WHY ADOPT?
Approximately 12 million companion animals are turned into shelters each year in the United States, and of those 12 million, 9 million are euthanized.  By adopting a shelter dog, you can help save a life. If it is indeed a perfectly balanced universe, then for every person who neglects, abuses, or abandons a dog, there is another person who will rescue, nurture, and care for him.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

ADOPT
There are hundreds of thousands of animal shelters and rescue organizations in the United States, and many of these can be accessed through the excellent website www.petfinder.org. If you live in New York City, you might try the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC Animals (www.animalalliancenyc.org) or the Animal Haven Shelter (www.animalhavenshelter.org) 

RESCUE
If you have a favorite breed, consider joining a local rescue network, and join in their

efforts to help re-home dogs that might end up in a high-kill shelter. Most of these groups are listed on www.petfinder.org.

FOSTER
Foster parents take in homeless dogs and provide warmth, love, food and stability until that dog finds a forever-home—usually for short periods ranging from one week to three months. Foster parents help socialize the dog, monitor his health if need be, and help to access his personality traits, his needs, and his quirks. Fostering is a wonderfully rewarding experience, because you help to rehabilitate a confused dog and help restore his confidence in humans.

SPONSOR
If now is not the right time in your life to take in a dog, consider sponsoring one.  Even the smallest donation can help feed, house, and medically treat a needy dog.

Volunteer
It seems that every shelter in this country is understaffed, and volunteers are always welcome.  Positions range from the hands-on (dog walking, dog playing) to administrative (posting dogs’ pictures and statistics on the internet). Even just a few hours a week is appreciated, and every effort helps to find those dogs their forever homes.
Again, information on all the above can be found on www.petfinder.org.

GET INVOLVED POLITICALLY
There are hundreds of websites where you can learn about how/where/when and why animals are treated inhumanely, and what you can do to stop inhumane treatment. The largest and most influential groups have the best websites, and have zillions of links to other groups and their sites:
PETA  www.peta.org
THE ASPCA www.aspca.org
THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES: www.hsus.org

By getting involved, you can help put a stop to such inhumane practices as puppy mills, animal testing, and animal neglect. You can encourage your local politicians to change legislations. You can help make the world a better place.