Pet shelters are very useful establishments, especially for people who find lost or stray animals, and for those who are looking into adopting stray animals as pets. There are probably three big reasons you would go to a pet shelter. First is when you find a stray dog, cat, and don't want to take care of it yourself. Second is when you're looking to adopt. Third is when a pet has run off and you're looking for possible places it could be. Or perhaps you're interested in volunteering at a pet shelter, and you're looking for the nearest to your neighborhood.
- Where to look. The first place to look for a local pet shelter is online. Websites like aspca.org have a search function, where you can find local branches or affiliates throughout the country. You just have to key in your City name or ZIP code, and the search engine will show you a list of nearby animal shelters, and even show these on a map. You can then search for the closest pet shelters in your vicinity. You can also try Google Maps at maps.google.com. Just key in "pet shelter" and your ZIP code, and the map will show you results in your vicinity.
- When leaving a stray. When you're leaving a stray animal that you've found, find out what the shelter's policy is with animals that they can't keep. Most shelters are bound to destroy animals that are not adopted or claimed within a few weeks' time, especially when it gets crowded. If this is the case, then ask them how they go about with this process? Most would use lethal injection, which is painless and perhaps the most humane way to kill an animal. If you are not comfortable with how they plan to keep or destroy the animal you've found, then you can search for another shelter. Some pet shelters have a "no kill" policy, which means they will keep all animals until they have been adopted. These organizations will actively seek out families or individuals who are willing to adopt a dog, cat or other pet.
- When adopting. If you're planning to adopt a pet, the local pet shelter is one of the first places to go. However, there are also pet adoption "meetup groups" you can contact. These usually run online forums or email groups, and announce regular meetings, where members can offer pets they have found for adoption. In either case, you should check with the pet shelter or the individual offering up pets for adoption whether the pet has already been given his shots, vaccinations, and other treatments like checking for worms and fleas. This is to make sure the pet you are adopting is clean, healthy, and cannot harm you by bringing disease like rabies.
- When looking for your lost pet. This can be one of the most traumatizing experiences for a pet owner. But if your pet has gone lost, then the first place you should do is notify the local animal control authorities, as they might have chanced upon your pet and put it under custody. These usually have direct contact with pet shelters around the neighborhood, and can call if any pet has been left at these shelters.
When in doubt, don't be afraid to ask, especially if it could mean the life of a pet or a stray animal.
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