Animal shelter
An animal shelter is a facility that houses homeless, lost, or abandoned animals; primarily a large variety of dogs and cats.
The goal of today's animal shelter is to provide a safe and caring environment until the animal is either reclaimed by its owner, placed in a new home, or placed with another organization.[citation needed] Many shelters temperament test animals before they are put up for adoption to determine the appropriate home environment.
In the past, a shelter was more commonly referred to as a "dog pound", a term which had its origins in the impoundments of agricultural communities, where stray cattle would be penned up or impounded until claimed by their owners.
Some public animal shelters around the world euthanize animals that are not adopted within a set period of time (usually 7 to 14 days); others have a policy of only putting down animals that are in distress due to age or illness. Most private shelters are typically run as no-kill shelters.
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[edit] Variations
[edit] Canada
In Canada, the government run Humane Society shelters specialize in dogs, cats, and small rodents.
Some shelters will also keep reptiles and/or parrots.
[edit] United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, animal shelters are more commonly known as rescue or rehoming centers, and are run by charitable organizations. The most common rescue and rehoming organizations are the RSPCA, Cats Protection, and the Dogs Trust.
[edit] Germany
Most German larger cities have either a city shelter for animals or contracts with the very common animal non-profit organizations throughout the country, which run own shelters. Most shelters are populated by dogs, cats and a variety of small animals like mice, rats and rabbits. Additional there are so called Gnadenhöfe for larger animals. They take cattle or horses from private owners who want to put them down for financial reasons. Under German law the euthanization of animals is restricted to medical reasons or when the animal is dangerous, not controllable and actually endangers a human being (Gefahr im Verzug - exigent circumstance). Most dangerous animals like dogs (possession of some special breeds is restricted) are locked away until rehoused to an controlled environment.
