Building a No Kill Milwaukee Together

How does one introduce themselves?

A handshake. A, “Hello”. A tail-wag. A kiss on one cheek, and then the other. A bow. A bunting. A curtsy. A purr. A hug. A face-lick. A wave. 

Some of the greetings intermingled above may seem strange to you. But if they seem perfectly normal and are intermingled into your daily life as well, you’re in the right place. 

The truth is, what are the most out-of-place greetings above to some, are the most sought after of the day by many right here in the Milwaukee metro area! A tail-wag, bunting (a.k.a. “the kitty head-butt”), a purr, or a big ol' sloppy face-lick by your favorite pooch. Yes, the unconditional love from our beloved companion animals grounds us, helps us live a simple and pure life – as nature intended – and, after a long, tough day, helps us remember that to someone, we are the greatest person to ever walk this earth.

If those greetings melt your heart as they do ours, then we’d like to introduce ourselves. We are No Kill Milwaukee – an all-volunteer group that has grown tired of the killing of our healthy, treatable, and rehabilitatable animals (by the thousands each year) in the Milwaukee community – especially when there are life-saving alternatives available that have been proven successful in cities and counties across the country.

While our mission encompasses all animal sheltering within the county, our initial focus has been on Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC) because it is taxpayer-funded and, as such, we can exercise our rights within a democracy to achieve the animal control that meets the No Kill standards we want to see for our community animals. 

In 2010, 7,423 animals (or 57 percent of all animals taken in) were needlessly killed at MADACC. That’s approximately 20 animals losing their lives, every single day! And if you’re a Milwaukee County taxpayer, you helped fund their deaths with your tax dollars. Ethically and morally, it’s unacceptable to kill healthy, treatable, and rehabilitatable beings – especially when there is a solution available. No Kill Milwaukee will not stop fighting for the right to life for our beloved pets until it is guaranteed to every one of them. You’re in charge of what your government (and government-run agencies) looks like – you pay the bills. You have a say. Your tax-funded shelter doesn’t have to kill over half of the animals it takes in if you have anything to say about it.

The solution is called the No Kill Equation – 11 steps that, when implemented comprehensively, have resulted in live outcome rates at open-admission shelters (just like MADACC) throughout the U.S. of 90 percent or more. Killing is taken off the table; solutions are discussed instead of excuses; every healthy, treatable, and rehabilitatable companion animal lives; and “euthanasia” is returned to its dictionary definition of “permitting the death of the hopelessly ill or injured for reasons of mercy” – not applied to those vibrantly filled with life who want nothing more than the chance to love and be loved. And, the No Kill Equation is consistent with public safety,

New leadership has recently taken the reigns at MADACC. It is a window of opportunity to be acted upon by all Milwaukeeans who not only love animals, but who believe it is our responsibility to speak for our most defenseless and to protect our innocent. It is the chance for a new era of animal sheltering in Milwaukee – but only with YOUR support. Only if YOU demand it, and help make it a reality. It’s going to take work. Are you up for the challenge? Lives are depending on it.

A No Kill Milwaukee is within our reach. It is achievable. But we need YOUR help to make it happen. The more people on board with this community initiative, the sooner the killing stops, and the sooner all animals in Milwaukee will have the opportunity to chase after a ball in a grassy park, or curl up beneath a sunny window.

No Kill Milwaukee needs volunteers, and in great numbers, to achieve this great endeavor of becoming a No Kill community. If you have marketing, fundraising, management, communication, event planning, animal care and handling – or just about any other skill to offer – we have an opportunity for you to change the outcome for animals in Milwaukee that until now has been bleak. Be a part of the movement that is changing the future of animal sheltering, right here in your own community. Email us today at: contact@nokillmilwaukee.org to express your interest in becoming a volunteer with No Kill Milwaukee and playing a pivotal role in making Milwaukee a No Kill community.