Foster
Temporary homes create additional lifesaving capacity.
Florida No-Kill Proclamation
Save Florida's pets.Help Florida go No-Kill.
Healthy and treatable shelter pets deserve the opportunity to leave our shelters alive. Join Floridians in respectfully encouraging Governor Ron DeSantis to consider a statewide proclamation supporting communities working toward No-Kill.
Stand with Florida's pets and encourage the next step in our state's animal-welfare leadership.
A Florida tradition
Building on Florida's commitment to animal welfare
Florida has already demonstrated a meaningful commitment to companion animals through strong anti-cruelty protections, humane shelter standards, protections involving pets in domestic violence situations, and protections for companion animals during state-mandated emergency evacuations.
Florida has already shown that protecting animals matters. A statewide No-Kill proclamation would provide an opportunity to build upon that record by encouraging communities across Florida to continue pursuing lifesaving solutions.
Let's encourage Florida to keep leading.
What No-Kill means
Saving every healthy and treatable pet we can.
A No-Kill community is widely recognized as one that saves 90% or more of the dogs and cats entering its shelters, the benchmark used by Best Friends Animal Society.
No-Kill does not mean eliminating humane euthanasia in every circumstance. It means building a community committed to saving every healthy and treatable companion animal who can be saved.
No-Kill also does not mean turning animals away. Shelters can remain open admission while working toward the benchmark.
90%+
No-Kill lifesaving benchmark
The save rate widely recognized as the standard for a No-Kill community.
Up to 10%
Recognizes circumstances involving severe, irreversible medical conditions or behavioral challenges where humane euthanasia may be the only humane outcome.
The opportunity
A simple, voluntary step forward.
We are respectfully encouraging Governor Ron DeSantis to consider issuing the proposed statewide proclamation recognizing and supporting Florida's movement toward the 90% No-Kill lifesaving benchmark.
No State Mandate
The proclamation establishes an aspirational statewide goal without imposing requirements on local governments.
No Required State Appropriation
The proclamation itself requires no new state funding or taxpayer-funded program.
No Required County or Municipal Action
Local governments retain discretion over whether and how to pursue the 90% benchmark.
Preserves Local Control
Communities determine which strategies and partnerships best meet their individual needs.
Supports Private & Nonprofit Partnerships
Shelters, rescues, foster networks, veterinarians, volunteers, and private organizations can work collaboratively.
A Clear, Measurable Goal
The 90% save-rate benchmark provides communities with a clear objective while recognizing that humane euthanasia remains necessary in appropriate circumstances.
Community power
Lifesaving happens locally.
Lasting progress comes through cooperation among shelters, rescue organizations, foster families, veterinarians, volunteers, nonprofits, adopters, and community leaders.
The Governor provides encouragement and statewide vision. Floridians and their communities do the lifesaving.
Adopt
Connecting pets with permanent families saves lives.
Partner
Public-private and nonprofit partnerships expand local capacity.
Volunteer
Everyday Floridians can make lifesaving possible in their own communities.
Momentum
Florida would not be alone.
Similar lifesaving declarations have already been embraced in states and communities across the country, and Florida communities have independently pursued No-Kill lifesaving standards of their own.
- 13 Florida Counties
- have pursued or committed to related lifesaving standards or policies.
- 90%
- is the widely recognized No-Kill lifesaving benchmark.
Every one of them counts
The faces behind the numbers
Every statistic represents a dog or cat waiting for another chance.
The petition
Add your name for Florida's pets
Join fellow Floridians in respectfully encouraging Governor Ron DeSantis to consider a statewide proclamation supporting Florida's continued progress toward becoming a No-Kill state.
Petition language
To Governor Ron DeSantis:
As a Florida resident, I respectfully encourage you to consider the Florida No-Kill Proclamation.
Florida has already demonstrated meaningful leadership in protecting companion animals. This voluntary proclamation would build upon that record by recognizing and encouraging local shelters, rescues, volunteers, veterinarians, nonprofits, and community partners working toward the 90% No-Kill lifesaving benchmark.
The 90% benchmark recognizes that some animals entering shelters may suffer from severe, irreversible medical conditions or behavioral circumstances where humane euthanasia is necessary, while establishing the goal of saving every healthy and treatable companion animal who can be saved.
Thank you for your continued leadership on behalf of Florida's animals and for considering this positive, community-driven next step.
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A stronger Florida for people and pets.
Every animal saved represents another life given a chance and another Florida community choosing compassion.
Florida's record on animal welfare is strong.
Let's encourage the next step toward No-Kill.
Read the documents
Download the full initiative materials to learn more or share with your community.