strays, lost and abandoned pets, as well as pets surrendered by their owners. These government run facilities can hold hundreds of animals at one time and are therefore limited in what they can provide for the animals in their care. They offer the basics, such as regular feedings and basic medical needs such as vaccinations and spay / neuter services. Due to limited funding and resources, the animals do not receive daily walks (or anywhere close to that), play time, training, rehabilitation, or social interaction with humans or other animals.

  • What is a Rescue Organization?: 

    A group of individuals or an organization who devotes their lives to saving animals from the shelters and placing them in a foster care home or no-kill shelter (example: NKLA) until the animals are adopted by the public. They provide extensive medical treatment, training and rehabilitation, and, make sure each animal receives daily physical activity and human interaction while in their care. They are committed to pet adoption, public awareness and education, and fighting misconceptions about rescued animals. There are many rescue groups that specialize in specific areas such as breed or age (i.e. pit bulls, seniors, etc.). They will work with animals who have been abused, neglected, or sick and will not euthanize.

Mack and Mowgli  Project has joined the fight to turn Los Angeles into a No Kill city, and stop the killing of innocent, healthy animals. We do not support euthanasia of animals based on their breed, age, standardized temperament test or overcrowding of shelters.

To achieve a No Kill city, we need more help and cooperation from the community and government.

With that said, we do not believe any animal should live its life in isolation and captivity long term. In very specific circumstances, euthanasia may be the most humane solution for animals suffering from untreatable health or behavior issues as a result of extensive abuse and neglect. No matter what your opinion may be on euthanasia, we feel it's important to educate the public on what is legal and provide the facts on the matter.

  • Law on Euthanasia:

    • The shelters are legally allowed to euthanize an animal for the following reasons:

      - Shelter is overcrowded

      - An animal isn’t gaining any interest by potential adopters after a certain amount of time (could be days- weeks- months- years depending on the shelter)

      * A perfectly healthy, young dog is legally allowed to be euthanized if not adopted/rescue in the allotted time per that shelter (some shelters are 72 hours)

      - Animals with temperament issues (anything from fear to aggression)

      - Animals with medical issues that the shelter cannot financially afford to treat

      "Approximately 6 to 8 million animals are handled by animal shelters in the U.S. each year. Even though some are reclaimed or adopted, nearly 4 million unwanted dogs and cats are left with nowhere to go. Animal shelters cannot humanely house and support all these animals until their natural deaths. They would be forced to live in cramped cages or kennels for years, lonely and stressed, and other animals would have to be turned away because there would be no room for them.

      Trying to build enough animal shelters to keep up with the endless stream of homeless animals is like putting a bandage on a gunshot wound. Turning unwanted animals loose to roam the streets is not a humane option, either. If they don’t starve, freeze, get hit by a car, or die of disease, they may be tormented and possibly killed by cruel juveniles or picked up by dealers who sell animals to laboratories.

      Euthanasia literally means “good death,” and true euthanasia—delivered by an intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital—is painless, quick, and dignified. Because of the high number of unwanted companion animals and the lack of good homes, sometimes the most humane thing that a shelter worker can do is give an animal a peaceful release from a world in which dogs and cats are often considered “surplus.” The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Humane Society of the United States agree that an intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital administered by a trained professional is the kindest, most compassionate method of euthanizing animals." - PETA.org

Breed Specific Legislation (BSL): 

  • “Breed-specific” legislation (BSL) is the blanket term for laws that either regulate or ban certain breeds completely in the hopes of reducing dog attacks. Some city/municipal governments have enacted breed-specific laws. However, the problem of dangerous dogs will not be remedied by the “quick fix” of breed-specific laws— or, as they should truly be called, breed-discriminatory laws. It is worth noting that in some areas, regulated breeds include not just American Pit Bull terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, English Bull Terriers and Rottweilers, but also a variety of other dogs including American Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Dalmatians, Chow Chows, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, or any mix of these breeds — and dogs who simply resemble these breeds. On the bright side, many states (including New York, Texas and Illinois) favor laws that identify, track and regulate dangerous dogs individually, regardless of breed and prohibit BSL. 

    • Are Breed-Specific Laws Effective?

      There is no evidence that breed -specific laws— which are costly and difficult to enforce — make communities safer for people or companion animals. For example, Prince George’s County, MD spends more than $250,000 annually to enforce its ban on Pit Bulls. In 2003, a study conducted by the county on the ban’s effectiveness noted that “public safety is not improved as a result of [the ban],” and that “there is no transgression committed by owner or animal that is not covered by another, non-breed specific portion of the Animal Control Code (i.e., vicious animal, nuisance animal, leash laws).” Following a thorough study of human fatalities resulting from dog bites, the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) decided not to support BSL. The CDC cited, among other problems, the inaccuracy of dog bite data and the difficulty in identifying dog breeds (especially true of mixed-breed dogs). The CDC also noted the likelihood that as certain breeds are regulated, those who exploit dogs by making them aggressive will replace them with other, unregulated breeds." - ASPCA.org