A
humane society may be a group that aims to stop human or animal
suffering due to
cruelty or other reasons, although in many countries it is now used mostly for societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals (
SPCAs). In the
United Kingdom it may also be a society that provides a waterways rescue, prevention and recovery service, or that gives awards for the saving of human life.
National organizations primarily work on "big picture" approach including research, public education and assisting local shelters and rescue groups. Local groups primarily handle the actual care (housing, adoption, and euthanasia) of animals, but their programs may also include education and outreach to the public.
There are municipal and private run shelters. Not all local groups euthanize. Municipal shelters "must" accept all animals given up by the public, but private shelters are not required to do so, though some have a contract with their municipality that requires they do.
Some shelters are referred to as "no kill." This is most commonly defined as a shelter in which animals are only euthanized when they are deemed unadoptable either because they suffer from an untreatable medical condition, or have behavior problems that cannot be resolved.
