Tips on choosing an animal shelter:

• Does the organization have a website?
• What are its policies for accepting, caring for or placing animals? Does it have open admission -- offering shelter to any animal or does it place limits on species, breed or size? Or by where an owner lives?
• Does the organization have a facility or shelter? If not, how and where are animals cared for?
• Visit the facility. How accessible is it in terms of location and hours? Is it clean and well lit, with adequate space for each animal? Is the staff friendly to animals? And to visitors?
• How long does it keep strays or animals surrendered by owners?
• Does the organization charge to take in, or adopt out, animals? What do those fees cover? Veterinary care and food? Spaying or neutering?
• Is a veterinarian available or on site?
• Does the organization follow the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ “Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters”?
• If the organization can't accept an animal, will it help you find an alternative?
• If it describes itself as “no kill,” what does that mean? What are its criteria for euthanizing animals?
• How does the organization determine if an animal is adoptable?
• How does it screen prospective owners and pets for adoption placement?
• Does the organization promote animal spaying-neutering beyond the shelter? How? Does it offer assistance, such as financial aid, to low-income families seeking the surgery for their pets?
• Who runs the shelter? How many people are on staff? Does it have a board of directors? Or volunteers?
• Does the organization provide outcome statistics for animals in its care?
• Does it partner with other shelters or rescue groups? Does it transport animals to, and/or exchange them with, other facilities?

Compiled by Lee Bowman, Scripps Howard News Service