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Friday, Nov 13, 2026

Is Manatee County’s Bishop Animal Shelter a kill shelter?

Clinton Engelberger | Suncoast Searchlight, Suncoast Searchlight
no

Manatee County Animal Welfare Bishop Animal Shelter is a no-kill shelter.

The shelter was donated to Manatee County in 2022. Part of the agreement for the donation was that the county maintain a no-kill status for the shelter. The county had already achieved a no-kill status for its system of shelters in 2017.

However, that doesn’t mean Bishop Animal Shelter never euthanizes animals. In order to be classified as a no-kill shelter, it needs to have at least a 90% live release rate, meaning healthy or treatable animals are adopted, returned to their owners or donated to a local animal welfare department instead of euthanized.

When it took over Bishop Animal Shelter in 2022, the county had maintained a 94% save rate. In fiscal year 2026, which ended on Sept. 30, Manatee County estimated it euthanized 375 animals with a 91% save rate.

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