You keep good care of your dog, but what of those who by some accident or circumstances end up alone? The pound may be the end destination for an unfortunate number, as even healthy dogs will be put down if they can’t be rehomed elsewhere.

Animal shelters, which take in unwanted dogs and try to rehome them, have been driving home the message over the last five to ten years the importance of spaying and neutering dogs. This has helped reduce the numbers of stray dogs in many parts of the USA.

Not all animals which end up in the shelters are unwanted pets. Sometimes the owner can no longer look after their animal due to sickness; death, neglect and handicap can also force a hard choice.

On the flip side, some might end up in shelters because they were too much to handle for their owner, they may have become too boisterous around the children or had some behavioral issue.

Your first port of call when looking for anew dog should be an animal shelter as they have a whole range of dogs. You may even find the puppy you have always wanted right there.

There are some aspects to remember when you adopt from an animal shelter. The dogs rarely come with any medical history, so any future illnesses or conditions cannot be predicted.

Likewise the shelter can rarely vouch for the animal’s temperament, so caution should be exercised, especially if you are choosing a dog to be around your kids. In addition be prepared to have to do a little dog obedience with your new pet to iron out any bad habits his former owner allowed him to have.

The first days and weeks are bound to be a learning curve for you and your dog, so be gentle but firm.

The Humane Society is the largest organization for animal protection in the USA. Its central offices are based in Washington DC. It works on a local level with many regional branches across the USA. It is funded by donation.

The work of the Humane society includes looking after the rights of both wildlife and domestic animals. It carries out its wok through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work.

If you are looking for a pet the Humane Society can help; its local branches hold many unwanted animals looking for new homes.

There are ways you can aid the Society though. Adoption is a massive benefit. Fundraising is essential for the work of the organization. Volunteers make up a large part of the workforce.

These are all valuable contributions. The Humane Society and shelters are a ray of hope for abandoned and injured animals. Please don’t remain complacent about the fate of unwanted animals; the truth can be very sad.