What Is A Pet Shelter?
An animal shelter or humane society is a public place where lost, abandoned, stray or surrendered pets mostly cats and dogs are housed until they are found homes. The word "Humane" is derived from the animal shelters of medieval communities where strays were confined until they were reclaimed by their new owners. Today, an animal shelter is a more generic term for any private non-profit organization that houses pets. Funds raised at these facilities help provide medical treatment and other necessary care for pets. Some states allow cities to become shelters for animals, while others require municipalities to designate specific community centers as animal shelters. View here for more details about pet shelters.
When an animal comes to an animal shelter for care, there are a number of things that must be done to make sure that the animal is a good fit for adoption. A prospective owner must evaluate if the prospective pet would be a good fit for the adopted family. This can be determined by observing the needs of the adopting family and checking with the American Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals or the ASPCA. Another factor that goes into the determination of whether an animal is a good fit for a pet is the temperament of the pet. Some animals are considered more adoptable than others due to their age or health issues.
Pets come in all shapes and sizes and there are a wide variety of pets available for adoption at a pet shelter. Some of these pets include dogs, cats and exotic pets such as snakes, rabbits and birds. Many animals at the shelters are unclaimed or abandoned because of certain life events such as death, divorce, relocation or moving abroad. Others are pets that were lost or stolen.
In most pet shelters, animals are usually checked out by one or two licensed veterinarians to ensure that they are healthy and suitable for adoption. An Animal Clinic can be used to assess the animal and determine what it will need to include: spaying or neutering, vaccinations, de-worming and emergency treatment if needed. It is important to remember that animals can be adoption candidates if they meet the criteria for the shelter. Pets can be screened to find out if they have any genetic diseases or health problems that may pose a risk to the animal's health or life in the future. The screening process may include ear and nose tests, urine samples and heart and kidney tests. Sometimes, a referral is required from the local shelter and an evaluation of the pet's personality is conducted by a staff veterinarian.
Some shelters on this homepage also utilize foster homes and adopt a number of animals. Foster homes are a great way for pets to learn about human society and become friendly with people who are not familiar with their origin or personality. These pets are usually from a shelter, or the owners have just lost their pet, and do not want the animal to go back to its previous owners. Foster homes are a temporary option until the owner finds a new pet. When a pet from a shelter becomes adoptable, the staff works with the owners to find the right match for their families. Many times, these animals have been neglected, abused or adopted through no fault of their own and come from backgrounds that include different races and cultures.
Pet shelters are there to help any pet owner along the way. No matter what kind of pet you have, you can always find a loving, caring shelter to provide you with a safe, secure future for it. With a little research, you can find a great shelter and work with the staff to make sure your pets get the best care. For more details related to this article, click here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_shelter.
