These shelters have dedicated physical facilities and frequently either have animal control contracts for their municipalities or work closely with the organizations that do.

These shelters have dedicated physical facilities and frequently either have animal control contracts for their municipalities or work closely with the organizations that do.

Open admission shelters take each and every animal brought to their doors. They are thus forced to euthanize healthy, adoptable animals for space when intake exceeds adoptions.

Open admission shelters take each and every animal brought to their doors. They are thus forced to euthanize healthy, adoptable animals for space when intake exceeds adoptions. In the city of Philadelphia, the influx of stray and unwanted animals is so constant and overwhelming that euthanasia rates at ACCT can be quite high, particularly for cats and kittens. In the counties, the animals' odds are generally more favorable.

No-kill shelters do not euthanize healthy, adoptable pets (although they may euthanize sick pets or those whose mental conditions deteriorate so much that they go "kennel crazy" and are no longer safely adoptable), but are limited admission: they take pets only when they have the kennel space to accommodate additional animals. Most no-kill shelters in our area pull animals from ACCT and do not accept strays or owner surrenders.

No-kill shelters do not euthanize healthy, adoptable pets (although they may euthanize sick pets or those whose mental conditions deteriorate so much that they are no longer safely adoptable), but are limited admission: they take pets only when they have the kennel space to accommodate additional animals. The no-kill shelters in Philadelphia pull animals from ACCT and do not accept strays or owner surrenders.