Another reason is the same old reason that AAS has heard for 15 years: 'I don't want to have to take my pet to the SPCA'. But now there are so many more alternative groups, like no-kill Katie's Place, which people do trust not to kill their pet. It seems from the SPCA's figures, that, as much as the SPCA's p.r. has been ramped up, much of the pet-surrendering public still doesn't trust it.
Many of these groups take old, very young, and sick animals from SPCAs under the implied threat that the animal will be killed if they don't. The $20 million plus SPCA off-loads animals and expenses onto these little groups, saving it a lot of money and making its kill stats look better. (See below: 'Second chances for cats, company for seniors') How often do you read of the SPCA acknowledging that? Not to give other groups credit when it is clearly due, is not honest in my opinion.