Animal Shelters are places that take in domestic animals giving them a temporary home while they stay in hopes of getting adopted. In December of 2022, I adopted a shelter kitten named Cobra. She was a stray and separated from her mother right after birth. The day I adopted her from Linda L. Kelley Animal Shelter located here in Calvert County. I couldn’t help but notice all the animals within the shelter. Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, and Bunnies are all well taken care of but with no place to call home. While holding Cobra for the first time in the cat room, I knew she was meant to come home with me. On my way home with my new kitten in a carrier, I began to think about all the animals within the shelter. All desperately wanting a glimpse of the human interaction of love. I would adopt them all if I could, but that isn’t possible.

            Statistics I found according to The Zebra the United States roughly houses 3,500 animal shelters with half the millions of those animals getting adopted. Considering the most recent global pandemic Covid-19 people found that a little furry friend was just the cure to the loneliness in their hearts. Annually 3.3 million dogs enter animal shelters with 670,000 being euthanized. Largely due to overcrowding in shelters. Just under the annual millions of dogs entering shelters 3.2 million cats a year enter shelters either born, surrendered, or abandoned. 6.5 million animals enter shelters yearly but less than half will ever be adopted.

            This is what you can do to help. First, Spread the word! By sharing and promoting animal adoption in shelters to give an animal another chance to find a forever home is most important. Second, Donate to support groups! By donating you are more likely to be trusted because instead of solely promoting an issue you are actively fighting to change an issue. Lastly, Volunteering! By volunteering you are actively helping a community whether you are fostering a pet, taking dogs on walks, or even just snuggling up with a bunny this can make a great change in how pets view us humans as caregivers. Thank you.