Animal Shelters, Animal Rescue Centers, Dogs and Cats

Americans love dogs and cats. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 39% of all U.S. households have at least one dog, and 33% have at least one cat. 19% of those dogs and 22% of those cats were adopted from an animal shelter, thus it’s clear that Americans support the idea of animal shelters and the services they provide. So why don’t Americans provide more financial and other support for shelters?

Many argue that the current state of the economy in the United States has caused the decline in contributions. Yet that same factor has caused a dramatic increase in the number of pets being left at animal shelters because their owners can longer afford the cost of feeding them and obtaining the veterinarian care they need.

Animal shelters provide at least temporary homes for dogs and cats across the country. And in recent years, more and more “no kill" shelters have sprung up all around the United States, dedicated to the premise that cats and dogs that are not adopted should continue receiving shelter in a safe and loving environment instead of being euthanized.

Some shelters may go even further, actively working to housebreak dogs and striving to ensure that the dogs and cats they house will interact safely with humans, particularly children. In fact, in some rescue organizations, kittens and puppies are given to children to play with on a daily basis. Some shelters also periodically conduct adoption workshops to try to match their dogs and cats to the right homes.

Most animal shelters have an “open door" policy and will accept any cat or dog that ends up at their door. They operate on a non-judgmental basis, not categorizing their animals as “good or bad". Animal rescue facilities, on the other hand, sometimes concentrate on only one specific breed, devoting their resources to finding safe homes for them, and caring for them until they are able to accomplish that.

Because the current economy has resulted in more dogs and cats being left at shelters and has also resulted in fewer persons with the finances they need to allow them to take on the additional burden of a pet, animal shelters and rescue centers are in dire need of donations. It costs a great deal to house and feed these animals. It also costs a great deal to provide them with the veterinary care many of them require. It also requires lots of time to provide the care they need.  Thus people who love animals and can afford to do so should give to their local shelter or rescue center. Those who cannot afford to give money should consider donating their time by volunteering to help with the many tasks associated with such facilities.