About two years ago my mother and I went to the SPCA with the intention of giving love to animals who needed it. After recently putting down our 12 year old feline companion, we weren’t quite ready to have a new pet in our home. We ended up visiting almost every cat and dog there. When we getting ready to leave, we saw a one-year-old grey tabby cat who had never had anyone ask to visit with her. Within the short time we spent with her, we learned that she was one of the most loving and intriguing creatures we had ever met. My mom and I both had the same idea. Who needs an empty house when we could easily take care of a cat who needs a home? Despite our mission for that day, we ended up bringing 2 new family members into our home.

After our wonderful experience with the SPCA and our brief encounters with similar organizations, I realized how important they really are. Sadly, for every bit of praise these shelters receive, there is an equal amount of criticism. There are plenty of animal-lovers out there who want better for those animals than minimal shelter life. No matter how badly we all want that, it isn’t realistic. Despite calls for places like the SPCA to do more for their animals, I applaud the efforts that most animal shelters already make.

For every person who can’t have an animal in their home or isn’t in a place to care for a new pet, these shelters take on that burden themselves. Over 3,500 new animals found a home at the Richmond SPCA in the last year alone. Every animal who enters gains a family of volunteers who love them and care for them to the best of their ability. More than 1,000 people have volunteered in 2015. Despite a lack of funding for most of these shelters, these organizations always manage to provide food, protection, and even enjoyment for the animals staying there. Being that they are a no-kill organization, the SPCA strives to provide a home for breeds who aren’t typically adopted and might even be put down in other shelters.

Although I strongly wish there could be a home for every animal currently in these shelters, these organizations are improving the lives of animals every day. In the end, the only way to change these shelters for the better is to support them in the state they are currently in. Volunteering, donating and even just recommending these shelters to others looking to adopt can help improve not only the shelters themselves, but the lives of all of these animals in your area.