The Ultimate Animal Shelters Quiz

Only about 50 percent of the animals that enter a shelter will ever return to their original owner or find a new home. The rest will have to be euthanized.

Approximately 5,000 non-profit animal shelters operate in the United States. Some are run by government animal control services and others are independently run.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), among others, are devoted to animal welfare and provide funding and guidelines to help animal shelters operate effectively.

Most animal shelters will take any type of domesticated animal, including birds, rabbits and horses, but by far the main inhabitants are dogs and cats.

According to the Humane Society, between 6 million and 8 million dogs and cats are taken to shelters across the United States each year. Some are brought in by owners and some by animal control officers.

In the past, homeless dogs were called "strays," animal control officers were "dog catchers" and homeless dogs were taken to the "dog pound." The gentler language reflects our society's changing attitudes toward animal welfare.

The Humane Society recommends that shelters hold homeless animals for at least five days. The actual number of days will vary based on available space in the particular shelter, as well as the health and adoptability of the animal.

Augusta DeLisi rescued her first dogs when she was just 12 years old, starting Augies Doggies Rescue not long after. Her goal is to save as many dogs as possible.

Animal rescue organizations often don't have the facilities in which to house animals they have rescued and volunteers will care for the animals in their own homes until they can be adopted.

Animal sanctuaries are large areas of land that house and care for a variety of homeless animals, often for the rest of their lives.

Animal shelter workers and pet owners must perform a variety of tasks to care for their pets including giving the animals food and water, cleaning their cages, walking them and petting them.

Shelters usually automatically spay or neuter all animals to prevent more unwanted animals from being born and ending up in shelters. Walking your dog on a leash or keeping him in a fenced area is not enough.

Due to budget restrictions, volunteers are an essential part of animal shelter operations.

At Maddie’s Pet Adoption Center, a $7 million facility in San Francisco, dogs and cats have their own apartments and live in the lap of luxury.

It costs only about $40 to $100 to adopt a pet from an animal shelter, which covers the shelter’s costs of spaying or neutering the animal, vaccinations, medicine and food.

Though most people harbor the misconception that dog in shelters are always mutts, about 25 percent of the animals found in shelters are actually purebreds.

Always be sure your pet wears a collar with an identification tag that includes your name, address, phone number and your pet’s name. This will help a shelter contact you should your pet end up there.

Animal shelters want to make sure that you are aware of the difficulties and responsibilities of adopting a pet before they give one to you, so they require you to fill out an extensive application as part of a comprehensive screening process.

A tiny microchip that can be implanted under your pet's skin that contains a unique identification number that can help animal authorities contact you if they find your pet.

Some animal shelters offer post-adoption services, such as “pet parenting” and dog-training classes, to help you do a good job of caring for your new pet.