Stray dogs and cats account for a large portion of animal shelter activity.
Animal homes and shelters across the world provide care, rehabilitation and re-homing services for millions of animals annually. Activities will differ depending on the scope and scale of each individual organization; however, core activities can be deemed as physical care, education and to a lesser degree, fund-raising.
Types
Animal homes and shelters come in different types. The most well-known animal welfare organization is the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). Other worldwide animal welfare organizations include the Humane Society and the World Society for Protection of Animal (WSPA). Every country, and almost every city, will have its own domestic animal homes and shelters as well. Some animal shelters focus on one particular species; others are multispecies. Some are for native wildlife and others for domestic pets and even farm animals. The primary animals found in animal homes across the world are dogs and cats.
Activities
Animal homes and shelters function in a number of different capacities: large organizations like the RSPCA and WSPA operate shelters for strays, injured and abandoned animals as well as lobbying governments to change laws and conducting education campaigns and providing expert information on animal welfare issues. Smaller organizations generally provide shelter, care, rehabilitation and re-homing services. Most animal homes and shelters will employ the services of a vet to thoroughly check the health of all animals in the shelter and to spay and neuter animals as well. Vets also conduct euthanizing services when animals are deemed too sick or behavioral problems mean the animal will not be re-homed.
Aims
According to the Humane Society, there are approximately 6 to 8 million dogs and cats in animal shelters in the United States alone. The aim of most animal shelter activity is to eventually see this number diminish---ideally to zero. Spaying and neutering is a key aspect of animal shelter activity that helps keep populations under control. Encouraging owners to spay and neuter their pets is a central theme in most animal welfare organizations and animal shelter educational activities. Prevention of cruelty and abuse is another aim of animal homes and shelters; most are simply able to provide care for animals rescued from abusive environments; however the RSPCA is also able to prosecute individuals on behalf of the animals.
Effects
The activities of animal homes and animal shelters have made considerable inroads into the problems of strays, abandoned pets and overpopulation. As stated on the Humane Society website, the number of euthanized animals in shelters and homes has declined from nearly 20 million annually in the 1970s to just 4 million annually in 2009. While progress is being made, there still remain vast numbers of animals in need of the services of animal homes and shelters.
Funding
Animal homes and shelters are largely donor-funded organizations that utilize volunteers and the generosity of the general public to continue operations. A portion of animal shelter activity is therefore focused on fund-raising. Larger organizations like WSPA and the RSPCA are also donor-funded and fund-raising activities by these organizations usually take the form of mail, TV or street-level appeals.
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