Remember the joy that filled your heart when you hugged your first kitten or kissed your first puppy?

Now, consider the sadness you would have felt if that kitten or puppy needed to be put to sleep just because there wasn't a home available for him. The problem of overpopulation of cats and dogs in California still exists.

Employees and volunteers at animal shelters and rescue centers face each day in the hope that the cat or dog they have cared for will be placed in a loving home today. The alternative is unthinkable.

Many concerned individuals give of their time and finances to feed and house unadoptable cats and dogs, but often disease outbreak limits the effectiveness of this kind of care. We all must find a way to do our part to lovingly minimize this problem.

Here's how you can help:

Adopt an ADULT animal from a rescue group or shelter. Adults are slower to be adopted because kittens and puppies are so cute.

Have every animal you own altered now. There is absolutely NO benefit to an animal that conceives a litter before being altered. Preventing a litter by YOUR pet, maintains an open home for a shelter animal.

If you do chose to adopt that cute kitten or puppy instead of the adult animal, adopt two. Littermates become companions for life. They will entertain themselves (and you) endlessly. And, you have created an additional vacancy at the shelter for another cat or dog when you take two.

Consider donating time or financial support to local animal organizations. The gift you give may allow an animal another day or week to find a home.

Encourage anyone you know who has an unaltered pet, to have the animal spayed or neutered now.