Shelter worker sheds light on realities of kill shelters in Hawaii

Ellie Chavez Pickard, a caregiver at the Hawaiian Humane Society, highlights the realities of "kill shelters" in a recent TikTok video. She emphasizes that staff work hard to care for animals, often facing the difficult decision of euthanasia due to severe health issues, not space. In 2023, U.S. animal intakes rose to 6.5 million, with 850,000 animals euthanized, a 15% increase from 2022. Open-admission shelters like hers accept all animals, including those with serious problems, unlike limited admission shelters. Pickard stresses the importance of community support in addressing the shelter crisis. She encourages spaying and neutering pets and adopting animals, aiming to foster empathy for both the animals and the caregivers who support them.