Check shelters for your next pet

I am thrilled at the outpouring of help in support of the Jacksonville Humane Society. By adoptions and by donations. I'm always glad that some animal will benefit.
But remember, the Society is a "no-kill" shelter. Animals it takes in — if there is room — can stay till the day they die or until they are adopted. The animals are not killed to make space for new ones.
And that is what happens at the Animal Control departments in Clay, Bradford and Duval counties. In Clay, animals that are surrendered by their owners are among the first considered for death. The animals' suitability for adoption also is evaluated. 
Bradford has a very small facility, so making room for the "new" abandoned animals requires killing those already there. Bradford County PAWS tries so hard to pull those slated for death, but it frequently is too late. Check out the web site to see which animals will be killed in the next few days. It's heartbreaking. BCPAWS.org.
I presume Duval operates in much the same way: Making room for the new guys at the expense of others.
I urge everyone looking for a pet to look at those precious animals in Bradford, Clay and Duval animal control facilities first. While I admire the Jacksonville Humane Society — and Safe Animal Shelter here in Clay County — for rescuing animals, many from the animal control departments, I at least can rest assured they will not be "put to sleep" before their time. 
Those reading this probably already have spayed or neutered your pet. Just ask those who haven't to do so. By doing that, we can help all the shelters, whether "no-kill" or open admission. Let's try to put them out of existence. I think even the people in the business would say they wish their jobs would become unnecessary.