The first full week of November is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, an observance started by the Humane Society of the United States in 1996 to recognize the importance of animal shelters and the people committed to rescuing animals.
According to the ASPCA, there are about 70 million stray animals in the United States; as many as 8 million of these animals end up in one of the 3,500 shelters across the country. While more than 3 million shelter animals are adopted each year, the remaining animals require year-round care.
Many animal shelters are nonprofit, meaning they depend on donations and grants to stay open. The primary function of an animal shelter is to find a home for stray animals. They also help to reunite lost pets with their owners. Other services some animal shelters provide include animal health services, behavioral evaluations, training, pet-sitting, grooming, and humane education.
You can help as part of Shelter Appreciation Week by volunteering or even adopting if you have been looking for a forever companion. You can also help by doing what you can to help control the pet population. Tell friends, family, and pet owners to get their pet spayed or neutered. Make sure every pet-owner you know has the appropriate ID - all cats and dogs should have a collar and a tag with their owner’s contact information. Pet microchipping is also an effective way to keep pets safe.