Adoption Options: All About Animal Shelters

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between animal shelters, rescues, and breeders? Have you heard of puppy mills but don't know what they actually are? Wondering if it's safe to buy a pet online? Are you considering bringing an animal companion into your family, but don't know where to look? This series is for you! Welcome to part 1 of our 5-part series, Adoption Options.

So what's the big deal with shelters vs. rescues vs. breeders? Many people have strong opinions on this topic, but we aren't here to convince you one way or the other. All options are giving animals who don't have a home, a home, and that's a wonderful thing. This series is here to educate people about the main forms of obtaining animal companionship so folks can make their own educated decisions about what's the best fit for their lifestyle, family, and situation.

According to the ASPCA, roughly 3.2 million shelter animals are adopted each year in the United States (1.6 million dogs and 1.6 million cats). But what exactly is an animal shelter?

Animal shelters

Piper likes to go outside so she can eat grass and watch birds.

What are they?

An animal shelter is a place where stray, lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals are provided care and housing. Sometimes people can't take care of their pets anymore due to health or moving somewhere that doesn't allow animals. A little-known fact: "moving" or "landlord issues" are actually the most common reasons animals end up in shelters. Also, sometimes pets wander away from their homes and end up in shelters.

It's a common misconception that shelter animals all have health issues or behavior problems. Most of the time, the reason they're there has nothing to do with the animals themselves. Plenty of shelter animals have actually already had some level of training.

Shelters often have mostly dogs and cats, but this depends on local restrictions. Some take in other animals like reptiles, rodents, birds, and livestock. Shelters are different than sanctuaries, as shelters are meant to be temporary living situations. Sanctuaries are the forever home of the animals in most cases.

There are sanctuaries for cows in India called goshalas, for example. Cows are significant in the Hindu religion, so it is culturally important to treat the cows well and provide cows with shelter and dedicated care. Those cows will live in the goshala for the rest of their lives. Your local animal shelter, in contrast, isn't where those animals are going to live for the rest of their lives, ideally. Shelters house animals so people can come and adopt them.

Piper, a former shelter cat, is one of Runa's good friends.

The adoption process

Animal shelters often have websites where they list their animals online, once they're all set for adoption. You can go to the shelter's website and send email inquiries about pets and learn about their adoption requirements and process. You can also just go into the shelter without visiting their website first or sending an inquiry.

Either way, once you're at the shelter, you can go up to the front desk and state your interest in adopting a pet. Some shelters have questionnaires that you can fill out so they can help you determine the best fit for your wants, living situation, and lifestyle. Others may offer to give you a tour of the facility or direct you to where the animals are kept (though policies may vary due to COVID-19).

You can walk through the shelter and look at all sorts of different animals  cats will be kept in one area, dogs in another, and so on. Some shelters might have a room where more social animals are out and about for you to meet. Other animals may be kept in a kennel-area where they have access to food, water, bedding, etc.

If you see an animal or animals you'd like to get to know better, many shelters have meeting rooms or playrooms where you can meet the animal(s). Just find a staff member and ask if they provide this service and direct them to the animal(s) in question. You'll be able to meet them one-on-one.

Or, if you bring family members/roommates with you, and even your current pet(s), you can all meet the animal(s) together. This could be more stressful for the animal, so it might be a good idea to first meet with the animal one-on-one and then introduce more members of the household. However, not all shelters have this service or the space/time to provide it.

Runa, our Spokescat, was adopted from a shelter.

If you are planning on adopting a dog and already have another dog living with you, private shelters often require that the dogs have a face-to-face meeting. This is so they can evaluate if the dogs get along well enough. They don't want to adopt a dog out to a home with another dog who does not tolerate other dogs, because then they are putting an animal in danger. It's a good chance for you to do the same thing  make sure that the potential new family member will play nice with your current pal. It's also a good chance for both dogs to meet on neutral territory, though all the other sounds and smells of the shelter might be distracting for the dogs.

If everything seems to have gone well during the meeting, you can ask the shelter staff how to proceed with the adoption. Usually, there's some paperwork and an associated fee, though shelters are often the most affordable of the options we will discuss in this series. Some shelters allow you to bring the animal home that day if you have the necessary supplies (food, water, litter box and litter for cats, toys, etc.). Others may have a waiting period, especially if that animal has yet to be spayed or neutered. They want to make sure the animals have ample time to recover from any surgeries.

As a general statement (not applicable to every shelter), there are fewer requirements put in place than there are for adopting from rescues or breeders. This is likely the case because there are so many animals brought to shelters that in order to find them all homes and avoid overcrowding, shelters often streamline the process and remove as many barriers as possible in the adoption process.

Piper loves curling up on a blanket for a midday nap.

An example of the process in action:

Our assistant Spokesdog, Theo, was dumped unceremoniously in the woods near a farm with his 10 siblings when they were born. He was the runt of the litter. The puppies were soon found by the nephew -in-law of our Sales and Marketing Director, Pamela Mulvey. He was taken to the local shelter with his siblings. The shelter held the puppies for a few days to make sure they were medically sound before allowing them to be adopted out, and that's how Theo became a part of the ASL Solutions family.

Public/municipal shelters, private shelters, and animal control agencies

Animal shelters are either privately owned or local-government-run, usually the latter.

The main difference between public shelters and private shelters is funding. Public shelters, also known as municipal shelters, are government owned/funded. Private shelters don't get any funding from the government and instead rely upon donations. There are also private shelters that have municipal contracts, which is sort of like a mix between the two.

Municipal shelters usually have lower adoption fees, but not always, and their paperwork is often more streamlined. Private shelters may be a little fancier looking with slightly more paperwork.

An animal control agency is a local government organization that helps people and animals in various ways. They assist animals in distress, reunite people with lost pets, take in strays, respond to nuisance complaints, etc. Some animal control agencies also function as shelters for stray animals, and other animal control agencies transport the animals to a local shelter. Animal control agencies are required to take in all stray animals, whereas private shelters don't strictly have to.

Piper is sitting on a Christmas cactus. Is she supposed to be there?

Things to keep in mind

When visiting an animal shelter, it's important to understand the environment before making judgements. A really full shelter can be stressful and crowded, both for the animals and the staff/volunteers. Some animals are okay in this environment, and others get stressed out by it. This can make it difficult to gauge an animal's typical demeanor. Make sure you have some time alone with the animal (if possible) before committing to adopt. Getting away from all the noise and other people might help that animal feel more comfortable and relaxed.

The high turnover rate in shelters means that shelter staff and volunteers don't always have a lot of time to get to know an animal before they get adopted. They may not be able to thoroughly advise you on a given animal's personality and whether or not it would be a good fit for you  or they might be able to give you an excellent recommendation. It can be helpful to ask the shelter workers how long the animal has been in the shelter and how much they have interacted with the animal.

Additionally, the animals in shelters usually have no known history whatsoever, so if you're looking for a purebred show animal, a breeder is more likely to have what you're looking for. And without medical testing, it can be difficult to know if your shelter pet might have a tendency toward a genetic disease.

However, one of the benefits of shelters is that they usually make sure to deworm and spay/neuter their animals before allowing them to be adopted. They also make sure you set up a veterinary appointment to get your pet vaccinated against rabies, and sometimes can offer free or reduced price coupons for said vaccine. Some shelters have veterinarians on staff to treat minor health conditions, but they usually don't have the resources to treat major conditions.

None of this is intended to dissuade you from adopting a pet from a shelter, far from it! No organization style is going to be perfect, and it's good to know the pros and cons of each option.

Animal companions change lives no matter where they come from.

Shelters and euthanasia

Content warning: discussion of animal death and suffering

When discussing animal shelters, it's only fair to address the controversial practice of some shelters: euthanasia.

As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, euthanasia is "the act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (such as persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy."

The animals that some shelters euthanize are not always "hopelessly sick or injured". This may sound counterintuitive, given that shelters are put in place to provide shelter and care for animals. However, the issue is labyrinthine in its complexity.

"Unadoptable"

Shelters with euthanasia policies in place are sometimes required to accept every animal that gets brought in. If the shelter was already full, that means an animal who's been there for a long time or who is deemed "unadoptable" may get euthanized.

What makes an animal "unadoptable"? According to some, animals who have socially declined to the point of aggression make them "adoptable" to only a very small percentage of people who are willing to try to put in the work of re-socializing the animals. Animals who have expensive, difficult, and/or fatal health problems are also harder to adopt out to people. They may have special emotional care needs as well. The shelter may not be able to provide these services for the animals, either.

These animals aren't actually "unadoptable", they're just much more difficult to find homes for. There are places out there, like Old Dog Haven, that find homes for animals who have problems that would make them "unadoptable" in average animal shelters.

A complex subject

Shelters often have very limited space, as there is a seemingly endless supply of animals in need of housing. This is largely due to the huge number of non-neutered and non-spayed animals that are abandoned outside or who get lost. These animals end up breeding with other stray animals and increasing the population of animals in need of shelter.

Some argue that euthanasia  a quick, clean death  is better than an animal starving or getting hit by a car. Others disagree, citing that at least animals have a chance at life if allowed to roam.

Sometimes people bring animals into shelters that are beyond what shelters have the resources to care for (debilitating injury or incurable disease). In those cases, sometimes people deem euthanasia the merciful thing to do.

It's also important to understand that nobody wants to perform euthanasia. It takes a seriously heavy emotional toll on those who are called upon to do it. Of course the animal in question doesn't have a choice in the matter and their suffering is worth acknowledging as well. The reason we point out the emotional toll on the veterinarians and technicians is because it's less obvious than the loss of the animal, which is often (not unfairly) the focus in conversations on this topic.

Regulations

There are euthanasia regulations in place in 49 out of 50 states.

There are regulations as to how long an animal must be in a shelter and who must be notified before the animal is allowed to be euthanized. If there is a registered owner, they must be contacted. If the owner is unknown, often a message must be put out to the public. If the animal remains unclaimed for a certain amount of time, varying by state, then the animal is legally allowed to be euthanized.

In shelters that allow it, euthanasia can only be performed by a licensed veterinarian or technician.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) outlines a standard injection that many states follow. The process is meant to be painless and swift, so as to minimize any suffering.

Where we are today

In 1970, according to the ASPCA, 15 million shelter animals were euthanized. Now, that number is down to 1.5 million shelter animals. That is still a very large number, but it is a positive downward trend, and acknowledging progress is important.

A common argument for adopting from a shelter is that by adopting a shelter animal, you save two lives  the life of the animal you adopt, and the life of the animal who gets to enter the shelter thanks to a spot opening up. And many people have found that their pets have saved them in one way or another.

(Note: We are not defending euthanasia in shelters as a practice or coming out in support or protest against it. We are merely attempting to give readers an idea of the complexity of the issue by looking at it from different angles.)

Runa would like to speak to someone about the daily treat allotment; she feels it is insufficient.

An interview with Erik, adopter of Piper the cat

So what made you decide to get a pet?

"I was lonely. I've always wanted a cat. I have a chinchilla, which was a compromise between my mom and I when I wanted a cat in high school. When I was finishing up college, I started talking with a friend who had a cat. I was like 'Well, I'll be on my own soon,' so I asked my mom and she said yes this time. I wanted something to pay attention to and take care of."

How/why did you decide to adopt from a shelter?

"Pet stores cost too much and going on Craigslist there are too many unknowns. I'm familiar with the Humane Association in my area because I've been there before. Petfinder was helpful too, it helps you find pets in your area. I found cats listed on Petfinder from the local Humane Association."

What was the adoption process like?

"I sent the Humane Association a message on Petfinder.com, and they got back to me via email. We set up an appointment and I went to the shelter and looked at several cats. They gave me a tour of the facility and I got to spend time in a private room with the cats to get to know them. I saw 3 or 4 cats. The person who was guiding me through the facility picked up Piper and the rest was history.

Honestly, I was looking for an orange cat, I've always had a thing for orange cats. But the guide was holding Piper and she looked healthy and seemed kind and friendly."

Caught in the act!

"I went to the front counter and got a few pieces of paper to sign. Health record, terms of agreement, you adopted her in this condition, if she gets sick it's not our fault, basic information about Piper, and I gave them basic information about me. They started doing a "name your own price" thing instead of their usual $25 fee, but I just paid them the $25 because that's what I was expecting and they need money to run the shelter anyway.

I wanted to bring Piper home right away but they asked me a few times if I wanted to wait a day and think about it. I felt guilty saying I wanted to bring her home right away, but I really had my mind set on it. They don't want people to make a rushed decision. I brought her home that same day and I've had her since September of 2020."

Was she vaccinated and spayed, or did you have to take care of that?

"She was spayed and vaccinated. That's a good thing about shelters versus Craigslist. With shelters they have a vet come in and do a mass neuter/spay/vaccination thing, and so it didn't cost me anything."

Runa is fond of sleeping in ludicrously cute positions.

What requirements were there for adopting pets?

"You had to be 18. You're a person."

(The interviewer afterwards called the adoption facility in question and asked a few questions about their process. The following is paraphrased from that phone call.)

"This shelter is an open adoption facility, meaning we remove as many barriers as they can for adoption. We don't have an application process anymore. We instead invite people to visit our facility and fill out a brief form with basic information about oneself (name, lifestyle (ex: are they looking for an outdoorsy animal, an animal who's great with kids, etc.)) and what are they looking for in a pet. Then the folks interested in adopting can meet with an adoption counselor to figure out what animals would best fit their lifestyle. We allow same day adoptions and have a brief contract for adopters to sign (name and contact information).

The intention of streamlining the process is to make the animals' stay in the shelter much shorter. By decreasing the length of the animals' stay, that means there's less overcrowding and fewer chances for illness to spread. Dogs especially have difficulties when staying in a shelter for an extended period of time  their social skills usually decline in a kennel environment after awhile, no matter how good the volunteers are and how many walks they go on. The shelter wants to make sure that these dogs can stay adoptable so they can find forever homes. An animal who is considered not adoptable is an animal who has declined to the point of aggression, which means they have behavioral issues that a much smaller percentage of adopters are willing to deal with."

Would you recommend adopting from shelters to someone else?

"Yeah, it's honestly the best option. It doesn't cost much, there are medical benefits, and shelters have lots of options for pets to adopt."

Runa enjoys curling up on the stairs for naptime.

Conclusion

Animal shelters are places where stray, lost, abandoned, or surrendered animals are provided care and housing. They are held there and put up for adoption so people can bring these animals into their lives.

The adoption process is often straightforward and streamlined. There are few requirements and it's a very affordable option. There are some minor differences between public and private shelters, but nothing drastic.

This article also discussed euthanasia, which is a complex and multifaceted matter. We barely scraped the surface of the subject, but wanted to provide our readers with at least some information as it does have to do with animal shelters.

There are pros and cons to every option, so be sure to do your research and find out what's best for you and your situation. Millions of animals have found their forever homes thanks to shelters, the people who run shelters, and the people who adopt from them.

Series Sources:

Admin. “Survey Reveals Misconceptions about Purebred Dogs in Animal Shelters.” American Kennel Club, 14 July 2015, www.akc.org/clubs-delegates/government-relations/government-relations-blogs/survey-reveals-misconceptions-purebred-dogs-animal-shelters/.

Cyrenne, Suzie. “Animal Rescue and Animal Shelter: What Is the Difference?” HomeoAnimal.com, 2019, www.homeoanimal.com/blogs/blog-pet-health/81114180-animal-rescue-and-animal-shelter-what-is-the-difference.

Gorey, Megan. “The Differences: Animal Control Vs. Humane Society.” WCYB, WCYB, 20 Dec. 2011, www.wcyb.com/features/weekend-drive/the-differences-animal-control-vs-humane-society.

“Federal Licensing & USDA Standards.” ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/barred-from-love/laws-rules/federal-licensing-usda-standards.

“How to Find a Responsible Dog Breeder.” The Humane Society of the United States, www.humanesociety.org/resources/how-find-responsible-dog-breeder#:~:text=You%20can%20find%20responsible%20breeders,or%20visiting%20professional%20dog%20shows.

Kleinfeldt, Alexandra. “Overview of Animal Euthanasia.” Animal Law Legal Center, Michigan State University College of Law, 2017, www.animallaw.info/article/overview-animal-euthanasia.

“Rescue vs Shelter vs Breeder Pet: Which Is Right For You?” My Pet Cab, Starwood Animal Transport Services, 4 Nov. 2020, www.mypetcab.com/blog/rescue-vs-shelter-vs-breeder-pet.

Sharma, Arvind, et al. “The Management of Cow Shelters (Gaushalas) in India, Including the Attitudes of Shelter Managers to Cow Welfare.” Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI, MDPI, 28 Jan. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7070297/.

The Shelter Pet Project, theshelterpetproject.org/.

“Understanding Your Local Government & Animal Control.” Alley Cat Allies, www.alleycat.org/resources/guide-to-local-government-animal-control/.

Thank you to Erik Streck, Shawn Cruze, Gloria and Howard Atkison, Abri M. Iwanski, and the Fox Valley Humane Shelter for their information and assistance with this series.