Teresa began at the shelter, its live-release rate was only 25%. Euthanizing animals was part of her job, but it broke her heart. When the Humane Officer position opened, she jumped at the chance to change the narrative. Committing not to euthanize for space means the shelter often houses dogs for months or even years. It’s a challenging situation that is all too familiar in too many places. Turning away dogs at municipal shelters seems inconsistent with the mission of animal services, yet many shelters still do so.

a vet holding a dog at a spay neuter clinic

We just finished our latest shelter tour which took us to 12 shelters in three states. Some were struggling, but many were succeeding. Here are seven ways shelters and communities are finding success despite the growing challenges in animal services.

a dog running through grass with a ball

Of the shelters we visited, North Shore Animal League America – ‘the world’s largest and longest running no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization,” was clearly a powerful player in helping southern shelters solve their animal crisis. Since their beginning its Humane Relocation Program in 1991, they have saved over 150,000 dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens.

This tour will take us to Florida (via NC and GA) for the first time in three years. We are excited to visit the state again and connect with more shelter and rescue advocates. It’s why we travel. While social media is great and websites are informative, the only way to truly understand the situation with any shelter is to go there, meet the people, see the animals, and get a sense of the community.

As the holidays approach, the idea of giving a pet can feel heartwarming—but it’s a gift that demands lifelong commitment, not surprise or impulse. This piece explores why adoption should be a carefully considered choice, how fostering and volunteering can save lives, and what shelters urgently need during the season of giving. It also shines a light on the tireless advocacy work of Who Will Let the Dogs Out and reminds us that compassion, awareness, and action can help homeless animals find their way home.

Better Together Dog Rescue in western Massachusetts is led by a smart group of women who are finding a way to save lives near and far.

We covered a lot of ground on this last shelter tour. We found heartache, but we also found hope. Six states, six shelters, two community meetings, one Stronger Together event in just eight days. Two things were abundantly clear:

First, things are hard everywhere. And second, there are amazing heroes doing remarkable work all over the south.

Marketing dogs is like marketing anything else: It’s storytelling. Sharing pictures, even videos of your dogs, is helpful for people who are actively seeking you out and looking for a dog to adopt, but if you want to reel in more adopters, followers, supporters and donors, you have to tell a story.

Animal Farm Foundation is located in the Hudson Valley of New York on 400 beautiful acres. Founded in 1985, its mission has evolved over the years. Originally begun as a horse rescue, the barn now houses pitbull-type dogs (and puppies). Other buildings scattered all over the stunning New Englandy estate are filled with more dogs, and there are play yards everywhere.

Animal Friends, a nonprofit shelter in Pittsburgh, PA, helped 1361 animals find forever homes in 2024, but here are a few even more amazing numbers: They assisted 39,365 pet owners in the Pittsburgh area giving out 203,487 pounds of food, administering 21,055 vaccines, and spaying/neutering 5478 animals.

As dogs linger longer and longer at shelters, enrichment becomes a critical lifesaving necessity. In the state of North Carolina, for instance, regulations require enrichment for any dog or cat who stays in the shelter over 30 days, but every shelter, rescue, and in my opinion, pet owner should be incorporating enrichment into every dog’s life.

I’m still processing all that we learned in our four visits. The rescues we visited in the north are doing great work, and most were already helping southern shelters in some ways. Many people we met do not seem to understand just how bad the situation is. Transports are slowing in some areas.

There is a real crisis in our animal shelters. We need to count not just the number of animals coming into and out of our shelters, but the ones that are being turned away. Not counting them does not mean they don't exist, or that they aren't suffering. It's time for real change in our shelter system.