Too often animals are taken, surrendered or refused adoption because the best of circumstances or financial requirements are not met. Animals shouldn’t have to be surrendered unless there is no other options, animals shouldn’t have to live in cages unless there are no other options and animals shouldn’t have to be put down unless there are no other options. We are able to set up programs to help the animals so I think we should have more programs to help the families with animals so they do not have to surrender their pets. If there was training, help with vet care, help to keep a dog in or fence a yard and requirements to adopt were not so strict so many more animals would be in loving homes and not in shelters. Shelter intervention programs have proved to be very successful in areas like South LA, Compton and other low income areas where there is a better understanding that just because someone may have fallen on hard times or may not have a giant fenced backyard, or savings to care for an animal that is in a loving home. I think when an owner is forced to surrender a pet or is unable to adopt a pet because of financial hardships or less than perfect circumstances that it is a disservice to both the family and the animal that would or does love that animal. I think keeping or placing a pet with a loving family should be the goal and those that do not meet the strict and ideal requirements put in place by the shelter should be helped or educated so they are able to help the pet. It cost a lot of money to keep and care for an animal in the shelter so if that money is put towards helping a family keep an animal it is better.