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Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS) is a no kill animal services agency in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, which has Canada's largest cat sanctuary. ==History== In 1989, Carol Reichert〔 founded the Richmond Animal Protection Society (then Richmond Homeless Cats), the first organization in the Richmond area helping feral cats.〔 At the time, feral cats were quickly killed upon entering local animal control pounds,〔 which Reichert was horrified to learn.〔 Volunteers started to do trap-neuter-return of feral cats, including fostering and taming feral kittens, and fostering tame cats for adoption.〔 There were soon 43 feeding stations for feral cats tended each day in Richmond and south Vancouver.〔 In 1999, space was donated for a shelter,〔 which became the location of a cat sanctuary.〔 To try to reduce the number of homeless pets, the organization subsidized spay/neuter surgery for low-income pet owners, helped people recover lost pets, and offered solutions to behavioural problems.〔 Determined to end needless euthanasia of animals, the organization bid on the municipal animal shelter contract in 2006.〔 On February 1, 2007, RAPS took over operation of the City of Richmond animal shelter and implemented a no-kill policy for the animals regardless of age, medical needs or adoptability.〔 The organization reports on its website that the "implementation of our no-kill philosophy has been very successful and we are finding safe and loving homes for hundreds of shelter animals."〔 RAPS reported a 95% save rate in 2011.〔 The same year, Reichert said, "We’ve proved that you can operate without killing. It’s twice the work for us, but it can be done, and it’s very rewarding to operate that way.”〔 By early 2012, in five years of running the municipal shelter, RAPS had "handled more than 2,000 dogs, 1,800 cats, 300 rabbits, 50 farm animals, 350 small animals (like birds, reptiles and ferrets) and temporarily housed 1,500 injured wildlife."〔 "Wildlife such as skunks, raccoons and birds are cared for by RAPS staff and transferred as soon as possible to wildlife rescue."〔 Reichert retired in April 2014 after 25 years of service.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Richmond Animal Protection Society」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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