Animal shelter

Common card · No. 389592

An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals – mostly dogs and cats – are housed. The word "pound" has its origins in the animal pounds of agricultural communities, where stray livestock would be penned or impounded until they were claimed by their owners. While no-kill shelters exist, it is sometimes policy to euthanize animals that are not claimed quickly enough by a previous or new owner. In Europe, of the 30 countries included in a survey, all but six (Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Italy and Poland) permitted euthanizing non-adopted animals. Although animal shelters provide benefits to dogs and cats, they may also be a stressful environment for them. However, human interaction, including gentle petting and play, has been found to reduce stress and improve the welfare of both dogs and cats. Other forms of enrichment, such as toys and hiding places, have also been found to have similar positive effects.

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