If you are not familiar with the way animal shelters work,you might wonder what it is they really do. Most people know that these organizations keep animals and adopt them out to people in the community, but many of them do more than that. These groups do a number of things that benefit their communities.

Housing Animals

All of these organizations house animals. Mostly, they provide shelter to dogs and cats, but many of them also house birds, guinea pigs, horses, goats, pigs, and more depending on the facility. They keep these animals and nurse them back to health if necessary. They also fix the animal and provide food and water. Many of these organizations will vaccinate their animals and ensure that they have flea, tick, and heartworm protection.

Some of these organizations will only keep animals for a limited time. If the animal is not adopted (or sent to a rescue) during this time, it is euthanized. These organizations take in pets that people abandon, and they also accept strays that they, concerned citizens, or the city picks up.

Advocate, Educate, Fundraise

In addition to helping the animals, many of these groups go out into their community to advocate and to educate the public. They explain why it is important to spay and neuter your pets, and they educate the community about their mission. They also host fundraisers to gain donations and new donors. Many of these organizations depend on donated money and supplies.

Additional Programs

Some of these groups also have additional programs that they run or support. For example, some animal shelters run a spay and neuter program at low costs. Some people cannot afford to fix their animals, and these programs can help them afford the surgery. Typically, the organization will only offer this service to low-income pet owners who qualify.

These organizations help to get unwanted animals off of the streets and into loving homes. They also educate and support pet owners in their communities, and they work to raise the funds that they need to continue their work. If you want to support your local animal shelter, give them a call to see how you can help.