Virginia is close to becoming the nation’s largest no-kill state

Teddy,whooftencometotheRichmondSPCAwithhismomtovisitcatsandparticipateineducationprograms,petsacatwaitingforadoption.(PhotocourtesyRichmondSPCA) ThesaverateforhomelessdogsandcatsinVirginia’sshelterslastyearwas86%–just4%shyofthenationally-recognizedno-killbenchmarkof90%.  DatafromBestFriendsAnimalSocietyrevealsatleast80ofthestate’ssheltersarealreadyno-kill,andmostothersarewithinreachofit,demonstratingadeepcommitmentamongprivateandpublicshelterworkers,rescuegroupsandcommunitymemberstosaveallthehomelessanimalswhocanbesaved–thosewhoarehealthyortreatableandnotarisktopublicsafety.ThisprogressputsVirginiaclosetobecomingthenation’slargestno-killstate,alifesavingmilestonethatcanbeaccomplishedwithcontinuedsupportfromresidentsacrossthecommonwealth.  Toclosethegapandachieveno-kill,Virginianscanprioritizethreekeystrategies:adoption,preventionandcollaboration. If5,726morehouseholds–just0.2%–hadadoptedapetfromashelterinst