The Animal Rescue League of Berks County reached no-kill status in 2024, according to Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelters.
Ashley Mikulsky, Animal Rescue League of Berks County chief executive officer, left, receives recognition of the shelter’s no-kill status from Carolyn Fitzgerald, senior strategist with Best Friends Animal Society. (COURTESY OF ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BERKS COUNTY)
The ARL in Cumru Township adopted a no-kill philosophy in 2018, pledging to no longer euthanize treatable or adoptable animals due to kennel space limitations, officials said in a release.
Since then, the organization has undergone a transformative shift in operations, prioritizing lifesaving outcomes, transparency and progressive animal sheltering practices, they said.
“This recognition has been a long time coming,” Ashley Mikulsky, chief executive officer of the shelter at 58 Kennel Road, said of the recent acknowledgement. “Since transitioning to a no-kill operational model in 2018, every decision we’ve made — from how we manage intakes to how we invest in medical care and professional development — has been guided by our commitment to saving more lives.”
Best Friends, which has the most comprehensive and accurate national animal welfare statistics database in the industry, says that 2 out of 3 of shelters across the country were no-kill in 2024, compared to just 22.4% in 2016.
Shelters receiving the no-kill recognition award saved more than 90% of the dogs and cats in their care in calendar year 2024, officials said.
“Best Friends Animal Society is honored to recognize ARL Berks County in achieving no-kill,” said Carolyn Fitzgerald, senior strategist. “The leadership, staff, volunteers and board members made this possible through hard work and collaboration. This partnership has helped strengthen lifesaving in the Berks County and central Pennsylvania region.”
Mikulsky said it is validating for the ARL to be officially recognized as a no-kill shelter.
“It affirms the years of hard work, innovation, and compassion that our team, volunteers, and community have poured into building a lifesaving organization that sets a new standard of excellence in animal welfare.”
For more information about the ARL, go to berksarl.org.