More than 97% of the Dogs and Cats That Entered the Shelter Last Year Were Saved, earning Lewis Clark Animal Shelter a recognition award from Best Friends Animal Society
Lewiston, ID – The Lewis Clark Animal Shelter maintained no-kill in 2023, according to Best Friends Animal Society’s annual data report. Shelters receiving the no-kill recognition award saved more than 90% of the dogs and cats in their care in the calendar year 2023.
Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters in 2025, recognizes this incredible achievement as one that can be replicated by other shelters.
“This award represents extraordinary leadership, both within your organization and the broader animal welfare movement,” said Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, “I want to acknowledge and thank the organizations around the country who work tirelessly to save lives, helping move us closer to ending the killing of cats and dogs in shelters in 2025.”
The Lewis Clark Animal Shelter never “kills” an animal for time, space, breed, or age. The percentage that is within our no-save includes those who come into our care very sick, who pass naturally or are humanely euthanized when there is no hope for recovery, or an animal is deemed unsafe for placement. The LCAS dog save rate in 2023 was 98.73% and 95.51% for cats. The total number of pets that entered LCAS in 2023 was 1,130.
Highlights of programming and steps taken for your shelter to achieve its no-kill status include:
- Foster Program
- A.W.S. Training Program through the Idaho Correctional Institution – Orofino
- Fear Free Shelters Program and Enrichment Program
- Barn Buddy Program
The staff at Lewis Clark Animal Shelter employ methods and practices aimed at addressing the emotional needs of shelter animals. They undergo training through the Fear Free Shelter program, ensuring they are well-equipped to provide optimal care tailored to each animal’s well-being. This approach has significantly minimized fear, anxiety, stress, and frustration among the shelter animals. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and meeting the animals’ needs on an individual basis.
To learn more about the Lewis Clark Animal Shelter visit https://www.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.
** Qualifying criteria for receiving the award required the presence of a brick-and mortar shelter and availability of twelve months of 2023 data as of April 2024.
About Lewis Clark Animal Shelter
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. For more information, visit lcshelter.org.
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 and make the country no-kill in 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 415,000 last year. 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 4,700 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All®. For more information, visit bestfriends.org.