Animal Shelters
Animal Shelters are places were unwanted, stray or abandoned animals find a home, albeit a temporary one, and are cared for for a time. Usually until a better home can be found. If it is impossible to place an animal for adoption, in most cases the animal unfortunately has to be euthanized. Many Shelters do have a No-Kill policy, but in these cases they usually limit their intake.
Caring for animals is an expensive business. It also requires a great deal of time, space, and involvement, and these things are not always available for every animal.
Many Animal Shelters are usually privately funded and can do with all the help they can get from the local community. If there is an Animal Shelter in your area, you can consider making a donation or, if they allow it, volunteering your time.
Running an Animal Shelter
Animal Shelters are required to adhere to the health policies in their particular community. Many times though, economic constraints make it difficult for a Shelter to operate on a hygienically desirable level. Here is where local volunteering can come in handy. You can pitch in and try to provide the animals with the best care possible.
Adoptions
There is usually a specific amount of holding period, which varies from Shelter to Shelter, during which the found animal is advertised locally for a lost owner to come reclaim it or for a new owner to come offer it a home. The adoption option is offered, of course, after the concerned animal has been evaluated for good health and behavior. The Animal Shelter workers also try to ensure that it is well-matched to the prospective new owner and that the latter can guarantee a responsible and permanent home.
Many Animal Shelters charge a fee for adoption. This amount generally covers the cost of caring for the animal, any medical treatment it required, its vaccinations and spaying or neutering cost.
However, there are also another reasons for charging an adoption fee. Firstly, if you have a problem with paying the adoption fee, you may not be economically qualified to take care of the expenses involved in looking after a pet; cats and dogs require a lot of upkeep and have long lives. Secondly, quite a few people equate their pet's worth by the amount of money they paid to acquire it – the more the money, the better the pet's chances of being well-looked after and not abandoned.
Statistics
Every year more than 6 million cats and dogs are taken in by Animal Shelters and more than half of these have to be eventually euthanized. It is not practically possible to find good, responsible homes for all these animals.
Quite a few of these animals are stray and quite a few have been abandoned by their owners for various reasons. A lot of times people buy pets without knowing the first thing about pet care and training, and when the adorable puppy grows into a large dog, hard to control and a drain on the bank, it is usually cast out. Pets with serious medical conditions also find themselves without a home. Some people have pretty cut and dry economic minds and, even if they can afford it, will shirk from splurging on a $500 treatment for a $250 animal. These hard-hearted individuals would rather rid themselves of their ill pet and get themselves a new one.
Spaying and Neutering
There are enough unwanted cats and dogs around, and so there is little point in bringing more in the world to face the same abandonment. So unless you're sure of finding good homes for all your puppies and kittens, it is advisable to not breed your pets, better yet to get them spayed or neutered.
Most Animal Shelters follow a strict policy of neutering and spaying the animals that come into their charge.
Euthanasia
Animal Shelters are usually run by people who really like animals and so euthanasia, especially if the animal is young and healthy and friendly, is a very difficult decision to make. It becomes necessary though when the Animal Shelter does not have sufficient funds or man-power to look after all the animals that are brought into the Shelter.
There are some fine animals that, unless adopted, have to be sadly put down. If you are looking to add a pet to your family, please do consider adopting one from your local Animal Shelter. You will have saved a life and got yourself an excellent companion.
Caring for animals is an expensive business. It also requires a great deal of time, space, and involvement, and these things are not always available for every animal.
Many Animal Shelters are usually privately funded and can do with all the help they can get from the local community. If there is an Animal Shelter in your area, you can consider making a donation or, if they allow it, volunteering your time.
Running an Animal Shelter
Animal Shelters are required to adhere to the health policies in their particular community. Many times though, economic constraints make it difficult for a Shelter to operate on a hygienically desirable level. Here is where local volunteering can come in handy. You can pitch in and try to provide the animals with the best care possible.
Adoptions
There is usually a specific amount of holding period, which varies from Shelter to Shelter, during which the found animal is advertised locally for a lost owner to come reclaim it or for a new owner to come offer it a home. The adoption option is offered, of course, after the concerned animal has been evaluated for good health and behavior. The Animal Shelter workers also try to ensure that it is well-matched to the prospective new owner and that the latter can guarantee a responsible and permanent home.
Many Animal Shelters charge a fee for adoption. This amount generally covers the cost of caring for the animal, any medical treatment it required, its vaccinations and spaying or neutering cost.
However, there are also another reasons for charging an adoption fee. Firstly, if you have a problem with paying the adoption fee, you may not be economically qualified to take care of the expenses involved in looking after a pet; cats and dogs require a lot of upkeep and have long lives. Secondly, quite a few people equate their pet's worth by the amount of money they paid to acquire it – the more the money, the better the pet's chances of being well-looked after and not abandoned.
Statistics
Every year more than 6 million cats and dogs are taken in by Animal Shelters and more than half of these have to be eventually euthanized. It is not practically possible to find good, responsible homes for all these animals.
Quite a few of these animals are stray and quite a few have been abandoned by their owners for various reasons. A lot of times people buy pets without knowing the first thing about pet care and training, and when the adorable puppy grows into a large dog, hard to control and a drain on the bank, it is usually cast out. Pets with serious medical conditions also find themselves without a home. Some people have pretty cut and dry economic minds and, even if they can afford it, will shirk from splurging on a $500 treatment for a $250 animal. These hard-hearted individuals would rather rid themselves of their ill pet and get themselves a new one.
Spaying and Neutering
There are enough unwanted cats and dogs around, and so there is little point in bringing more in the world to face the same abandonment. So unless you're sure of finding good homes for all your puppies and kittens, it is advisable to not breed your pets, better yet to get them spayed or neutered.
Most Animal Shelters follow a strict policy of neutering and spaying the animals that come into their charge.
Euthanasia
Animal Shelters are usually run by people who really like animals and so euthanasia, especially if the animal is young and healthy and friendly, is a very difficult decision to make. It becomes necessary though when the Animal Shelter does not have sufficient funds or man-power to look after all the animals that are brought into the Shelter.
There are some fine animals that, unless adopted, have to be sadly put down. If you are looking to add a pet to your family, please do consider adopting one from your local Animal Shelter. You will have saved a life and got yourself an excellent companion.
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