Congratulations San Diego!!!!

On July 1st, 2015, San Diego County announced that all healthy or treatable animals in shelters, humane societies and other groups that take in animals, will not be euthanize'd, reports Fox5SanDiego.

San Diego Humane Society President & CEO, Dr. Gary Weitzman announced the news on Wednesday morning in the courtyard of the San Diego County Animal Services. 

In February, the Humane Society entered into an agreement with Rancho Coastal Humane Society, the county's Department of Animal Services, Friends of Cats, and city shelters in Chula Vista, Coronado, and El Cajon.

“We opened a behavior center here at the Humane Society. If we have animals with behavior issues they can go there and not be euthanize'd," stated Weitzman. "

"We have to be working constantly to transfer animals from one organization to another to get them to safety and to get them the care that they need, and we also need the public support to adopt and foster," he added.

In honor of the achievement, Wednesday was hailed as "Save A Pet Day." Supervisor Ron Roberts stated San Diego County is the first in the country to say they will not euthanize adoptable pets. 

The project labeled "getting to zero" began in 2012 and had aspirations of completing the plans by 2020. Now it is up to the entire county to help keep the zero euthanasia rate with volunteers willing to foster and adopt pets brought into shelters.

According to the SanDiegoUnionTribune, the coalition takes in about 45,000 animals a year. The term “un-treatable” covers specific, serious medical issues with animals. 

The Helen Woodward Animal Center in Rancho Santa Fe and the National Cat Protection Society in Spring Valley are not included, but already instituted similar policies.

The coalition offers free and subsidized spaying and neutering. In 2009, the Humane Society implemented a 24-hour kitten nursery, which has found homes for 10,000 cats.