The Lewis Clark Animal Shelter achieved a 95.8% save rate for the calendar year 2022, according to Best Friends Animal Society’s annual data report .https://bestfriends.org/no-kill-2025/animal-shelter-statistics This means the shelter saved nearly 96% of the dogs and cats that entered the shelter last year. It also represents more than 1,300 cats and dogs who are alive and are cherished members of local families.
“The Lewis Clark Animal Shelter never “kills” an animal for time, space, breed, or age,” says Audrey Williams, Director of Operations at the Shelter. “The 10% comes from animals who die naturally or are humanely euthanized when there is no hope for recovery, or an animal is deemed unsafe for placement.” The dog save rate in 2022 was 99.02% and 92.58% for cats.
The Lewis Clark Animal Shelter staff apply strategies and techniques to meet the emotional needs of the animals that come through shelter doors. Shelter staff and volunteers complete courses and training from the Fear Free Shelter program. “This training has made a huge difference in the lives of the shelter animals and the staff,” says Williams. “It drastically reduces fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration for the animals. We meet the animals where they are and take it one step at a time.” These same resources are available to pet owners at: https://www.fearfreehappyhomes.com.
Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025, recognizes this achievement as a positive step forward.
To learn more about Lewis Clark Animal Shelter and how you can help visit lcshelter.org.
*A 90 percent save rate is the nationally recognized benchmark to be considered “no-kill,” factoring that approximately 10 percent of pets who enter shelters have medical or behavioral circumstances that warrant humane euthanasia rather than killing for lack of space.
Lewis Clark Animal Shelter has served the Lewis Clark Valley since 1950. The agency provides vital services to animals and people alike through sheltering and adopting animals, providing positive Fear Free Shelter approach to reinforcement behavior training for adoptable animals, foster kitten program, P.A.W.S. Training Program through the Idaho Correctional Institution – Orofino, reduced cost spay/neuter surgeries, support during animal cruelty and neglect, providing adult and youth volunteer involvement, sharing animals through pet-assisted therapy, and rescuing animals in emergency situations.
The Lewis Clark Animal Shelter is a private nonprofit organization that relies on community support, contributions, grants, bequests, investments, fees for service.
About Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 378,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nation’s largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 4,200 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.
