Did You Know? Interesting Facts About Animal Shelters

Millions of animals each year make their way through the doors of America's animal shelters. We've all heard the messages "spay and neuter your pet," and that we should "make sure your pet is wearing some form of identification," but what about the messages you don't hear?

The Atlanta Humane Society and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), one of the oldest humane organizations in the country, talked with the directors of several animal agencies across the country and gathered a few interesting facts about animal shelters.

1. There is no national parent organization that oversees animal shelters.

Your local "Humane Society" or "SPCA" operates independently and is not a chapter or branch of a national organization. The words "Humane Society" and "SPCA" are used just as you would use the word "library." There are many libraries around the country, but they are not necessarily affiliated with one another.

2. Even if every person in America adopted a pet today, there would still be thousands of animals without a home.

Look on the Internet and you'll find numerous shelters advertising pets for adoption. "Homeless animals outnumber homeless people at least 5-to-1," says Bill Garrett, Executive Director of the Atlanta Humane Society and 28-year veteran of the humane organization. New shelters are being built and existing shelters are expanding to make room for these animals, but the proliferation of animal shelters is merely a symptom of a much larger problem shelters face. "A shelter is a box and the problem is outside the box," says Garrett. "Until people take responsibility for their animals by spaying, neutering and putting identification on their pets, there will always be a need for animal shelters."

Rick Collord, Executive Director of the Southwest Washington Humane Society in Vancouver, Wash., says he has seen instances where more than 9,000 cats entered a shelter in a year, but only 140 of those cats were reclaimed by the owners. Collord, who has been involved with eight different animal shelters since the early 1970s says, "The number one reason these cats weren't reclaimed is because the owners did not put a tag or any other type of identification on them."

3. Humane organizations are limited by law when handling animal cruelty cases.

In situations where an animal has been mistreated, humane agencies are required to follow state or local laws and contact the proper authorities to handle the case. Failure to follow proper procedures can damage the case against the animal abuser, resulting in little or no punishment for the crime. In many cities, the police have more authority to remove an animal from an abusive environment than animal control or humane agencies. "We operate within the law and try to do our best to protect the animals," says Patty Mercer, Executive Director of the Houston SPCA, "but we cannot make someone love animals." She stresses that education is the key to preventing animal abuse.

4. Finding qualified staff to work in animal shelters is a big challenge for shelter managers.

Long hours, limited resources and low wages are some of the reasons for high staff turnover in many shelters. The people who work in these shelters see the good, the bad and the ugly, but many say the strength gained by helping those who cannot help themselves is immeasurable. "We see far more happy endings than people realize," says Bob Rohde, President of the Dumb Friends League based in Denver, Colo., the largest humane society in the Rocky Mountain region. In the last 25 years, Rohde has seen a marked change in the way people see animal shelters. "They want to help us to save a life. That's why they come to us," he says.

5. Adult animals often make better pets than puppies or kittens.

They're cute and cuddly, so it's no surprise that puppies and kittens in shelters often find new homes sooner than the adult animals. But for those who work away from home most of the day, a new puppy or kitten could require more time and effort than you are able to give. Puppies and kittens need to be properly socialized with people and other animals to prevent them from becoming fearful or aggressive as adults. Housebreaking a puppy can be equally frustrating for the dog as well as the owner if done improperly or without consistency.

There are thousands of adult animals in shelters waiting for someone to give them a chance. Adult pets can bond with a family just a quickly as a young pet and many are already housebroken and socialized. For those unable to spend the time raising a puppy or kitten, an older pet may be the best option. You would not only be opening your home to an animal that needed one, but you'd also be opening your heart to an animal that would otherwise be passed over for the cute and cuddly.

Your local humane society or SPCA is the best place to go if you're interested in adding an animal companion to your family. By supporting your local full-service shelter through financial contributions or volunteering, you will support an organization vital in protecting the animals in your community.

To learn about how you can help animals in your community, contact your local humane society or SPCA.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com