# data[].attributes.headline
I think we need to take a stand about animal cruelty

# data[].attributes.subject
I think we need to take a stand about animal cruelty

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Pet Statistics

How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters?

Facts about U.S. Animal Shelters:

The terms "humane society" and "SPCA" are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or The Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement. These are national estimates; the figures may vary from state to state.

Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. We estimate that the number of dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011. The biggest decline was in dogs (from 3.9 million to 3.3 million).

Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners.

Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year (1.6 million dogs and 1.6 million cats).

About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of those, 620,000 are dogs and only 90,000 are cats.

Facts about Pet Ownership in the U.S.:

It's estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States. Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. (Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA))

Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet through word of mouth. (Source: APPA)

According to the APPA, these are the most common sources from which primary methods cats and dogs are obtained as pets (Note: this information was based on a multiple response question, which results in the total % exceeding 100% individually for cats and dogs. In addition, the 'other' category includes all source categories that were reported by <10% of both dog and cat owners):

APPA reports that 34% of dogs are purchased from breeders, while 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society.

Around 27% of cats are acquired as strays, down from 35% in 2012. (Source: APPA)

According to the ASPCA's National Rehoming Survey, pet problems are the most common reason that owners rehome their pet, accounting for 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats. Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems owner couldn't handle.

The preceding data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.
You may also wish to visit:

American Pet Products Association
http://www.americanpetproducts.org/

The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy (NCPPSP)
http://www.petpopulation.org

The American Veterinary Medical Association
http://www.avma.org (see U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics)

Donate your birthday to the ASPCA and help save animals! The best gift is the gift of life for animals in need. Learn More

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters? The terms "humane society" and "SPCA" are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or The Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Not all animal shelters are the same. Fortunate homeless and unwanted animals end up in the hundreds of open-admission animal shelters that are staffed by professional, caring people.

At these facilities, frightened animals are reassured, sick and injured animals receive treatment or a peaceful end to their suffering, and the animals' living quarters are kept clean and dry. Workers at these facilities never turn away needy animals and give careful consideration to each animal's special emotional and physical needs.

To be able to offer refuge to every animal in need, open-admission shelters must euthanize unadopted and unadoptable animals. The alternative-turning them away-is cruel and leaves the animals in grave danger.

Many less fortunate lost or abandoned animals end up in pitiful shelters that are nothing more than shacks without walls or other protection from the elements, where animals are often left to die from exposure, disease, or fights with other animals.

So-called "no-kill" or "turn-away" shelters, which are supported by supposed animal rights activist Nathan Winograd, have the luxury of not euthanizing animals because they turn away needy ones whom they deem unadoptable. Many keep waiting lists, which compromise animals' safety by leaving them in situations in which they are clearly unwanted. Where do these unwanted animals go? The lucky ones will be taken to clean open-admission facilities that have responsible policies about euthanasia and adoption.

But many animals who are refused by turn-away facilities are dumped on the road, in the woods, in the yard of the local "cat lady" (also called a " hoarder "), or in the custody of some other unscrupulous person. Some don't even make it out of the animal shelter's parking lot.

For example, a Pennsylvania man who tried to surrender his dog to a no-kill shelter was told that he would have to make an appointment to return two weeks later when the facility might have room. The man grabbed his dog, got in his pickup truck, and left. At the next intersection, he threw the dog out of the truck and ran over him, crushing the dog beneath his tires. Shelter workers, who wouldn't help the dog before he died, collected the dog's remains. In California, a cat was strangled to death by his owners because an animal shelter had a waiting list and a $150 surrender fee. In Michigan, three abandoned dogs were found dead on a dirt road after their owner was turned away by no fewer than three animal shelters.

Animals who are accepted into no-kill shelters may be warehoused in cages for months, years, or the rest of their lives, becoming more withdrawn, depressed, or aggressive every day-further reducing their chances of adoption. Conditions at some no-kill shelters are criminal.

PETA's undercover investigation at a North Carolina no-kill shelter called All Creatures Great and Small documented that animals were suffering physically and emotionally as a result of ongoing, systematic abuse and neglect. In addition, the investigator observed that dogs, cats, and other animals were frequently left to languish in constant confinement, deprived of veterinary care, and subjected to a multitude of other atrocities.

No shelter that truly cares for animals should ever turn its back on an animal in need, even when that means taking in animals who are diseased, badly injured, aggressive, or elderly. These animals have little to no chance of being adopted or helped by anyone else, but a responsible animal shelter should at least provide them with a painless release from a world that does not want them.

You can help stop the overpopulation crisis that leads to extremely crowded animal shelters. Sign PETA's pledge to end animal homelessness, always have your animal companions spayed or neutered, and never buy an animal from a breeder or pet shop.

Please do not allow your companion animal to be needlessly euthanized during times of crises. Take the appropriate steps now to ensure that he or she is well taken care of even after your divorce or death.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Not all animal shelters are the same. Fortunate homeless and unwanted animals end up in the hundreds of open-admission animal shelters that are staffed by professional, caring people. At these facilities, frightened animals are reassured, sick and injured animals receive treatment or a peaceful end to their suffering, and the animals' living quarters are kept clean and dry.

# data[].attributes.body
16 persent of people shoot! and yes you read that right SHOOT their PETS! what if that were us? what has humanity done to this planet?

# data[].attributes.body
Always spay and neuter your pets. Why? Because many pets in shelters are killed of over population. Every year, millions of cats and dogs are killed in our animal shelters, because there are more pets than there are homes for them.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Pet "overpopulation" encompasses two primary factors: (1) allowing cats and dogs to reproduce with little chance to find homes for the offspring and (2) pets being relinquished by owners who can no longer keep their animals, or who no longer want them.

Every year, millions of cats and dogs are euthanized in our nation's animal shelters because there are more pets than there are responsible homes for them. Until this issue is resolved, American Humane believes that all cats and dogs adopted from public or private animal care and control facilities should be spayed or neutered (i.e., sterilized). Such sterilization includes prepubertal spaying and neutering of kittens and puppies. American Humane supports the passage of laws and regulations mandating that all cats and dogs adopted from public or private animal care and control facilities be sterilized. It is less certain that community-wide mandatory spay/neuter laws are effective in addressing pet overpopulation. More information needs to be gathered on the benefit of prior legislative initiatives to determine long-term benefits.

American Humane encourages the veterinary profession to assist, whenever and however possible, in reducing the number of unwanted pets. This involvement includes supporting the neutering of cats and dogs adopted from public or private animal care and control facilities - thereby controlling the ongoing contribution of offspring to pet overpopulation. Veterinarians should continue to use their best judgment when recommending appropriate sterilization ages for individual cats and dogs owned by clients, especially those clients who are wellknown and likely to permit an unwanted pregnancy to occur prior to surgery. Short-term and long-term health risks for each animal should always be assessed. American Humane encourages research into the development and use of nonsurgical methods of sterilization.

American Humane also supports research to assess the causes for pet relinquishment. Prior research studies suggest that 7 to 20 percent of pets entering a home are no longer in that home six months after acquisition. These animals often end up at shelters, contributing to the pet "overpopulation" issue. Thus, American Humane wishes to understand individual, cultural and community issues that lead to pet relinquishment and to develop practical and effective intervention strategies.

What you can do to combat pet overpopulation:

1. If you are adding a pet to your family, make sure the pet comes from a legitimate shelter, nonprofit rescue group or a responsible, humane breeder.

2. Always spay and neuter your pets.

3. Consider all the responsibilities and consequences of pet ownership before deciding to get a pet and always make a lifetime commitment to your pet.

4. Educate your children, friends, family members and co-workers about pet overpopulation, adoption and the importance of spaying and neutering.

You can help stop generations of suffering. Have your female pet spayed and your male pet neutered. Don't allow them to breed and add to the pet overpopulation problem.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pet "overpopulation" encompasses two primary factors: (1) allowing cats and dogs to reproduce with little chance to find homes for the offspring and (2) pets being relinquished by owners who can no longer keep their animals, or who no longer...

# data[].attributes.body
Overall, there are many things that teen activists are fighting for such as animal abandonment. In the future, hopefully, families will learn to love their animals for their presence and not just cuteness. Everyone should have a four-legged friend at home and care for it until the end.

# data[].attributes.body
Faye Carey has obstacles just like any other obstacles. One of them is chores or housework. Probably all kids have some work to do at home. Another obstacle that Faye Carey has is schoolwork. She is in high school and most-likely has homework. These are only some of the obstacles that Faye Carey has.

# data[].attributes.body
Abby Reiman, Hannah Kinder, Isabella Forst, Leah Weinstein, Leanne Kinkopf, Leticia Velez, Lia Valllina, Grace Wickerson, Max Cartagena, Phoebe Collverfreeland, Rose McCoy, Sawson Gohlami, Tayler Jensen, Zach Affolter, and Alana Rosie West are these 15 amazing activists. Abby Reiman has worked closely with a near-by cat rescue group, saved dozens of kittens, volunteered multiple times to peta2's Warped Tour team, and loves doing vegan outreach. “My life has no purpose if I can’t help animals. … I want to spend my whole life helping them and speaking up for them" Abby says," I must have been a cat in a past life. I’m just magical with cats—cats love me, and I love them.”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Youth Advisory Board is a group of passionate, incredible, and super-dedicated peta2 members who help peta2 with creating missions, feedback on campaigns, and with pretty much everything peta2 does. So as you can probably imagine, they are total superheroes!

Without further ado, meet the 2014 Youth Advisory Board:

Location: McLean, Virginia

Abby has worked closely with a local cat-rescue group and has found homes for a dozen kittens. She's volunteered with peta2's Warped Tour team time and time again and loves doing vegan outreach. Her goal is to find a veterinarian in her area who will do low-cost spay-and-neuter surgeries as well as vaccinations for the loveable kittens she helps save. Her latest adopted feline, Batcat (pictured above), is her soul mate and joins the ranks of her other rescued cats and iguana!

What keeps her motivated: "My life has no purpose if I can't help animals. ... I want to spend my whole life helping them and speaking up for them. I must have been a cat in a past life. I'm just magical with cats-cats love me, and I love them."

Location: Boone, North Carolina Hannah is rocking out as a junior at Appalachian State University, where she is majoring in environmental and evolutionary biology and ecology. Somehow, she manages to squeeze in chemistry classes while also participating in cross country, writing grants, and working as a social media correspondent for the Boys & Girls Club. Icing on the cake? She brings bomb vegan lemon-lavender chocolate chip cookies to potlucks put on by the local animal rights group and hopes to start an animal rights club at her school. What keeps her motivated: "The way animals are treated is so disgusting to me. I was doing a Paleo diet and had to stop once I realized how animals are treated. I did my research, and what now motivates me is that I don't want to contribute to the abuse on factory farms."

Location: Summerfield, North Carolina A sophomore at her magnet high school, Isabella has completed animal-oriented emergency response courses through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, devoted her Congressional Award service to helping reduce animal overpopulation and the number of shelter animals who are euthanized in Guilford County. She spends much of her free time volunteering at her local shelter trying to find homes for the animals there, many of whom came from the puppy mills that are so common in North Carolina. Isabella even adopted two of the five abused shepherd-beagle mix puppies she fostered last summer. Their names are Huck and Finn. What keeps her motivated: "I just think about all the animals who have found great homes and know that every animal in that shelter could find a good home."

Leah Weinstein

Location: Baltimore, Maryland Leah has been vegan since January and says that she's the only vegan in her entire school. She's been an active member of the peta2 for more than two years, and in that time, she has completed countless missions to help animals. She's currently hard at work trying to motivate her classmates to go vegan, and she's working with her environmental science teacher to get the Humane League to come and speak at her school. What keeps her motivated: "A strong sense of morality and the fact that I'm surrounded by so many people who don't care about animals, so I feel obligated to care-but in the best way!"

Leanne Kinkopf

Location: Columbus, Ohio Leanne is a freshman at Columbus State Community College, and she's majoring in physics-making animal testing an issue near and dear to her heart. Along with keeping animal rights on her radar, she has also taken legislative action for women's rights in Ohio and has done human rights work with Amnesty International. On top of all this, she also volunteers with 7 Cups of Tea as an active listener for those in need of emotional support. Leanne says that volunteering with the peta2 Warped Tour team was her proudest and most enjoyable educational experience. What keeps her motivated: "When I was 3, we rescued a cat who got thrown out of a truck in the middle of the road, and ever since then, animal rights has been a really important issue to me."

Location: Los Angeles, California A member of the Acting Corps, Leticia is no stranger to public speaking or standing up for her beliefs. She'll often protest with her mom's union at the Los Angeles International Airport or in downtown Los Angeles, and she has even joined PETA for protests against McDonald's. After being handed a leaflet that prompted her to go vegan, Leticia began keeping copies of PETA's "Guide to Going Vegan" handy so that she can distribute them whenever she can. She hopes to get veggie burgers added to her brother's elementary school cafeteria menu. What keeps her motivated: "I feel like how we live nowadays with all the violence we see on TV and we think of it as normal. You become very desensitized. It wasn't until I saw a video of pig farms and how the workers pick them up by the legs and slam them on the floor that I realized that the reality of experiencing that violence is very real to animals on factory farms. That image has stuck with me and drives me to keep pushing for an end to the violence."

Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan In Lia's words, "I don't want to stand by as people benefit from animals' suffering. I want to be someone who speaks up for what's right and makes a difference in the world." Lia is definitely transforming this belief into action by using social media and her blog to raise her voice for animals. Lia is the author of a vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle blog called Leila Lina, which she uses to demonstrate to readers that "true beauty is cruelty-free" through her awesome makeup and fashion tutorials that use only vegan and cruelty-free products. She uses her blog and her Twitter account to educate people about the power of living a vegan lifestyle and how it can truly change the world. What keeps her motivated: "I'm vegan because I believe that everyone, no matter what species, deserves a life free from harm."

Location: Englewood, Florida Grace decided to ditch meat when she was 13 years old after seeing PETA's " Glass Walls" video. Since then, she has been actively and passionately advocating a meat-free lifestyle. Grace has already done some impressive volunteer work to help animals. She once collected hundreds of pounds of cat food and made more than 100 cat toys by hand to donate to her local animal shelter. On top of being a stellar student and getting straight A's in school, Grace supports and volunteers for a local cat-rescue center, the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, her local library, the Key Club, and the United Nations' World Food Programme. What keeps her motivated: "I'm really into preventing abuse in general, for both people and animals-all living beings on this planet should respect each other. We should respect all animals, since they can feel and think, too, and we need to acknowledge that. We should treat them the way we want to be treated."

Location: Rancho Cordova, California Max uses both his creativity and his outspokenness to make a huge difference for animals. Along with being an active member of the peta2 and completing countless online missions to help animals, Max also leaflets and attends protests. He even organized a group of people to protest the circus when it came to his town. Max can also be found helping raise funds for his local animal shelter, volunteering at the soup kitchen, cooking food for a program that gives meals to single parents and their families, and, basically, just making the world a better place. What keeps him motivated: "Giving a voice to those who can't speak up for themselves."

Location: Fremont, California Phoebe has been vegan her whole life and became involved with animal rights when she was 11. Phoebe makes a huge difference for animals killed for food by helping her friends transition to a meat-free lifestyle. She's well known for her " art activism" and awesome animal rights-inspired duct-tape wallets, bearing messages such as "Free the Orcas" and "McCruelty." Between creating activist-inspired and cruelty-free products and volunteering at a local animal rescue, Phoebe is really carving out a name for herself in the animal rights community. What keeps her motivated: "I would like to intern for peta2, travel to another country, and graduate from college before I turn 25."

Location: New York City At 13 years old, Rose has already done more for animals than most people do in a lifetime. Rose has been attending demos since before she really understood why she should-and once she was able to come to her own conclusions about why she was there, she became one of the fiercest defenders of animals out there. Rose has already had several articles that she has written about animal rights published online and has been featured on the peta2 website for her inspirational work. Rose will stop at nothing to make her voice heard for animals, and her proudest moment was getting arrested while protesting the SeaWorld float at last year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. What keeps her motivated: "A determination to create a better world for animals!"

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Double majoring at the University of Utah, Sawson has a passion for theatre production and will be singing with the Utah Opera Chorus later this year. He loves attending Philosophy Club meetings, and he has marched to help spread awareness of racial profiling. Sawson, a long-time vegan, has even personally spoken with Utah Governor Gary Herbert about the cruelty that animals are forced to endure on factory farms and in slaughterhouses. What keeps him motivated: "It's truly an intrinsic drive. I feel like it's the right thing to do. A quote from Henry David Thoreau's 'Civil Disobedience' inspired me to begin a vegan diet: 'It is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even the most enormous wrong ... but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support.'"

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Tayler Jensen is all about showing her classmates that going vegan is a no-brainer. Her family took a 30-day vegan health challenge that ended up lasting three years. And last year, she started a club called VegAlliance, which raises awareness for animals and promotes good health through a vegan diet. Most recently, her club-which has now reached 100 members-gave out vegan s'mores at her school's Homecoming dance. Tayler is doing an independent study course on animal rights and the environment, and she's continually inspired by her generation's passion to strive toward justice and follow a lifestyle that will benefit both the environment and animals. What keeps her motivated: "Having a support system like VegAlliance and thinking that every second I have is my one chance to make it count. I only have so much time on this Earth, and I feel obligated to do what I can to inspire a chain reaction for good in the world."

Zach Affolter

Location: San Diego, California Last but certainly not least, Zach is a champion for cetacean rights. A senior in high school, he's petitioning his school board to end school functions at SeaWorld. He's currently 17,000 words into a novel featuring Lolita, the orca being held captive at the Miami Seaquarium, and he's working on telling the story of Angel, a dolphin who was captured in Taiji, Japan. Zach, who "cares deeply about the planet and all its inhabitants," has been vegetarian his whole life, and he's making the transition to a vegan diet now. What keeps him motivated: "There are so many things. The dolphin pod in Taiji that was captured in early January really flipped a switch for me. There's just something about Angel's capture that feels horribly wrong [and] that makes me want to keep fighting for animals who are abused and mistreated. She inspired me."

Alana Rosie West

Location: Alana is currently transitioning from her life in Australia to Washington, U.S.A.!

She studies social work and human rights, and she's dedicated to destigmatizing mental health care and ending cruelty to animals. Alana serves on a youth advisory board for the organization Headspace, which is a national youth mental-health foundation, and helps run campaigns and events. From the age of 7, Alana knew that zoos and marine parks were inhumane, and she now hopes to see SeaWorld close its doors soon.

What keeps her motivated: "Keeping animals in captivity is wrong and heartbreaking and I am extremely passionate about spreading awareness of the mistreatment of these cetaceans. I was stoked when Blackfish came out as finally the world is beginning to see what I have seen for years."

Feeling inspired to take your activism to the next level? Join peta2 today for FREE!

Once you do, you cash in your new peta2 points to get FREE peta2 merch, such as T-shirts, books, and more. So...what are you waiting for? Join peta2 now.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
15 Teenage Activists Who Deserve An Award | peta2

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Youth Advisory Board is a group of passionate, incredible, and super-dedicated peta2 members who help peta2 with creating missions, feedback on campaigns, and with pretty much everything peta2 does. So as you can probably imagine, they are total superheroes!

# data[].attributes.body
Animals tend to be abused mainly on purpose. About 70.1% of abused animals are dogs. Organized abuse is also a very important problem too. Dog fighting, cock fighting(rooster fight), etc. Some people that run these organization are taking drugs. In a survey, 71% of domestic violence victims reported that the person who abused them targeted pets too.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg-most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are. However, we can use the information that is available to try to understand and prevent cases of abuse.

Who abuses animals?

Cruelty and neglect cross all social and economic boundaries and media reports suggest that animal abuse is common in both rural and urban areas.

Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.

Hoarding behavior often victimizes animals. Sufferers of a hoarding disorder may impose severe neglect on animals by housing far more than they are able to adequately take care of. Serious animal neglect (such as hoarding) is often an indicator of people in need of social or mental health services.

Surveys suggest that those who intentionally abuse animals are predominantly men under 30, while those involved in animal hoarding are more likely to be women over 60.

Most common victims

The animals whose abuse is most often reported are dogs, cats, horses and livestock. Undercover investigations have revealed that animal abuse abounds in the factory farm industry. But because of the weak protections afforded to livestock under state cruelty laws, only the most shocking cases are reported, and few are ever prosecuted.

Organized cruelty

Dogfighting, cockfighting and other forms of organized animal cruelty go hand in hand with other crimes, and continues in many areas of the United States due to public corruption.

The HSUS documented uniformed police officers at a cockfighting pit in Kentucky.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has prosecuted multiple cases where drug cartels were running narcotics through cockfighting and dogfighting operations.

Dozens of homicides have occurred at cockfights and dogfights.

A California man was killed in a disagreement about a $10 cockfight bet.

The HSUS's investigative team combats complacent public officials and has worked with the FBI on public corruption cases in Tennessee and Virginia. In both instances, law enforcement officers were indicted and convicted.

Correlation with domestic violence

Data on domestic violence and child abuse cases reveal that a staggering number of animals are targeted by those who abuse their children or spouses.

There are approximately 70 million pet dogs and 74.1 million pet cats in the U.S. where 20 men and women are assaulted per minute (an average of around 10 million a year).

In one survey, 71 percent of domestic violence victims reported that their abuser also targeted pets.

In one study of families under investigation for suspected child abuse, researchers found that pet abuse had occurred in 88 percent of the families under supervision for physical abuse of their children.

To put a stop to this pattern of violence, the Humane Society Legislative Fund supported the Pets and Women's Safety (PAWS) Act, introduced to Congress in 2015 as H.R. 1258 and S.B. 1559. The PAWS Act would give victims of domestic abuse means to escape their abusers while keeping their companion animals safe-many victims remain in abusive households for fear of their pets' safety.

State legislative trends

The HSUS has long led the push for stronger animal cruelty laws and provides training for law officials to detect and prosecute these crimes. With South Dakota joining the fight in March of 2014, animal cruelty laws now include felony provisions in all 50 states.

First vs. subsequent offense

Some state laws only allow felony charges if the perpetrator has a previous animal cruelty conviction. Given that only a fraction of animal cruelty acts are ever reported or successfully prosecuted, the HSUS is committed to supporting felony convictions in cases of egregious cruelty regardless of whether the perpetrator has a prior conviction.

46 of 50 states' felony provisions are first-offense provisions.

Four states (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Iowa and Mississippi) have laws that apply felony charges only to subsequent offenses.

A majority of anti-cruelty laws are limited to cases involving aggravated cruelty, torture or cruelty to companion animals.

Changes in federal tracking

On January 1, 2016, the FBI added cruelty to animals as a category in the Uniform Crime Report, a nationwide crime reporting system commonly used in homicide investigations. While only about a third of U.S. communities currently participate in the system, the data generated will help create a clearer picture of animal abuse and guide strategies for intervention and enforcement. Data collection covers four categories: simple/gross neglect, intentional abuse and torture, organized abuse (such as dogfighting and cockfighting) and animal sexual abuse.
Donate today to stop cruelty like this

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The shocking number of animal cruelty cases reported every day is just the tip of the iceberg-most cases are never reported. Unlike violent crimes against people, cases of animal abuse are not compiled by state or federal agencies, making it difficult to calculate just how common they are.

# data[].attributes.body
It is just not right to abandon your pet or give them back to a shelter even once you have "pledged" that you will take care of your pet(a procedure that all shelters take before letting someone adopt an animal. Many people say that someone in their family has sickness, or they have to move. Those are just excuses, however. Most animal allergies are often treatable, and if you can take all your valuables with you when you move, why not your pet? Of course, these will come with a cost, but you have to be willing to pay if you adopt an animal. Another common reason why people give up their pet is because the animal is not friendly or needs to much attention. As a human, you cannot expect everything in the world out of your pet. Most people who make this excuse just lack the effort and commitment needed to

# data[].attributes.body
At the age of fourteen, Lou found out what really happens to animals at overpopulated pounds. After that, he became sad that so many people thought about these animals as disposable. “I wanted to let my generation know that these animals had feelings, cried, were sad, felt abandoned and alone,” Lou says. “I wanted my generation to not see their pets as disposable.” Lou Wegner went from an actor to a very helpful teen activist that saves animals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Meet the Teen Animal Activist Who Took Two Shelter Dogs to Prom - Dogster

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Dogster is a publication where dog lovers come together to get the latest expert advice about dog behavior, health, news and entertainment.

# data[].attributes.body
Phoebe Goldstein, Thomas Ponce, Elora West, Tayler Jensen, Jasmine Polsinelli, Kat Graham, Genesis Butler, and Kevin Storm are these amazing eight activists. They all became vegan to help people understand animal rights. We will talk about one example, Genesis Butler. Genesis became a vegetarian when she was three and a full on plant based diet just a year later. At seven years old Genesis is a strong supporter for vegans. This little girl soon won the Young Vegan of the Year Award.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
You've probably heard that Albert Einstein was a vegetarian, and it's common knowledge that Steve-O, Ellen Degeneres, and Emily Deschanel love to share how their love of animals has lead them to adopt a plant-based diet.

While these famous animal activists are influential in their own right, it's equally inspiring to learn about what young people in our own communities are doing to speak up for animals. They might be young, but they are driven, passionate, and successfully normalizing this ideology that was once considered radical. And unlike our friend Albert, these individuals are part of a young generation, setting a more compassionate and determined precedent for generations to come. These young activists demonstrate that age is but a number: their own commitment to animals will inspire you to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

1. Phoebe Goldstein

When she learned that her school was organizing a trip to SeaWorld, this eighth grader came out strongly opposed to the annual event. Goldstein took to the school administration, explaining the suffering and isolation inherent in whale and dolphin captivity, and successfully convinced her school to cancel the trip. Given the recent exposés surrounding SeaWorld's treatment of its animals, Goldstein will no doubt be at the forefront of this movement in years to come.

PETA2

2. Thomas Ponce

This 12-year-old activist is making a name for himself within the animal rights community and beyond. Founder of Lobby for Animals, a lobbyist organization that advocates for protection of animals and activists, Ponce received the Young Animal Activist Award at last year's animal rights national conference, and has been recognized by PETA. With a smart and motivated leader like Ponce, new generations will surely have a new reverence for our animal friends.

PETA2

3. Elora West

After watching films such as Sharkwater and The Cove when she was 15, West's perspective was forever altered. She began learning to scuba dive, and soon after moved to Taiji, Japan with her father to more directly help the dolphins there. There, she started the Cove Guardian campaign with Sea Shepherd. Her work has inspired many supporters and has earned celebrity and diplomatic support throughout the world.

germmagazine

4. Tayler Jensen

Tayler Jensen has wasted no time spreading the message of animal rights. At 14-years-old, she has distributed leaflets at her school, encouraged her friends and family to make the transition to a plant-based diet, is petitioning to add a veggie burger to her school's cafeteria menu, and has started her own vegan club at school with more than 70 members and 30 sponsors!

PETA2

5. Jasmine Polsinelli

At 11-years-old, Jasmine Polsinelli knows more about the fur industry than most adults learn in their whole lives. Last year, along with 40 other protesters, Polsinelli stood in front of the Canadian Goose headquarters 5,000 signed postcards objecting to the use of real coyote fur in the clothing company's jackets and hats.

Huffington Post

6. Kat Graham

Kat Graham's mission in life is to end the use of beagles in laboratory research and testing. This inspiring 11-year-old has teamed up with the Beagle Freedom Project (BFP) to create her own website, Kids Against Lab Beagles. The website serves as a fundraising platform for BFP selling her paintings that depict these friendly dogs.

Kids Against Lab Beagles

7. Genesis Butler

When she was just three, Butler became a vegetarian, she switched to a plant-based diet just a year later. Now seven-years-old, Butler is a strong advocate for a vegan lifestyle, even maintaining a Facebook page aptly titled, A Vegan Child's Journey. Last year this young activist won the Young Vegan of the Year Award from Vegansarecool.com. With these early successes under her belt, Butler's future looks promising.

A Vegan Child's Journey/Facebook

8. Kevin Storm

Not only is Kevin Storm a vegan and advocate for homeless animals, but he also happens to be New Jersey's youngest radio host! Storm and his mother saw a posting for radio DJ at a local station and in no time at all, this young teen was set up with his very own show. You can hear his broadcasts on TuneIn, a radio app for smartphones, or by listening to WNJC 1360AM Philly between 12-12:30 PM EST.

Koreandogs.org
Green Monsters! Do you know some awesome young activists? We'd love to hear about them!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
8 Young Rockstar Activists Leading the Way for Animal Rights

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
You've probably heard that Albert Einstein was a vegetarian, and it's common knowledge that Steve-O, Ellen Degeneres, and Emily Deschanel love to share how their love of animals has lead them to adopt a plant-based diet.

# data[].attributes.body
Mostly, dogs and cats are the animals that are abandoned, since they are the ones that most people like to keep company with. Approximately 7.6 million cats and dogs enter shelters nationwide annually. Out of those, a shocking 1.2 million dog and 1.4 million cats are killed inhumanely. The types of dogs that are mostly abandoned by their owners are Australian cattle dogs, Beagles, Dachshunds, and German shepherds.  The least common cat breeds are Singapura, Sphynx, Siamese, and Scottish fold.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Pet Statistics

How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters?

Facts about U.S. Animal Shelters:

The terms "humane society" and "SPCA" are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or The Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement. These are national estimates; the figures may vary from state to state.

Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. We estimate that the number of dogs and cats entering U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 7.2 million in 2011. The biggest decline was in dogs (from 3.9 million to 3.3 million).

Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats). The number of dogs and cats euthanized in U.S. shelters annually has declined from approximately 2.6 million in 2011. This decline can be partially explained by an increase in the percentage of animals adopted and an increase in the number of stray animals successfully returned to their owners.

Approximately 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year (1.6 million dogs and 1.6 million cats).

About 710,000 animals who enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of those, 620,000 are dogs and only 90,000 are cats.

Facts about Pet Ownership in the U.S.:

It's estimated that 78 million dogs and 85.8 million cats are owned in the United States. Approximately 44% of all households in the United States have a dog, and 35% have a cat. (Source: American Pet Products Association 2015-2016 (APPA))

Approximately 40% of dog owners and 46% of cat owners learned about their pet through word of mouth. (Source: APPA)

According to the APPA, these are the most common sources from which primary methods cats and dogs are obtained as pets (Note: this information was based on a multiple response question, which results in the total % exceeding 100% individually for cats and dogs. In addition, the 'other' category includes all source categories that were reported by <10% of both dog and cat owners):

APPA reports that 34% of dogs are purchased from breeders, while 23% of dogs and 31% of cats are obtained from an animal shelter or humane society.

Around 27% of cats are acquired as strays, down from 35% in 2012. (Source: APPA)

According to the ASPCA's National Rehoming Survey, pet problems are the most common reason that owners rehome their pet, accounting for 47% of rehomed dogs and 42% of rehomed cats. Pet problems were defined as problematic behaviors, aggressive behaviors, grew larger than expected, or health problems owner couldn't handle.

The preceding data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.
You may also wish to visit:

American Pet Products Association
http://www.americanpetproducts.org/

The National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy (NCPPSP)
http://www.petpopulation.org

The American Veterinary Medical Association
http://www.avma.org (see U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics)

Donate your birthday to the ASPCA and help save animals! The best gift is the gift of life for animals in need. Learn More

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How many pets are in the United States? How many animals are in shelters? The terms "humane society" and "SPCA" are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or The Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement.

# data[].attributes.body
Around the world, what the media often refer to as “the animal rights movement” is taking off. Mass protests, fierce lobbying, litigation, and draft treaties have led to new legislation at the national, provincial, and city levels. It is now forbidden to use great apes in biomedical research, to bullfight in Catalonia, and to operate factory farms and slaughterhouses without adhering to the stricter rules governing the treatment and living conditions of livestock. However, with a few exceptions, these efforts are not truly about “animal rights” but about “animal welfare.”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Around the world, what the media often refer to as "the animal rights movement" is taking off. Mass protests, fierce lobbying, litigation, and draft treaties have led to new legislation at the national, provincial, and city levels. It is now forbidden to use great apes in biomedical research, to bullfight in Catalonia, and to operate factory farms and slaughterhouses without adhering to the stricter rules governing the treatment and living conditions of livestock. However, with a few exceptions, these efforts are not truly about "animal rights" but about "animal welfare."

One reason for this difference is that worldwide, animals are regarded as "legal things," incapable of having rights and treated as articles of property. In contrast, humans are deemed "legal persons," possessing intrinsic value and the capacity for an infinite number of legal rights as the owners of "legal things." Another reason is that the term "animal" encompasses the enormously diverse biological kingdom of animalia, which comprises more than 1.25 million known species (with more to be discovered) that fall along a vast continuum of consciousness, sentience, general intelligence, and autonomy. It includes 60,000 vertebrates: 5,500 mammals, 10,000 birds, 6,200 amphibians, 30,000 fish, and 8,200 reptiles. The million-plus known invertebrates include about 950,000 varieties of insects, 81,000 mollusks, and 40,000 crustaceans.
https://readymag.com/66599
At one end of this spectrum of mental capacity and awareness are animals such as sponges, jellyfish, and sea anemones that scientists believe are unlikely to be conscious or have an ability to feel pain or suffer. These are therefore unlikely to be appropriate subjects of animal welfare legislation (which focuses on preventing unnecessary pain and suffering), though they may be protected by environmental or conservation laws.

At some point along this continuum, however, a primitive level of consciousness and sentience kicks in. A great number of animals fall in this category, such as cows and sheep. These animals have been the subject of welfare legislation ever since the beginning of the nineteenth century, when early animal welfare movements in the United Kingdom sought to end cruel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Around the world, what the media often refer to as "the animal rights movement" is taking off. Mass protests, fierce lobbying, litigation, and draft treaties have led to new legislation at the national, provincial, and city levels.

# data[].attributes.body
Lou Wegner is a true example of an activist. Lou wants to make teens aware of the fact that millions of cats and dogs are dying in animal shelters close by. To do this, he created a non-profit organization called Kids Against Animal Cruelty(KAAC). KAAC promotes animal rights and helps with animal adoption and rescue. Lou, like Faye Carey, also tirelessly spends hours on re-homing shelter animals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There are animals all over the world getting abused and abandoned. Lou Wegner is the teen who wants to do something about Pet Abandonment. Lou is no ordinary teen. He doesn't spend all his time...

# data[].attributes.body
People can help reduce animal abandonment greatly. Shelters cannot operate by themselves. They are just temporary homes for animals; they need people to help them. Shelter workers are mostly volunteers, and shelters rely on funds. People can also help by not dropping of an abandoned animal at a shelter right when they find one. Only 30% of dogs and 5% of cats get returned to their owners after being dropped of at a local shelter. Another way to help is to become a foster parent. It allows dogs to stay in a temporary home while also finding new permanent homes. Finally, the most important way to reduce animal abandonment is to be a caring guardian to your pet. If everyone took responsibility of their pets, there would be no abandoned animals in the first place.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
According to the Humane Society of the United States, "2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs ... are put down in U.S. shelters each year." That's about one animal every 11 seconds!

These statistics are staggering and wholly unacceptable nowadays especially when there are so many ways to help reduce the number of pets that may become homeless or end up in shelters.

Two main reasons for pets being in shelters are that guardians give them up, not wanting to care for these loyal pets anymore, or animal control finds them alone on the street.

ASPCA statistics show that only 10 percent of the animals turned over to shelters have been spayed or neutered, which contributes to overpopulation and the high intake and euthanasia rates in overcrowded shelters.

But guess what? There are a number of strategies available today that can help end pet homelessness and you can help them succeed. Just take a look at these 10 simple ways to help!

1. Be a Lost Pet Advocate

If you find a lost pet, try helping them get home first before dropping them off at an animal shelter. Here's something to think about - about 30 percent of lost dogs and 5 percent of cats will be reclaimed at shelters by their guardians. With your help, shelters can be less overcrowded and more pets might be able to find their way home faster.

2. Say NO to Irresponsible Breeding

When you support anti-puppy mill initiatives, you are working against irresponsible breeding and animal cruelty. Say no to this horrendous industry by standing up to the estimated 10,000 puppy mills in the United States and avoid buying animals from pet stores. You can also partake in pet store protests held by local anti-puppy mill groups like metro Detroit's Puppy Mill Awareness of Southeast Michigan.

3. Go to Bat for Cats

About 70 percent of shelter cats end up being killed; this statistic includes strays, feral and surrendered cats. Join a local cat initiative to keep cats safe from being put down by promoting trap-neuter-return (TNR) for feral cats and practicing responsible pet guardianship.

4. Volunteer to Find Forever Families

In order for off-site pet adoption events and programs to be successful at finding homeless pets forever families, volunteers like you and organization partnerships are needed. Such events partner with agencies with similar animal welfare concerns to work together to make a difference.

5. Opt to Adopt, Not Shop

Unfortunately, many pets bought from pet stores have health issues that can result in pain and suffering and even death. Save healthy homeless pets from being euthanized at overcrowded shelters by giving them a permanent, loving home. Don't buy a pet, adopt!

6. Fund an Awesome Rescue Group

Alongside animal shelters, there are also rescue groups that rescue dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, and other small pets that are breed or issue specific. Shelters and rescue groups are essential in the long term care of animals. By funding animal rescue groups, you can help homeless pets by providing them with needed veterinary care and supplies during their adoption journey. Check out these amazing rescue groups for starters:

7. Become a Foster Parent

Help to socialize and care for homeless animals by becoming a foster parent to a shelter pet. Being a foster pet parent will lead to fewer shelter pets being euthanized and gives pets more time to find their forever homes while being in a temporary home filled with love.

8. Be a Self-Appointed Pet Reporter

Lost and stray pets can get scared and run away from help and may end up reproducing with other street animals, thereby contributing to even more pet homelessness. If you are unable to locate guardians on your own or an animal appears threatening, report any domestic animal you see roaming around your neighborhood to animal control.

9. Curb Pet Homelessness with Spaying and Neutering

The homeless pet population can be significantly reduced simply by having your adopted pets spayed or neutered. Not only will this stop overpopulation, but fewer animals will accidentally be born only to be taken to the shelter. Spay and neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation and can ensure that every pet has a family to love them. If you already spay and neuter your companions, then consider supporting local spay/neuter initiatives through volunteer and awareness-raising efforts, or simply by making a monetary donation.

10. Be a Responsible Pet Guardian

Don't be a part of the problem by being an irresponsible pet guardian. Be responsible by micro-chipping your companions, updating pet identification tags, spaying or neutering, and choosing to adopt a pet if and only if you plan to care for them for the remainder of their life.

With these ways and more to help end pet homelessness, all of us at One Green Planet encourage you to participate in World Spay Day observed today, Feb. 25, 2014!
Image source: Klearchos Kapoutsis/ Flickr

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Ways to Help End Pet Homelessness - One Green Planet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
According to the Humane Society of the United States, "2.7 million healthy, adoptable cats and dogs ... are put down in U.S. shelters each year." That's about one animal every 11 seconds! These statistics are staggering and wholly unacceptable nowadays especially when there are so many ways to help reduce the number of pets that may become homeless or end up in shelters.

# data[].attributes.body
Faye Carey is an amazing activist. She saw a puppy and decided advertise him on TradeMe, a website she created. She later, tried finding homes for a litter of kittens. She re homes and sells animals, to make their lives better. Every shelter receives about 20 animals each weak.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
By entering your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . Newshub and its affiliates may use your email address to provide updates/news, ads, and offers. To withdraw your consent or learn more about your rights, see the Privacy Policy .

# data[].attributes.body
Miguel Ángel Palacios was another teen working to help animal abandonment. He was born in Miami, Florida an animal lover. He volunteered at an Animal Shelter during school breaks. His neighbor was drinking all night and was drunk the next morning. His neighbor was threatening to chop off the head of the dog he was caring for. As soon as Miguel found out, he ran over to try to knock sense into him. The police were called and Miguel, his brother, and the neighbor, were all brought to the hospital. They all had several cuts and injuries. Sadly, Miguels cuts were too big that he died later the following morning. However, many people know the story of this animal lover and hope to help it in the future.

# data[].attributes.body
Animals deserve to have a good life. That is obviously not true for all animals, especially dogs. They are treated very badly in some shelters. The shelters are just dumps with cages. The dogs there are malnutritioned and often die of diseases and fights with other dogs. The dogs are depressed and become more aggressive day by day, so their chances of getting adopted are even lower. Many shelters do not give animals the care that they need to thrive and survive.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Not all animal shelters are the same. Fortunate homeless and unwanted animals end up in the hundreds of open-admission animal shelters that are staffed by professional, caring people.

At these facilities, frightened animals are reassured, sick and injured animals receive treatment or a peaceful end to their suffering, and the animals' living quarters are kept clean and dry. Workers at these facilities never turn away needy animals and give careful consideration to each animal's special emotional and physical needs.

To be able to offer refuge to every animal in need, open-admission shelters must euthanize unadopted and unadoptable animals. The alternative-turning them away-is cruel and leaves the animals in grave danger.

Many less fortunate lost or abandoned animals end up in pitiful shelters that are nothing more than shacks without walls or other protection from the elements, where animals are often left to die from exposure, disease, or fights with other animals.

So-called "no-kill" or "turn-away" shelters, which are supported by supposed animal rights activist Nathan Winograd, have the luxury of not euthanizing animals because they turn away needy ones whom they deem unadoptable. Many keep waiting lists, which compromise animals' safety by leaving them in situations in which they are clearly unwanted. Where do these unwanted animals go? The lucky ones will be taken to clean open-admission facilities that have responsible policies about euthanasia and adoption.

But many animals who are refused by turn-away facilities are dumped on the road, in the woods, in the yard of the local "cat lady" (also called a " hoarder "), or in the custody of some other unscrupulous person. Some don't even make it out of the animal shelter's parking lot.

For example, a Pennsylvania man who tried to surrender his dog to a no-kill shelter was told that he would have to make an appointment to return two weeks later when the facility might have room. The man grabbed his dog, got in his pickup truck, and left. At the next intersection, he threw the dog out of the truck and ran over him, crushing the dog beneath his tires. Shelter workers, who wouldn't help the dog before he died, collected the dog's remains. In California, a cat was strangled to death by his owners because an animal shelter had a waiting list and a $150 surrender fee. In Michigan, three abandoned dogs were found dead on a dirt road after their owner was turned away by no fewer than three animal shelters.

Animals who are accepted into no-kill shelters may be warehoused in cages for months, years, or the rest of their lives, becoming more withdrawn, depressed, or aggressive every day-further reducing their chances of adoption. Conditions at some no-kill shelters are criminal.

PETA's undercover investigation at a North Carolina no-kill shelter called All Creatures Great and Small documented that animals were suffering physically and emotionally as a result of ongoing, systematic abuse and neglect. In addition, the investigator observed that dogs, cats, and other animals were frequently left to languish in constant confinement, deprived of veterinary care, and subjected to a multitude of other atrocities.

No shelter that truly cares for animals should ever turn its back on an animal in need, even when that means taking in animals who are diseased, badly injured, aggressive, or elderly. These animals have little to no chance of being adopted or helped by anyone else, but a responsible animal shelter should at least provide them with a painless release from a world that does not want them.

You can help stop the overpopulation crisis that leads to extremely crowded animal shelters. Sign PETA's pledge to end animal homelessness, always have your animal companions spayed or neutered, and never buy an animal from a breeder or pet shop.

Please do not allow your companion animal to be needlessly euthanized during times of crises. Take the appropriate steps now to ensure that he or she is well taken care of even after your divorce or death.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Not all animal shelters are the same. Fortunate homeless and unwanted animals end up in the hundreds of open-admission animal shelters that are staffed by professional, caring people. At these facilities, frightened animals are reassured, sick and injured animals receive treatment or a peaceful end to their suffering, and the animals' living quarters are kept clean and dry.

# data[].attributes.body
Did you know that animal abandonment is one of the biggest problem in the world? Millions of animals in the U.S. alone are put to death inhumanely because of drunk or careless humans. Pet breeders abandon or kill pets because they are not cute and will not be sold. People abandon animals in pounds or just in the streets because they take up too much time and are an inconvenience. Also, many people buy pets from shops or breeders when they can save a life by adopting from a shelter. People think that if they abandon animals, it is the local shelter's responsibility. They may be right, but the shelter can't operate on its own. It needs people to think when they adopt an animal, and to make sure that they will keep the animal and not just give it up.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our relationships with the animals we keep are highly personal. They provide us with unconditional love, and we take on a personal responsibility for making sure that they are well cared for. But when the bond between an animal and his guardian is broken, as when an animal is lost, abandoned, or surrendered to a shelter, who then has responsibility for the animal and his care?

Most people would say it's the local animal shelter's responsibility. And that's true. We take on the function of caring for animals other people don't want or can't care for. And we acknowledge our special role in speaking for the voiceless and upholding the moral status of animals in our communities. But if you were to ask the people at the shelter whose responsibility it is to care for lost, mistreated, and abandoned animals, they'd insist that it's the community's as a whole.

That's because we can't do this work by ourselves. Animal shelters rely on the community for funding, homes, volunteer help, and most importantly, we need people to care for their animals properly and not contribute to the problem. That's why we insist that animal welfare is a community responsibility and that success in this field comes through partnerships with people outside of the shelter.

In fact, just a few weekends ago we had an amazing adoption event -- a real example of community partnership. We got 65 animals into new homes in just two days. We kept our adoption trucks moving back and forth from the shelter to their temporary station in front of Friendship Hospital for Animals all weekend.

This private veterinary hospital, the largest in the nation's capital, understands the need for community involvement in animal welfare. Thanks to them, we have a thriving humane education program, ready veterinary interns and staff to help for events and patient care, and now... 65 new homes for our animals. It's exactly the kind of partnership we're always looking for.

With the help of that hospital, we made a lot of new friends and found many new homes. The astonishing thing to me though, was not the number of adoptions. We'd like to do that every weekend. It's the fact that by simply bringing animals to where our adopters live, and not keeping them in our shelter, which, let's face it, is not exactly on the beaten track of metro D.C.'s population (most shelters are tucked away near landfills, railroad tracks, airports, and other well-healed neighborhoods!), we literally tripled our adoptions for the weekend. One obvious conclusion -- we've got to get out more!

And that's exactly what we bought our new adoption truck to do -- bring our animals literally into the waiting arms of adopters. Easy enough to say, but not so simple to do. Especially in a city like Washington, in which parking a 22-foot truck has its challenges. So we need partners: businesses like Friendship Hospital for Animals that can host adoption events and provide us with venues to meet the public and tell them about our work.

At the same time, it's incumbent upon us in the animal welfare business to make our shelters welcoming places that the public doesn't have to be afraid to visit. So many times I hear from donors or other supporters that they love what we do, but don't want to visit because it's so sad to see all those animals without homes or hope.

But that's exactly what you won't see at the Washington Animal Rescue League or in any of the new "breed" of animal shelters being built all over the country. What you'll see at the League are contented dogs and cats acting like dogs and cats. That means you'll see them playing, eating, sleeping, and wagging their tails or stretching their paws in greeting. You'll also see funny bowls and buckets holding treats and messages from our behavior staff asking you to toss a few treats to help train our dogs to be household pets.

Every shelter needs to become a place of hope, education, and engagement -- not despair. They should be places where you can bring kids to adopt a pet, learn about the animals, or just practice compassion for all living things. But above all, places where you can teach responsible animal care, which includes spaying and neutering and adopting from shelters, not from Craig's List. Places where they are taught kindness and that it's important to be part of the world's solutions. Which includes ending animal homelessness. Put us out of business -- please.

November 6-12 is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. (But you knew that already, didn't you?) It's a great time to get to know your local animal shelter and show them that you're ready to become part of the solution. Every shelter needs adopters, donors, and volunteers. But here are few other ways you might get involved:

1. Help publicize the animals who are looking for homes. Hang a picture and description of an adoptable animal at your workplace or school. You can pull them straight from the shelter's website.

2. Consider donating used towels, blankets, toys, and treats to the shelter. Shelters go through a lot of these. You might even use your neighborhood list serve to organize a drive.

3. Host an adoption event at your work, school, or community group. Even if the event doesn't manage to find too many homes for animals -- and some are more successful in this regard than others -- you will introduce lots of people to the shelter and the work it does.

4. Learn about the services that your local shelter offers -- spay/neuter programs, low-cost vaccination clinics, dog training classes, help for feral cats, and the like -- so that you're ready to talk to friends and neighbors about how they can find help caring for their pets properly.

5. Offer to organize a tour of the shelter for a group of young people. Almost every shelter will happily talk to children about what they do and introduce them to their animals.

It's all about community. What Friendship Hospital showed us this weekend was that community partnerships work. Animal shelters need community support. And this starts by taking good care of all of our own animals. But if it's easier for the mountain to come to Mohammed, we'll do that too, like we did last weekend.

Because when the problem of animal homelessness becomes all of our problems, by spaying and neutering, giving proper veterinary care and teaching compassion for all living things, the animals will finally win. Sixty five dogs and cats who got to sleep in their new beds last week can attest to that.

Related

Animal Welfare abandoned animals animal shelters dc homeless-animals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Animal Homelessness Is a Community Challenge

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our relationships with the animals we keep are highly personal. They provide us with unconditional love, and we take on a personal responsibility for making sure that they are well cared for. But when the bond between an animal and his guardian is broken, as when an animal is lost, abandoned, or surrendered to a shelter, who then has responsibility for the animal and his care?