Thank you to everyone who has already signed and shared this petition. Some people have asked for more details about what reform at ACCT Philly should look like. Below is the full reform plan. There is a word limitation and could not post originally. I am posting the full petition in this update.

Full Reform Plan: Detailed Policy Demands for ACCT Philly

🐾 Stop the Killing of Healthy Animals at ACCT Philly: Demand No-Kill and Transparency

Every single day, healthy and loving dogs and cats are euthanized at ACCT Philly — Philadelphia’s only open-intake animal shelter.

These animals are not suffering. They are not dangerous. They are friendly, treatable, and adoptable. Yet they lose their lives because of 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 remain silent, the killing will continue. Rescue groups will stay overwhelmed, the public will stay shut out, and animals with names and personalities will keep dying. But together, we can break this cycle and build a No-Kill Philadelphia — one that values life, promotes rescue, and operates with transparency and accountability.

Now is the time. More advocates, volunteers, and animal lovers are speaking out. We need a humane, community-supported reform plan for ACCT Philly — 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 at least five licensed rescues, fosters, or adoption organizations prior to any euthanasia decision.

At least three of these must be new 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, methods 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 before euthanasia.

Publish monthly public euthanasia reports, including reasons and documentation.

Provide accurate reporting with no exclusions, including Live Release Rate (LRR) calculations both with and without euthanasia cases.

Post detailed logs of euthanasia reasons (e.g., illness, aggression, owner-requested).

Require 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 known medical and behavioral history to support successful placement.

🤝 Support for Pet Owners in Crisis

Expand city-funded access to:

Low-cost veterinary services

Emergency pet housing

Pet food assistance

Reduce unnecessary surrenders caused by economic hardship or housing insecurity.

Add neighborhood-based pet resource hubs offering short-term foster options and emergency support.

✂️ Enforce Spay/Neuter Laws

Fully enforce 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.

🩺 The 2022 ASV Guidelines Make Clear

The 2022 Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters, published by the Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV), establish a national standard for how shelters must treat animals and serve their communities. They emphasize compassion, responsibility, and transparency.

Here’s what they make clear:

Population control is not a reason to kill.
Euthanasia should never be used just to make space. Every animal deserves a fair chance at life.

Shelters must operate within their limits — or provide alternatives.
If a shelter reaches its capacity for humane care, it must look for solutions like fostering, community help, or diversion — not overcrowding or unnecessary euthanasia.

Behavioral fairness, enrichment, and honesty are essential.
Animals must be treated as individuals. They deserve support, enrichment, and fair evaluations — not punishment for fear or stress.

Communities must be part of the solution — not ignored.
Shelters should partner with the public through outreach, resources, and support. Helping people helps animals.

By following these principles, shelters can save more lives, better serve their communities, and uphold the highest standards of humane care.

🔄 Additional Steps to Consider

🤝 Strengthen Community Partnerships

Collaborate with universities to give students hands-on experience while supporting shelter operations.

Pursue grants, fellowships, and partnerships in veterinary science, animal behavior, public health, and social work.

🧑‍⚕️ Support Shelter Staff

Provide mental health resources for staff who carry the emotional weight of this work.

🌟 Closing

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.

Reform must be accompanied by stronger accountability and increased investment. Philadelphia cannot continue to underfund its open-intake shelter while expecting lifesaving results.

🚨 This is urgent. Reform and accountability must happen now — for the animals, for the community, and for the city of Philadelphia.