NOKA's Mission and Values

NOKA's mission is two-fold:

• To end the killing of adoptable pets in Lethbridge, through community education, spay/neuter programs and adoption support.
• To achieve fairness in Lethbridge municipal policies regarding animal control and sheltering.

NOKA's vision is four-fold:

• Controlling animal population through spay/neuter programs.
• Promoting and rewarding responsible pet ownership.
• Promoting pet retention and pet adoption.
• Ending the killing of adoptable cats, dogs and other animals.

NOKA's Plan for a Pet-Friendly Lethbridge

NOKA's vision is for extensive strategies to address pet overpopulation, responsible pet ownership, pet retention and adoption.

We propose strategies that focus on:

• Sterilization and vaccination of all shelter animals awaiting adoption;
• Facilitation and rewarding of sterilization;
• Expedient adoption process;
• A strong community education program;
• Pet retention initiatives;
• Promotion of responsible pet ownership;
• Promotion of pet identification to facilitate return of lost pets; and
• The expansion of foster programs.

NOKA believes that the following steps will lead to a drastic reduction in the number of adoptable pets killed each year in Lethbridge, in addition to improving the lives of Lethbridge companion animals:

1. Implementing low-cost spay/neuter clinics.
2. City-initiated review of euthanasia policies, practices, and realities (in progress).
3. Ensuring all animals in city shelter custody are spayed/neutered prior to adoption, and that private shelter groups are encouraged to do the same.
4. Encouraging and rewarding sterilization of owned pets.
5. Educating the public on responsible pet ownership, key features of which are sterilization and vaccination.
6. Promoting pet retention through access to animal behaviourists, print material, training and animal-friendly rental housing.
7. Promoting pet adoption through foster programs, public outreach, publicity and programs that bring together adoptable animals and potential adopters.

Becoming a no-kill city will likely take 5-10 years. There is much that can be done towards this ethical and practical goal.