Every day, healthy, loving dogs and cats at ACCT Philly — Philadelphia’s only open-intake animal shelter — are euthanized. These animals are not suffering or dangerous. They are friendly, treatable, and adoptable, but they are still losing their lives due to lack of space, time limits, or internal shelter decisions made behind closed doors. These are pets with names, personalities, and potential. Their lives matter.

If we stay silent, this cycle will continue. Treatable animals will keep dying, rescue groups will stay overwhelmed, and the community will be shut out of the process. But if we take action now, we can change this broken system. We can make Philadelphia a No-Kill City — one that values life, promotes rescue, and operates with transparency and accountability.

Now is the time. More advocates, volunteers, and animal lovers are raising their voices. We need a humane, community-supported reform plan for ACCT Philly, and we need it now — before another adoptable dog or cat is needlessly killed. Sign and share this petition to demand real change.

We Demand:

🐶 A No-Kill Policy at ACCT Philly

• End euthanasia of healthy or treatable animals due to space, minor behavior concerns, or time constraints.
• Reserve euthanasia only for cases of untreatable suffering or unrehabilitable aggression.
• No euthanasia without review panel approval.

📢 Mandatory Rehoming Efforts Before Euthanasia

• Require documented outreach to a minimum of five licensed rescues, fosters, or adoption organizations prior to any euthanasia decision. At least three of these must be organizations not previously contacted for the same animal within the past seven days.

• All outreach attempts must be:

  Time-stamped and recorded, including names of organizations, method of contact, and responses received.
  Publicly reportable upon request, ensuring transparency and independent review.

• Require public listing of animals on adoption sites, ACCT Philly’s website, and social media prior to euthanasia.

📜 Paper Trail & Transparency

• Implement a “Rehoming Attempt Documentation Form” detailing all outreach attempts before euthanasia.
• Require ACCT Philly to publish monthly public euthanasia reports, including reasons and documentation.
• Accurate and transparent reporting with no exclusions. LRR calculations including and excluding all euthanasia categories.
  Euthanasia reason logs (e.g., illness, aggression, owner-requested).
• Public posting of all intake and outcome records

📏 Owner Responsibility During Surrender

• Except in emergencies, require pet owners to first attempt rehoming and provide a written explanation of surrender.
• Mandate full disclosure of pets’ known medical and behavioral history to support successful placement.

🤝 Support for Pet Owners in Crisis

• Expand city-funded low-cost veterinary services, emergency housing, and pet food programs.
• Reduce unnecessary surrenders caused by economic hardship and housing insecurity.

✂️ Enforce Spay/Neuter Laws

• Ensure full enforcement of Philadelphia's sterilization ordinances.
• Provide free or affordable access to spay/neuter services citywide.

🏢 Expand Shelter Capacity

• Invest in expanded shelter space through renovations, new facilities, or partnerships with satellite rescues.
• No animal should lose their life due to lack of kennel space.
  Require development of a long-term facilities plan for sustainable and humane operations.

🔍 Independent Annual Shelter Audits

• Require ACCT Philly to undergo third-party annual audits of its euthanasia practices, operations, and care standards to ensure accountability and reform.
   
  Why This Matters:

Every animal deserves a fair chance at life. Healthy and treatable dogs and cats are being euthanized at ACCT Philly — not because there are no options, but because the system is broken.

It’s time for Philadelphia to become a No-Kill City. One that leads with compassion, innovation, and transparency. One that prioritizes rehoming over killing, and support over surrender.

We, the people, demand immediate reform and accountability at ACCT Philly. The animals — and our community — deserve nothing less.