Humane League of Lancaster County to become 'no-kill' shelter

The Humane League of Lancaster County is about to make good on its promise to become a "no-kill" shelter.

The shelter also announced Tuesday it will cancel all municipal contracts by the end of January.

But while the announcement might seem like a victory for animal care in the county, one local advocate is fuming about the decision.

"This means no one will have anywhere to go with these animals," said Connie Kondravy, co-founder of the Organization for Responsible Care of Animals.

The animal shelter at 2195 Lincoln Highway East has scheduled a press conference Wednesday at 3 p.m. to reveal further details of its plan.

According to an email circulated Tuesday by Humane League officials, the organization has committed to becoming a shelter where "healthy, treatable pets will not be euthanized due to lack of space or other resources."

Becki Meiss, vice president of operations at the League, confirmed the announcement. Beyond that, she and director of marketing Mary Wallick declined to give further details until the press conference.

Humane League president and CEO Joan Brown did not immediately return a telephone message Tuesday.

But an email circulated by the organization was clear on the shelter's new direction.

Under a bold headline -- "The Humane League of Lancaster County is Going No-Kill!" -- the email says the shelter's leadership has made this decision "to assure the best use of resources and to continue protecting the welfare of our community's pets."

The Humane League will conclude all contracts on Jan. 31, allowing three months' notice for municipalities still paying for League services.

"The HLLC regrets that it is no longer able to provide these services, but the cost of doing so has become unsustainable," the email states.

"However, stray animals will be accepted for an intake fee dependant [sic] upon space and resources."

The League will convert to a "no-kill" shelter as of Feb. 1, the letter continues.

"This means that when a pet is accepted into the shelter, it will not be euthanized for any reason other than pursuant to veterinary recommendation," it reads. "With that single exception, all pets accepted into the shelter will be housed and cared for until they are adopted."

The decision, according to the email, is a step toward financial stability for the organization.

The Humane League has been losing municipal contracts at a rapid rate. Late last year, eight of the county's 60 municipalities still held contracts with the shelter.

The shelter announced its intention to become a "no-kill" facility in November.

The announcement angered Kondravy.

"It's going to be like animals running in the streets. It's absolutely insane," Kondravy said. "I've been in this business 30 years, and I never thought I'd see this day."

Lancaster County continues to have a pet overpopulation problem, she said.

"When you have a no-kill shelter, someone else is going to have to kill," she said. "If somebody doesn't step up to the plate, people are just going to be dumping animals right and left."

Kondravy predicted the Humane League will become a "little boutique shelter. They're going to take in animals for a fee.

"We get all sorts of animals in the city. Now, they can go to the Humane League."

But come Feb. 1, she said, "There's going to have to be someplace new found where these animals can go."

In its email, the Humane League said it will "make every effort to accommodate as many animals as it possibly can."

It further said that creating a "no-kill" community will require "strong licensing laws, spay/neuter initiatives and animal control programs" on the local, county and state levels.

"Pet owners will need to take responsibility for their pets, and pet lovers will need to support life saving programs throughout the community."