The Sandy City Council is currently deciding whether Sandy will become a “no-kill” city for animals. A great deal of time and effort has been spent in considering this change, and major no-kill advocate groups, such as the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter and Best Friends Animal Society, have offered their assistance with budget information and resources.

Both organizations have appeared at City Council meetings to express their views and help educate the Council and city administration on the philosophy and all that it entails.

Several Sandy residents have also taken advantage of the public comment portion of the weekly City Council meetings to have their voices heard and show their support for this transition. While the Council is still divided on the issue, the residents who have appeared have shown incredible passion in pleading with them to make Sandy a safe place for animals.

While the term “no-kill” has become fairly common, many are still unfamiliar with what it actually means.

The no-kill philosophy eliminates the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable animals. It promotes adoption, spaying/neutering and the humane treatment of all animals. Euthanasia is only used as a means of mercy or to put down an animal that endangers the health, safety or welfare of any resident. The major change that would be implemented is that no animal would be euthanized due to a lack of space or funds. 

The shelters would look to residents to foster and/or adopt animals, since keeping animals out of shelters is one of the main goals. 

Many residents have raised questions about several areas that have problems with feral cats. If transitioned to a no-kill city, Sandy animal services would trap the cats in order to neuter them as a method of population control, and then release them back into the area in which they were found as they are not considered adoptable. 

The transition would mean significant budget changes and possibly even a change in the services offered by the Sandy Animal Shelter, and the options are being carefully weighed before a final decision by the Council is reached.