The animal advocates pledged to not euthanize any healthy or adoptable animals for population control.

Indianapolis Animal Care and Control takes in 17,000 animals a year and at least half of them are euthanized due to lack of money, space and resources, RTV6’s Kara Kenney reported.

On Monday, IACC euthanized aggressive, sick and injured animals, but shelter officials said they did not euthanize any healthy animals for space reasons.

"Any time we can do anything to not have to euthanize is something that excites the staff around here,” said Adam Garrett, IACC Community Outreach Coordinator. "I think we can show this commitment to the public, and it will help open their eyes to the problems here at the shelter."

The city doesn’t allocate money in IACC's budget for food. Instead, the agency relies almost entirely on food donations from the community to feed unwanted animals.

Garrett credited rescue groups and organizations like the Humane Society for pulling animals out of the city shelter on the no-kill day and other days throughout the year.

"Every animal we can get out of the building alive makes a huge difference," Garrett said.

One unintended consequence for the no-kill day was some people surrendered their animals at the city shelter on Monday, believing their animal would be protected from euthanasia.

However, the shelter will likely begin euthanizing animals for space reasons on Tuesday and beyond.

"We're back to normal tomorrow," said John Aleshire, CEO for the Humane Society of Indianapolis. "As good as (Monday) is, and not having our friends at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control euthanize for space, (Tuesday) they'll be faced with the same issues again.”

Shelter officials said they would likely not have to euthanize more animals than usual on Tuesday, due to the volume of animals rescued by animal advocates.

"The stark reality is, we do have to euthanize just about every day around here," Garrett said.

Move To Act, a no kill advocacy organization, is offering $1,000 and $500 prizes to groups that pull the most animals.

"Let Them Live" is held on June 11 because it is the 11-year anniversary of the first no-kill community which opened in New York.

"Central Indiana can become a no-kill community, and it's a matter of having the support and the resources in place and all of the pieces of the puzzle in place," said Warren Patitz of Move To Act.