10 Things You Might Not Know About Animal Shelters

There are cases that can break the hearts of caretakers at the shelter, and sometimes it comes from multiple different animals in a day, but the employees aren’t constantly walking arounddepressed or feeling like prison guards. In fact, there are plenty of reasons for them to smile, like reuniting a lost animal with its loving family.

Just as many people assume it’s allfun and games for those taking care of shelter animals, but as anyone who has spent time as a volunteer can tell you, many of the animals have found their way into the facility following trauma. This can make it a true effort or even a struggle to acclimate the poor things to a healthy environment.

Whether the animal has behavioral issues or simply gets too excited, scratches and bites are a common occurrence. On top of that, according to Petful, shelter staff members are also exposed to fleas, ticks, rabies, and Lyme disease on a regular basis.

Obviously, they all hope every single animal that crosses their path finds its way into a happy, safe home, but it can be hard to say goodbye after spending even just one day taking care of their cute faces.

Some people still believe that every animal that ends up in a shelter is a lost cause and won’t ever be a “normal” pet. While some critters require more care and attention due to special circumstances, they are all capable of love with the right family.

You might also be surprised to learn that, according to reports by PetMD, roughly 25% of the animals in shelters are also purebred.

You might think adoption fees are priced to put cash back in the employee’s pocket, but they actually receive far less in their paycheck after all of the funds are focused on providing the best care for the animals and upkeep of their facility. Several shelters struggle to keep their doors open, which is why donations and volunteers are so essential.

Yes, they have plenty of knowledge they pick up while caring for the animals, and some may have even attended veterinary school, but they don’t have all the answers when it comes to more serious medical questions they frequently hear from new owners. If they recommend you talk to a vet, they aren’t just brushing you off.

It’s an incredibly stressful work environment, especially when you see animals who have been treated cruelly that repeatedly end up in the facility. Sometimes families give up on them or they suffer from health issues. These situations contribute to an unfortunately high turnover rate for employees with “compassion fatigue.”

You wouldn’t think a sign as clear as, “Don’t open cages,” would be difficult for folks to understand, but exasperated employees and volunteers have had to chase after too many animals who have made their escape from someone doing exactly that. Even worse, a person might end up scratched ornipped at if the animal is afraid and acting defensively, so it’s better for everyone to simply follow the rules.

Inthe amazing shelters that don’t euthanize, animals can wait weeks, months, or even years before finding their perfect family match, which can lead to some uncomfortable crowding when new critters join them each day. This is why they encourage families who are able to foster a pet for a short term to do so as often as they can.

Did we miss anything most people don’t realize about animal shelters and their workers? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your loved ones!