The Ingram County Animal Shelter has reached their max capacity for animals. Overcrowding in animal shelters is an issue around the nation that can be affected by many things. The current economy can correlate to larger increase in the shelter occupancy when owners can no longer afford to care for their animals. Unwanted births also contribute to the overall pet population as well.
Because local shelters always have pets available, I encourage everyone to visit their local shelter when considering bringing a new pet into their home. Most of the pets are loving and will make great companions. Another benefit of choosing a dog from a shelter is that many of the animals are already trained. While a puppy is cute, they take an incredible amount of time and training that not all people can endure.
When looking for a new dog at a shelter, here is a great checklist on how to choose the right shelter dog for you. While I'll admit that if you want a particular breed, it can be more difficult to find a specific breed at a local shelter, but if you can overlook that desire you can still find a loving pet.
Puppies are also available at most shelters. If you are looking for a puppy, you may need to check back multiple times at your local shelter since the dogs can be adopted quickly if they are in demand. Since all dogs will need a good supply of toys, make sure to review this list of safe dog toys.