| The well being of dogs, as well as the public that | | | | the right to call their local animal shelter to report |
| they interact with, is an important part of maintaining | | | | abuse. The proper authorities will then make the |
| safe and orderly communities. When they becomes | | | | decision whether to remove the animal from its |
| abandoned, it will often be picked up and placed in a | | | | location and into a dog shelter. For dogs that can be |
| shelter. | | | | nursed back to health, shelters can provide a safe |
| Dog shelters were developed to keep stray dogs | | | | place for recuperation. |
| from possible harm, both as victims and perpetrators. | | | | Containment Center for Strays |
| The ultimate goal of any of these shelters is to find | | | | Dogs are not always born into homes or other |
| a permanent home for the animals, whether that | | | | organized environments. For stray dogs, these |
| means returning them to their previous home or | | | | shelters are a place that potential pet adopters can |
| finding new adoptive owners. | | | | find and save a homeless dog. The best way to |
| There are many different facilities that cater | | | | control the number of homeless dogs is to give them |
| specifically to lost, abandoned, abused, and injured | | | | homes and have theme spayed or neutered. |
| animals. Some are publicly funded while others are | | | | Quarantine for Unsafe Dogs |
| private; there are both for profit and nonprofit | | | | Some dogs can be a danger to people and other |
| shelters. The main functions of a shelter can be | | | | animals, especially if they are untrained and |
| categorized into the following general purposes: | | | | aggressive. Sick animals can also pose just a much of |
| Temporary Homes for Lost Dogs | | | | a threat to public safety as aggressive animals do. In |
| Dogs sometimes get separated from their owners | | | | some cases, dog shelters are temporary quarantines |
| by accident. If the dog does not have proper ID | | | | for unsafe animals until further action is taken. |
| tags, it becomes difficult to place the pup back into | | | | Dog shelters, while built to house dogs temporarily, |
| its rightful home. Owners who lose their pets should | | | | are limited in space and resources. Unfortunately, |
| call local the local shelters first. | | | | many dogs are eventually euthanized if they cannot |
| Rescue Centers | | | | be transferred and/or given proper medical care in a |
| Animal abuse is a sadly common phenomenon. When | | | | reasonable amount of time. Dog lovers can remedy |
| animals are mistreated, concerned onlookers have | | | | this problem by adopting these dogs. |