Shelter Stats

It is estimated that there are over 300,000 homeless pets across America in about 13,000 animal shelters, and the numbers keep rising. With a little investigation, you can find information about why and what kinds of animals are relinquished, return-to-owner ratios, euthanasia rates, and so on. These numbers can encourage you to focus on shelter programs, education, and heighten your awareness of the number of animals who need homes.

A lot of animals in shelters are not only due to being homeless on the streets. Sometimes a family is forced into a move and can’t take their pets with them, someone passes on, or the poor state of the economy forces people to leave their pets to fend for themselves.

Even if we do our part, and adopt a pet from a shelter, there are still so many pets out there that need homes. We can’t guarantee that dogs and cats will not be left homeless, and therefore add to these statistics. However, there are a number of ways in which you can help out and decrease the number of animals in shelters.

No matter what your time constraints are, you can find a way to lend a hand at a shelter that fits your schedule, skills, and interests. Find an animal shelter convenient to you, and realistically identify the amount of time you can offer. You can also donate time, money, food, and other pet supplies to a nearby shelter, not to mention, adopt one of these worthy residents and give them a well-deserved home. Other ways of helping are fundraising efforts and/or fostering pets until they can get a good permanent home.

Call and speak with someone at a nearby animal shelter and ask what kind of help they can use, making sure you relate any skills you have that might be beneficial. Find out what the expected time commitment is for the tasks that interest you. Visit the shelter so you can see the animals and talk with other volunteers or workers in the facility. Once you commit to helping out, schedule a time for any preliminary training. Even if you can’t volunteer onsite at a shelter, there are a number of complimentary tasks that you can perform at other locations, or even at your home.

Simple fundraisers can be effective without a lot of work. Ask community businesses or schools if you can set up a way to collect blankets, pet food, coupons, and other items that can benefit the shelter. Help pets find homes by locating a pet store that has animals up for adoption. At the pet store, provide literature about shelters along with the process for pet adoption. Refer friends who are looking for a pet to consider adopting from shelters. Online databases of animals allow you to search for your next pet based on animal type, breed, size, gender, and location.

When you adopt an animal from a shelter, you are saving lives, and these animals are released as healthy, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered pets, all very important to rescuing and raising a healthy, happy, and loving pet.

Tags: humane society, Pet Stores, Rescue, shelters