of page
What is The HSUS's role in relation to local animal shelters?
By long-standing tradition, local humane societies remain independent entities, each with its own policies, governance, and priorities. In the 1950s, the founders of The HSUS recognized that animal welfare professionals at these societies were consumed with the day-to-day tasks of community animal care and control. No organization gave a national voice and coast-to-coast muscle in the fight against cruelty and the celebration of the human-animal bond. The founding mission of The HSUS was to support the work of local societies by speaking with just such a voice.
Learn more about the many programs and services we provide to local animal shelters 
back to top
If The HSUS does not oversee my local animal shelter, what does it do?
For more than a half-century, The HSUS has stood as the nation's most important advocate for local humane societies. Across the country and around the world, we serve local animal shelters and other groups by offering a wealth of publications, training opportunities (such as our annual Animal Care Expo, a trade show and workshop conference specifically designed for animal care and control professionals), and advice and assistance from our team of expert staff. We also publish recommended guidelines for shelter operations, shelter management, and animal control and cruelty.
Learn more about the many programs and services we provide to local animal shelters
Additionally, The HSUS and its partner, The Fund for Animals, provide sanctuary and direct care to thousands of creatures, big and small through the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas, two Wildlife Centers—one in southern California and one in Cape Cod, Massachusets, and a Rabbit Sanctuary in South Carolina.
back to top
How many animals enter animal shelters each year? And how many are euthanized?
The HSUS estimates that animal shelters care for between 6–8 million dogs and cats every year in the United States, of whom approximately 3–4 million are euthanized. At this time The HSUS can only estimate these figures because there is no central data reporting agency for animal shelters.
This overpopulation of companion animals is widely acknowledged across the country by professionals and experts in the animal welfare field. Overpopulation is a tragedy. There are simply not enough responsible homes for all of these wonderful, innocent animals. At this point in time, it would be impossible to humanely house every unwanted animal in the United States.
View pet overpopulation statistics
Learn more about the crisis of pet overpopulation
back to top
How long are animals held at an animal shelter before being euthanized?
Most animal shelters don't set a maximum amount of time they will hold an animal. In the vast majority of cases, decisions about euthanasia are based on other factors besides time, such as the temperament and health of the animal, and the space and means available to humanely house and properly care for the animal.
At animal shelters that house stray animals, there is an established holding period to allow the animal's owner a chance to find him. This stray holding period is set by law and varies from community to community. The HSUS recommends that shelters hold stray animals for a minimum of five operating days, including a Saturday.
After the stray holding period, staff should evaluate animals based on their adoption selection criteria. If an animal is found to be a good candidate for adoption, and if space is available at the shelter, they should hold him and try to find him a new home. Rather than giving him a time limit, the shelter should strive to ensure that he remains healthy and adoptable. If the animal becomes stressed, aggressive, or sick at the shelter, or if space becomes a problem and there is no alternative to housing that animal at the shelter, it is reasonable to consider euthanasia.
back to top
Why are animals euthanized?
The need to euthanize healthy animals is tragic, and The HSUS has worked to combat pet overpopulation for many years through public education, legislation, and providing support for sterilization programs. Still, millions of dogs and cats enter animal shelters every year in the United States.
According to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, 63 percent of American households have pets. Sadly, only about 16 percent of those households adopt their animals from shelters. The majority of pets are bought from breeders or acquired from friends and family.
The bottom line is that no shelter wants to euthanize animals. The best way to change this reality is for everyone to do their part in preventing overpopulation. Adopt your next companion animal from a shelter, have all your pets spayed or neutered so they won't contribute to the problem, and be a responsible pet owner—protect your pets with current identification tags and don't let them roam.
Learn what you can do to help to end pet overpopulation
back to top
Why aren't all animal shelters no-kill shelters?
The HSUS believes that no-kill animal shelters can play a role in helping homeless companion animals find responsible, lifelong homes. However, since some no-kill shelters choose to limit the number of animals they accept and care for, The HSUS feels strongly that there needs to be an animal shelter in every community whose doors are open to all homeless animals. Too often, stray animals suffer from starvation, disease, poisoning, abuse, injuries from traffic accidents, attacks by wildlife, and severe weather. If not spayed or neutered, they bring more innocent animals into their world of suffering. There should be an animal shelter in every community that is able to accept these animals at all times.
Based on numerous years HSUS staff members have spent working in and running animal shelters, The HSUS believes that humane euthanasia of homeless companion animals is preferable to the poor quality of life they may endure without the companionship and care of a loving, responsible home environment. Millions of dogs and cats enter shelters every year in the United States, but according to the best estimates available, only about 50 percent (3-4 million) of these animals are adopted. Currently, it would be impossible to humanely keep all of these homeless animals in shelters.
Learn what you can do to help to end pet overpopulation
back to top
I am concerned that my local animal shelter is in poor condition or that animals are being neglected. What can I do?
If you have questions or concerns about the operations at your local animal shelter, always discuss them with the shelter management first, before jumping to conclusions. Caring for animals in a shelter setting is different from caring for animals in a home environment and managing large numbers of animals requires many special considerations that may not be obvious. The HSUS recommends that all animal shelters provide at least the minimum quality of life standards for the animals in their care.
Because they are independent agencies, animal shelters operate with varying levels of funding and resources. Undesirable shelter conditions are more often a result of economic constraints and lack of training rather than absence of compassion. For this reason, we encourage communities to support their local animal shelters so they are able to provide the best care possible for the animals they assist. It is important to keep in mind that even though a poorly constructed or run-down facility can pose significant challenges in providing the best care to the animals, a brand new facility doesn't necessarily guarantee that good care is being given. A shelter's physical structure does not and should not dictate the quality of daily operations.
We urge you to talk with your local officials about the need to provide funding and support to animal care and control services comparable to what is given to other functions, such as law enforcement and public works. You may want to consider obtaining a copy of "Animal Control Management: A Guide for Local Governments." This report, which was written by The HSUS, serves as a guidebook for running an effective community animal care and control program.
Learn more about what you can do if you have concerns about your local animal shelter
back to top
How do I notify the correct authorities about animal abuse or neglect that I have witnessed?
If you witness animal abuse or neglect, please contact your local humane society, animal shelter, or animal control agency immediately. In most areas, those agencies have the jurisdiction and capability to investigate and resolve these situations. They rely on concerned citizens to be their eyes and ears in the community and to report animal suffering. If you are not sure where to call or if there is no animal welfare agency of that sort in your community, call your local police department or sheriff's office.
Learn more about animal abuse and neglect
back to top
I need to give up my pet, what do I do?
Many pet-related problems can be frustrating, and you may feel that relinquishing your pet is the only solution. But before you take that drastic step, be aware of the wealth of resources available to help pet owners such as yourself deal with problems that can seem overwhelming.
If your reason for giving up your pet is behavior problems, visit humanesociety.org/petsforlife to view our behavior tip sheets, which may help your resolve those problems. If you are having trouble finding rental housing that accepts pets, check out our information on finding animal-friendly rental-housing.
If you cannot keep your pet, check out Guidelines for Finding a Responsible Home for a Pet, which includes information designed to help you responsibly re-home your animal into a safe environment.
back to top
My animal shelter won't accept the animal I brought to them. What do I do?
First and foremost, it's extremely important to try to keep the animal in your custody until you can find a responsible place to take them. Try to locate other animal shelters in your area by visiting www.pets911.com or looking in the phone directory under "animal shelters," "animal control," or "animal care and control." If those methods don't work, try contacting a veterinarian in your area. They may have a better idea of what resources are available to you.
The HSUS feels strongly that there needs to be an animal shelter in each community whose doors are open to all homeless and unwanted animals. However, animal shelters, as independent agencies, are under no obligation to follow these recommendations.
back to top
There isn't an animal shelter in my community, what do I do? Can I start my own shelter?
Traditionally, animal care and control services are a function of the local government, and for the sake of public health and safety and the quality of life in a community, it is imperative that all governments provide these services.
Creating a private shelter can be an extremely challenging endeavor requiring ample resources, so if there isn't an animal care and control agency that covers your area, we urge you to speak to your local officials about the need for adequate animal control services. The report "Animal Control Management: A Guide for Local Governments" may be helpful to you and your local government in deciding how your community's animal control agency should be set up and operated.
Starting and maintaining a responsible shelter requires a great deal of expertise, labor and resources. There may be more effective ways you can help. Local animal organizations and citizens can help animals through many different methods. While some concentrate on sheltering and adoptions, others focus on services like lobbying for effective animal protection laws and services, educating the public about responsible pet ownership, establishing subsidized spay and neuter services, helping feral cats in their community, setting up pet-behavior hotlines or classes to help more people keep their animals instead of relinquishing or abandoning them, or bringing humane education into area classrooms. The HSUS encourages you to investigate your community's animal problems to determine how your resources may best be employed.
back to top
How do I adopt a pet?
We urge you (and everyone!) to adopt your pet from an animal shelter, rather than purchasing a pet from a pet store or breeder. Shelters offer an all-shapes-and-sizes potpourri of potential new best friends. You will find puppies and kittens at shelters as well as mature animals. In addition, The HSUS estimates that approximately 25% of shelter animals are purebred. Every animal shelter has its own policies and procedures for adoptions, so you will need to contact the animal shelters in your area to learn how they operate.
Find out more about adopting a pet
back to top
How do animal shelters decide what animals to make available for adoption?
The purpose of an animal shelter's adoption program, whether a private animal protection organization or a municipal animal care and control agency, should be to find responsible, lifelong homes for animals who are suitable family companions. Making such matches requires careful attention to the needs of both the animals and their prospective adopters. Only healthy animals who are not known to have exhibited potentially dangerous or aggressive tendencies or other serious behavioral disorders should be made available for adoption.
It is important to remember that animal shelters operate with different levels of funding, and every shelter may not have the resources to treat sick or injured animals. Of course, in these cases, every option is explored when deciding whether it is possible to provide treatment, but shelters must consider that expending a large amount of funds on one animal means lessening the funds available for all of the other animals under their care.
In order to select adoption candidates and to attain successful adoptions, every dog or cat should receive a thorough medical exam and behavioral assessment to give staff and volunteers a better understanding of that individual animal's health, needs, behaviors, fears and personality.
back to top
Why does my local animal shelter require that all adopted animals be spayed or neutered?
Because of the needless breeding of dogs and cats, coupled with irresponsible pet ownership, animal shelters continue to receive countless unwanted companion animals every year. Between six and eight million dogs and cats enter animal shelters every year in the United States, but according to the best estimates available, only about half of these animals are adopted. Shelters who spay and neuter animals prior to adoption do so to ensure that they are not contributing to the very overpopulation problem that they struggle against each day.
Get a shelter's prospective on why all animals should be spayed or neutered
Find out the myths and facts about spaying and neutering
back to top
Why do animal shelters charge an adoption fee?
Because animal shelters must be able to cover the costs involved in caring for the animals they house, they charge fees for adoption services. These costs can include feeding, grooming, vaccinations, medications and, in some cases, spaying or neutering. Many shelters depend on donations to cover these costs as they are not profit-making organizations.
Although adoption fees are needed to run shelters, they also serve another purpose. The decision to acquire a pet should be made very carefully. Individuals need to be ready and willing to pay for necessary costs of owning an animal, such as inoculations, veterinary care, licensing, food, and more. If a modest adoption fee causes the prospective pet owner concern, then he or she very well may not be prepared to make the financial commitment required of responsible pet owners.
back to top
I was denied a pet adoption. What can I do?
It is important to remember that adoptions staff are tasked with the great responsibility of protecting the futures of the animals in their care. Adoption policies are in place to protect animals and to ensure the right matches are made between people and animals.
We recommend that you contact the shelter adoptions representative to ask on what basis your application was denied. This may clear up any possible misunderstandings that may have taken place during the adoption process. Once you are informed why your application was denied, if you feel it was unfair we recommend that you contact shelter management to discuss your concerns.
back to top
I recently adopted an animal from my local animal shelter that I later found out was sick. Why did the shelter allow a sick animal to be adopted?
The HSUS believes that animal shelters should open their doors to any animal in need. When shelters do provide haven to all animals, they accept animals of varying health levels, many of whom arrive with no medical history. Some of these animals may not exhibit symptoms during their stay at the shelter and may only show signs of illness once they have been placed into an adoptive home.
Also, in any large-scale kennel situation, whether it be a boarding kennel, a breeder, a retail pet store, or an animal shelter, any number of transmittable ailments can be passed among animals confined to a common living area. Due to funding constraints, many shelters are unable to test incoming animals for certain diseases.
The HSUS encourages communities to support their local animal shelters so they are able to provide the best care possible for the animals they assist. If you have concerns about an animal you've adopted that is sick, be sure to consult your veterinarian and discuss the situation with the shelter management.
back to top
Updated Nov. 19, 2007.
