Most Common Animal Shelters

Animal shelters provide a temporary respite for mostly dogs and cats who have been displaced due to a natural or man-made disaster, run away or been rescued. Shelters are staffed with professional handlers with volunteer assistants. The most common kinds of shelters keep the animals in pens and provide food and basic veterinary services. Some shelters transition the animals to permanent homes and have a "no kill" policy. Others euthanize the animals if they have significant behavior issues or if they are at capacity.

  1. Government Facilities

    • Most large municipalities have government-run animal shelters, a common holding place for stray dogs or feral cats found wandering on the streets. Animal control officers capture the animals and bring them in for an assessment under the assumption they were lost or abandoned. These are also where exotic wildlife or livestock are brought. Shelter staff try to mitigate the hazards the animals pose to themselves and members of the public. The goal is to relocate them to facilities that specialize in adoption or to a zoo.

    Breed-specific Shelters

    • Some rescue organizations, if well-funded, have shelters that cater to one or two breeds of canines. Commonly animal handlers at these establishments understand the breed's habits and work hard to rehabiliate and socialize the dogs. These depositories are choices for dedicated individuals who want to foster these dogs until they are placed in permanent homes.

    Temporary Care

    • When a hurricane or tornado affects a region, some family pets get lost or cannot accompany their family to its temporary living arrangments. The Humane Society and other organizations that do field work travel to these locations and set up shelters in mobile vans or make-shift facilities. These temporary shelters also are established when there are raids on illegal puppy mills or emergencies that displace large volumes of animals.

    Healthcare Sanctuaries

    • Animals with chronic health conditions are commonly sheltered in sanctuaries that allow them to live out the remainder of their lives with dignity. Animals are given medical care and allowed to roam the facilities freely. This type of shelter is most closely related to hospice care. Animals that have been abused or require treatment that becomes cost prohibitive for owners have a place that welcomes them.