Every life counts at DRBC. The animals we save are more than statistics; each one has a name and a story. They matter.
Here’s how we’re doing in 2025:
*Data reflects info collected through July 2025.
Looking for more data?
DRBC participates in the Shelter Animals Count project, a national database for shelter statistics, as part of our commitment to transparency. There you can look at our most current information and look back at DRBC over the past years.
Is DRBC “no-kill”?
While we could call ourselves “no-kill” based on our statistics, we have chosen not to as we consider this label misleading and divisive. Many rescues and shelters, especially in under-resourced areas, are demonized as “kill organizations” simply because they lack the space, time, proper laws, access to veterinary care and community support to care for all the animals that come to them. We think this does a huge disservice to the cause of animal welfare and further punishes groups that are already struggling.
Animal rescues and shelters that use this label often have the luxury of being able to turn away animals they deem unadoptable, thereby lessening the chances they’ll need to make those tough choices. “No-kill” doesn’t necessarily mean the shelter or rescue organization never euthanizes. Some call themselves “no-kill” yet euthanize an animal if it is suffering or when his/her behavior is too dangerous.
Here at DRBC, we look to our Medical Team for guidance. Our rescue is about quality of life. We do euthanize animals each year, but only because they have reached a point in life where there is suffering and it would be inhumane for them to continue in pain or suffer through a non-recoverable disease. We refer to it as our final gift of love.
