The city-run animal shelter in Twentynine Palms will soon be classified as a “no-kill” shelter. That’s the intention of Rick Boyd, City of Twentynine Palms Animal Control Manager, who is relying on partnerships with nearby organizations to significantly reduce the number of animals put down at the City’s Palms and Paws Animal Shelter.
Boyd was the guest on last Friday’s (January 24) Z107.7 Up Close Show, where he discussed the new classification for the shelter.
Rick Boyd: “We have a partnership with the San Diego Humane Society and we are trying to go forward with a no-kill shelter and they’re going to help us get there. We need these partnerships to help us get there.
Palms and Paws is aiming for (the goal of) 90% of all pets coming in and leaving our shelter to rescues and to homes. We found homes or rescue placements for 100 more pets than we did last year.
Our adoptions are way up. We ended 2024 with a 63% live-rate. It sounds small, but it’s really significant. Our live-rate in a lot of shelters is somewhere in the 30%. 68% is phenomenal and we’re moving forward with that.”
Daigneault asked Boyd to explain the 90% adoption rate, and inquired as to the other 10%.
Boyd said, “We accept everything. So we get (animals) hit by cars, we get vicious (animals), we get the abused and we get the neglected.
Say we had a vicious dog… we can’t adopt it out. Can we keep it at the shelter forever? We can, but then what’s the quality of life for that animal?
And these animals would be taking the place of other ones that are very adoptable. So it allows us that little wiggle room. A “No Kill Shelter” is any life rate over 90%, that’s the definition. And we’re trying to get there. I think we can get there.”
You can listen to the full interview here:
