Shelters improve the overall health and well-being of companion animals in the communities they serve. By ensuring that all sheltered animals receive optimal veterinary care and are referred to a private veterinary clinic once adopted, shelters make sure that overall populations are healthier and that the spread of disease is slowed significantly.
Full Answer
What is the purpose of animal shelters?
Usually they are facilities funded by city or county agencies. What most people do not understand is that originally, the only purpose for animal shelters was to protect humans from loose, dangerous, sick animals, not care for them.
Why do animal shelters spay and neuter?
To help cut down on the number of unwanted strays, animal shelters have strict policies on spaying and neutering pets for any potential owners. Most animals surrendered to animal shelters are adults.
What does animal welfare do to end animal abuse?
In addition to the many programs and policies developed to improve standards of care and wellbeing for animals, animal welfare proponents also work to end animal abuse.
How do animal shelters help create best friends?
Shelters Help Create Best Friends – Many human-animal love connections have been developed thanks to animal shelters and rescue groups. Lifelong best friends have been established through the low-cost adoption of animals just waiting for a loving family to adopt them.
What is the importance of animal shelters?
Why Are Animal Shelters Important? They provide animals with food, water, and medical care; protection from the elements; relief from suffering; and a caring human presence.
What problems do animal shelters face?
Common problems include cruel killing methods, dirty conditions, lack of veterinary care, lack of adequate food and water, poor record-keeping that results in animals being “accidentally” destroyed, lack of spay/neuter requirements or programs, pound seizure policies, inadequate screening procedures for adoption ...
Why are overcrowded animal shelters a problem?
A primary factor that plays into pet overpopulation is allowing cats and dogs to reproduce with little chance of finding homes for their offspring. Another issue is when owners relinquish their pets because they either no longer want them or can care for them.
What is the purpose of the American Humane Association?
Founded in 1877 as the country's first national humane organization, American Humane is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals.
What do animal shelters need most?
Top 10 Things Animal Shelters Use The MostDog Food. The CCSPCA houses anywhere from 250 to 500+ animals a day. ... Cat Food. We need cat food just as much as we need dog food and for the same reasons. ... Cat Litter. ... Chlorine Bleach. ... Food Bowls/Litter Pans. ... Office Supplies: ... Hay/Feed for Horses. ... Dedicated Volunteers.More items...•
What are the cons of animal shelters?
Disadvantages of Animal SheltersAnimal shelters can be expensive.Can alter the behavior of pets.Animals are often treated quite poorly.Bigger incentive for owners to give pets away.Proper regulations are often missing.Animal shelters often rely on volunteers.Euthanizing is quite common in shelters.More items...
How can animal shelters prevent overcrowding?
These animals often end up at shelters, contributing to the pet “overpopulation” issue....What you can do to combat pet overpopulation:If you are adding a pet to your family, make sure the pet comes from a legitimate shelter, nonprofit rescue group or a responsible, humane breeder.Always spay and neuter your pets.More items...•
Why are shelter animals euthanized?
These animals may have been euthanized due to overcrowding, but may also have been sick, aggressive, injured or suffering from something else. 56 percent of dogs and 71 percent of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized.
How does overpopulation of animals affect the environment?
If animal populations continue to grow unchecked, it will result in over-taxing of the resources in the environment. Overpopulated animal species can cause deforestation, soil erosion and even lead to the extinction of certain animal species.
How does the Humane Society of the United States help animals?
We fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Through our rescue, response and sanctuary work, as well as other hands-on animal care services, we help thousands of animals every year. We fight all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind our name: a humane society.
Why is American Humane a good charity?
American Humane rescues thousands of animals caught in disasters and large-scale cruelty cases, and oversees the welfare of animals on farm and ranches, in film and television productions, and in the world's zoos and aquariums.
Why was the humane society created?
The HSUS was founded in 1954 by former members of the American Humane Society, an organization established in 1877 to promote the humane treatment of children and animals.
Why are animal shelters important?
Animal shelters play a vital role in keeping our pets and cities safe, educating the public and providing much needed resources for cities dealing with pet over populations.
Why are animal control officers important?
Animal control officers are tasked with the important job of removing these animals from the streets and transferring them to animal shelters so they don’t pose a danger to society. The Front Line After A Disaster – When natural disasters hit, pet populations are affected too.
When was the first animal shelter opened?
Since the first animal shelter (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) opened in Philadelphia in 1869, animal shelters have spread throughout the country and have helped save countless animals over the last 150 years. Lost Connections Reestablished – Thousands of lost and injured pets are reunited with their owners through animal ...
Is praise enough for animal shelters?
For the most part, this work is done quietly and without a lot of notoriety. Praise isn’t the end goal for animal shelters and their staff. If they can save one more life or place one more animal over what they did the week before, that is praise enough. The absence of an animal shelter or rescue group in a community can put a real strain on ...
Why are no kill shelters not euthanized?
So-called “no-kill” or “turn-away” shelters, which are supported by supposed animal rights activist Nathan Winograd, have the luxury of not euthanizing animals because they turn away needy ones whom they deem unadoptable. Many keep waiting lists, which compromise animals’ safety by leaving them in situations in which they are clearly unwanted.
How long do animals stay in no kill shelters?
Animals who are accepted into no-kill shelters may be warehoused in cages for months, years, or the rest of their lives, becoming more withdrawn, depressed, or aggressive every day—further reducing their chances of adoption. Conditions at some no-kill shelters are criminal.
Why did cats die in California?
In California, a cat was strangled to death by his owners because an animal shelter had a waiting list and a $150 surrender fee. In Michigan, three abandoned dogs were found dead on a dirt road after their owner was turned away by no fewer than three animal shelters.
Do open admission shelters euthanize animals?
To be able to offer refuge to every animal in need, open-admission shelters must euthanize unadopted and unadoptable animals. The alternative—turning them away—is cruel and leaves the animals in grave danger.
Why are shelters important?
Shelters do a great job of helping adopters make decisions that are in the best interest of the pet and the family. 4. Shelters build floodgates to stem the rising tide of unwanted puppies and kittens.
When was the Humane Society of the United States established?
Established by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS)in 1996 , this week has been set aside to pay tribute to the multitude of contributions made by animal shelters in communities all over the country. Most of the work done by our shelters is done quietly and with little or no fanfare.
Do shelters have public education programs?
Many shelters have solid public education programs for kids and adults alike. Like in all other areas of our lives, knowledge is power…the more we know the better equipped we can be to help animals and people in our communities.
Why are animal shelters important?
Animal shelters play a necessary part in state and local animal control policies. They provide animals with the opportunity for a second chance at a home, and most accept both strays and animals relinquished voluntarily by their owners.
Why is it important to adopt through animal shelters?
Another advantage of adopting through animal shelters is the wide availability of animals. Due to the high number of animals accepted, potential owners will likely find a match that suits their preferences.
What are the advantages of adopting animals through shelters?
Another advantage of adopting through animal shelters is the wide availability of animals.
What is the purpose of local animal shelters?
Local animal shelters provide a place to house stray dogs and cats that wander a neighborhood unguarded. Sheltering lowers the instance of animal attacks that would otherwise happen if all strays roamed free, while providing the animals with food and shelter.
How many dogs and cats are in shelters?
These shelters take in an estimated 6 million to 8 million dogs and cats every year. In some of these animal shelters, overcrowding results from taking in too many strays. Overcrowding in animal shelters leads to stressed animals, the spread of disease and animals fighting each other.
Do animal shelters have behavioral tests?
Many animal shelters provide extensive behavioral tests on animals before putting them up for adoption and generally have strict policies to inform potential owners about any destructive behavior.
Do shelters have to be run by volunteers?
Additionally, shelters are staffed primarily by volunteers. While these workers generally have the animals' best interests in mind, the need for shelter workers outnumbers the people willing to volunteer, in some cases.
What is the positive aspect of animal shelters?
A positive aspect of these shelter is that a large percentage of all the animals that come through them are adopted and go to permanent homes, but at the same time they have substantially fewer animals come through them than other types of shelters. The other option for animal placement and adoption is an Animal Rescue.
Why is animal rescue important?
Importance of Animal Rescues. When approaching the topic of animal rescues there are many varying opinions. Some believe they have no use and that the alternative of a high kill shelter is better because desirable pets are chosen and undesirable pets can be put down instead of paying for housing and feeding the animal for however long they would ...
How many dogs are adopted each year?
According to the ASPCA about 7.6 million (3.9 million dogs and 3.4 million cats) “companion pets” enter animal shelters and rescues nationwide every year. Approximately 2.7 million shelter pets are adopted each year, but at the same time another 2.7 million are euthanized. It is estimated that there are 70-80 million dogs (37-47% ...
What is the second type of animal shelter?
The second type of Animal shelter is a limited admission shelter, otherwise known as a low kill shelter. The main difference between an open admission shelter and a limited admission shelter, is that limited admission shelters will not euthanize an animal depending on length of their stay or available cage space.
What are the different types of shelters?
There are three main types of shelters. The first is open admission shelters otherwise known as high-kill shelters. These shelters accept all animals regardless of age, size, health, and behavior. These shelters are the most common shelters and help get the most pets to the most families, but at the same time since the open shelters receive so many ...
How are humane rescues funded?
While they are a great alternative to shelters, these humane rescues are usually very small and are funded mostly by grants and donations. Both Shelters and rescues focus on lowering the number of stray animals on the street and rescues will usually spay or neuter any animal that comes through to help limit the number of strays on ...
Is having a pet good?
Having a pet is a wonderful thing, and even more wonderful if you save a life in the process. If a pet is something you can have in your life, it is an incredible thing to do, so take a step towards saving an animal’s life and in the process you may notice yours will change for the better.
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