It is a common belief that animal shelters are a breeding ground of unsanitary conditions and sadness, as they are thought to have too many problematic animals and less family-oriented pets. While purebreds/puppies aren't as customary among shelter life, they are not uncommon, and can still be found quite frequently among shelters in our area as well. Outside of issues concerning aggressive/problematic behavior, the main problem regarding animal shelters today is the possibility of animal being euthanized, or put to death in a painless manner, as a result of shelters being severely overcrowded. One of the most popular issues facing the world of adoptions and shelter is the numerous amounts of shelter using the the method of euthanization in order to solve financial and spatial issues; this could be described as a form of animal cruelty and unfortunately is viewed by many as an acceptable solution. As previously mentioned, purebred/puppies are in high demand among adoptees, as a result to these preferences, many mixed breeds and older animals are subjected to these unfortunate methods. In relation to spatial limitations, many shelters don’t have the financial means needed in order to care for the ever-growing number of animals.
How can you help shelters without taking the responsibility of actually adopting an animal? There are multiple ways people in our community could help our local shelter, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Outside of the common solutions that include the donation of animal toys, beds, food, etc., the AWLA hosts a program known as “Adopt is Forward”. Not everyone is capable of adopting an animal, but Adopt is Forward helps make a difference in the life of a shelter animal. This program allows you to sponsor, or “adopt”, animal by pre-paying their adoption fee; not only does this program help to notify the public of available animals, it increases the likelihood of older animals finding forever homes. This is an amazing program, and its open to anyone willing to participate!
How can you help shelters without taking the responsibility of actually adopting an animal? There are multiple ways people in our community could help our local shelter, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Outside of the common solutions that include the donation of animal toys, beds, food, etc., the AWLA hosts a program known as “Adopt is Forward”. Not everyone is capable of adopting an animal, but Adopt is Forward helps make a difference in the life of a shelter animal. This program allows you to sponsor, or “adopt”, animal by pre-paying their adoption fee; not only does this program help to notify the public of available animals, it increases the likelihood of older animals finding forever homes. This is an amazing program, and its open to anyone willing to participate!
How can you help? Donate today!
Sources
- “Animal Welfare League of Alexandria | AWLA.” Alexandria Animals, \https://alexandriaanimals.org/
- “10 Misconceptions About Animal Shelters.” IHeartDogs.com, 24 Mar. 2018, https://iheartdogs.com/10-misconceptions-about-animal-shelters/