If you visit the animal shelter (收容所) in Salinas, California, you'll see huge signs that have a picture of a dog and a cat on them. These are put in front of the shelter to catch people's attention. The signs people interested in the shelter and encourage them to visit it and maybe even take a cat or a dog into their homes.

    Each year, the shelter accepts thousands of dogs and cats. The animals are lost ones or left by people who can't take care of . Of all the animals, some of them are taken into new homes. Some are moved to other shelters. And, unluckily, some cannot be saved because they are too sick or are thought to be dangerous.

    Animal shelters food, medicine, and safe places for animals. But they are not the homes. The animals stay in small cages (笼子). The people who work at shelters do their best for the animals, but the animals do not always get the attention or exercise they need.

    To prevent animals from becoming homeless, pet owners should take good care of their pets. Most pet doctors also suggest people make their pets have a special surgery (外科手术). It animals from having more babies. And that reduces (减少) the number of homeless animals.