Find an animal shelter or Humane Society in your area
1) Use your area phone book:
In the "yellow pages" look under "Animal Shelter" or "Humane Society".
In the "white pages" look under the name of the county you live in. Example: I live in "Morristown, TN - Hamblen County". The name of my local Animal Shelter is Morristown-Hamblen Humane Society
2) Go to PetFinder.org to find an animal shelter in your area.
Here are a few listed Animal Shelters and Rescue Clubs:
Take time to visit your local animal shelter.
Pet and talk to all the animals in their cages. Ask the shelter staff questions about any animal(s) you are interested in adopting. Ask about:
The animal's age
The animal's "history", (where did they find the animal, if the animal is friendly)
If you want a small dog - find out about the particular breed and its estimated adult size & weight
There's a place in our community where the hungry are fed, the homeless are sheltered, and the abandoned are given
care. It's your local animal shelter, where staff and volunteers provide comfort and care for your community's unwanted animals.
They offer many other services, too, for pets and their owners and even for people without pets. To do all that, the
shelter relies on the support of people like you. Here are a few ways you can help animals, especially those at your local shelter:
Give a little bit. Donate food, old blankets and towels, or other needed supplies to your local shelter. Contribute to one
of its special programs. Lend a hand. Volunteer your time at your local shelter. Bathe and groom the animals, walk dogs, or play with cats. Stuff envelopes for a mailing. Help publicize an event. Find that special someone. Choose your next pet from your local shelter. They have many wonderful dogs and
cats or different shapes and sizes just waiting for a permanent, loving home.
Help spread the word. Tell your friends about your local shelter's services. Promote animal safety and
responsible pet ownership. Celebrate National Animal Shelter
Appreciation Week the first full week of November.
Be a responsible pet owner. Keep current
identification on your dog or cat at all times. Spay or neuter your pet. Always keep your dog or cat properly confined or
supervised. In addition to the basics--food, water, shelter, and
veterinary care--give your pet lots of love and attention.
Vote for the animals. Support legislation to
protect animals. Contact government officials about animal issues
and urge them to support pro-animal legislation.
Be a hero. Report animal cruelty and neglect as
well as injured or stray animals. You may prevent
suffering and even save a life.
Teach your children well. Instruct children in how to care for animals properly and how to treat them with kindness. Set an example by doing the same.
Improper animal transport The Woodro received this letter from a friend in California. It is a copy of the letter she sent to her local newspaper:
Dear Editor,
In the early evening of Sunday, January 17, 1999 while driving
home to San Luis Obispo from Cambria on Highway 1, I watched
in horror as a dog was flipped out of the open bed of a pickup
truck.
We were driving behind the truck, and I couldn't help but
be upset as I noticed the dog was only secured with one regular
leash and was perched high in the bed of the truck. The dog was
thrown off balance and ejected from the bed of the truck as the
driver went to high speed to pass another car. It all happened so
quickly. The dog was over the side of the truck bed, hanging from
it's leash, while the driver nearly caused an accident trying to stop.
Please, dog owners, don't jeopardize the lives of your "best friend"
and others around you. There are proper ways to safely transport
an animal in the open bed of a truck: a two-leash method, or a
secured kennel crate. Another dangerous situation arises when
animals are transported in pickups with capped beds, because of
the accumulation of exhaust fumes. Consult your local humane
society or veterinarian for any questions.
Stop and take the time to properly secure your pet while travelling.
Thank you,
Constance
The senseless killing of cats and dogs, human's loyal and most trusted companions for the international fur trade has got to STOP!