The Asilomar Accords
Many shelters use the guidance of the Asilomar Accords in determining adoptability of their animals. These accords were developed as a guideline to help end euthanasia in animal shelters. If you read the whole thing, you will see there are parts which are vague and left to individual interpretation. It reads in part:
"Healthy
The term “healthy” means and includes all dogs and cats eight weeks of age or older that, at or
subsequent to the time the animal is taken into possession, have manifested no sign of a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal’s health in the future.
Treatable The term “treatable” means and includes all dogs and cats who are “rehabilitatable” and all dogs and cats who are “manageable.”
Rehabilitatable: The term “rehabilitatable” means and includes all dogs and cats who are not
“healthy,” but who are likely to become “healthy,” if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
Manageable: The term “manageable” means and includes all dogs and cats who are not
“healthy” and who are not likely to become “healthy,” regardless of the care provided; but who
would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life, if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other
care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring owners/guardians in the community; provided, however, that the term “manageable” does not include any dog or cat who is determined to pose a significant risk to human health or safety or to the health or safety of other animals.
Unhealthy and Untreatable The term “unhealthy and untreatable” means and includes all dogs and cats who, at or subsequent to the time they are taken into possession, (1)have a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that poses a health or safety risk or otherwise makes the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and are not likely to become “healthy” or “treatable” even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or (2)are suffering from a disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the animal’s health or is likely to adversely affect the animal’s health in the future, and are not likely to become “healthy” or “treatable” even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or (3)are under the age of eight weeks and are not likely to become “healthy” or “treatable,” even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community."
If you want to educate yourself and find out just what the Assilomar Accords say, please check out their website at http://www.asilomaraccords.org/read.html and form your own opinion. Then make sure the people responsible for making these decisions is truly responsible.
"Healthy
The term “healthy” means and includes all dogs and cats eight weeks of age or older that, at or
subsequent to the time the animal is taken into possession, have manifested no sign of a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that could pose a health or safety risk or otherwise make the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and have manifested no sign of disease, injury, a congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the health of the animal or that is likely to adversely affect the animal’s health in the future.
Treatable The term “treatable” means and includes all dogs and cats who are “rehabilitatable” and all dogs and cats who are “manageable.”
Rehabilitatable: The term “rehabilitatable” means and includes all dogs and cats who are not
“healthy,” but who are likely to become “healthy,” if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other care equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community.
Manageable: The term “manageable” means and includes all dogs and cats who are not
“healthy” and who are not likely to become “healthy,” regardless of the care provided; but who
would likely maintain a satisfactory quality of life, if given medical, foster, behavioral, or other
care, including long-term care, equivalent to the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring owners/guardians in the community; provided, however, that the term “manageable” does not include any dog or cat who is determined to pose a significant risk to human health or safety or to the health or safety of other animals.
Unhealthy and Untreatable The term “unhealthy and untreatable” means and includes all dogs and cats who, at or subsequent to the time they are taken into possession, (1)have a behavioral or temperamental characteristic that poses a health or safety risk or otherwise makes the animal unsuitable for placement as a pet, and are not likely to become “healthy” or “treatable” even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or (2)are suffering from a disease, injury, or congenital or hereditary condition that adversely affects the animal’s health or is likely to adversely affect the animal’s health in the future, and are not likely to become “healthy” or “treatable” even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community; or (3)are under the age of eight weeks and are not likely to become “healthy” or “treatable,” even if provided the care typically provided to pets by reasonable and caring pet owners/guardians in the community."
If you want to educate yourself and find out just what the Assilomar Accords say, please check out their website at http://www.asilomaraccords.org/read.html and form your own opinion. Then make sure the people responsible for making these decisions is truly responsible.
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