This week, before you begin kicking off holiday celebrations for your Thanksgiving feast, please find it in your heart to thank an organization that is vital to both the people and the animals in your community, yet is often under-funded and under-appreciated:

Your local animal shelter.

Just like the firefighter, the police officer, the emergency-room physician, and many other dedicated public servants, animal shelter employees provide yet another critical service to your community.

Whether it's controlling a dog roaming at large, rescuing an injured cat, or bringing a lost pet home, professionals at your local animal shelter work extremely hard to help both the two and the four-legged members of your community.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is gearing up for this year’s National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, which takes place November 7-13, 2004. This event is designed to help you reach out to your community workers, and to highlight the truly marvelous work performed by animal shelters like yours all around the country.

During National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, you'll have the opportunity to show your local shelter just how much you appreciate their role in caring for the estimated 8 million relinquished, abandoned, lost, abused, and severely injured animals that sadly make their way through America's animal shelter system each year.

"Local humane organizations, both municipal and non-profit, are integral to your community," says Kate Pullen, HSUS's director of Animal Sheltering Issues. "Without animal shelters, there would be no place to care for homeless, abused, and lost animals that need vital assistance."

But without the public's support, many shelters often struggle to provide the best care possible for the never-ending stream of dogs, cats, and other animals taken in from the community.

Whether it's a stray cat who needs to be spayed, a pet dog who has been separated from his loving family, or an adorable little kitten that has been the victim of vicious animal cruelty, animal shelters and animal control agencies are bursting at the seams with animals in need.

"Often, animal shelters and animal control agencies are under-funded, and the result is programs that need the assistance of the community in the form of donations, labor, and public support," says Pullen.

Please consider helping your local shelter this week:

-        Cash donations, in any amount, are always appreciated

-        Most shelters have Critical ‘Wish Lists’ of needed supplies

-        Volunteer Workers are always in demand

-        A visit and an appreciative word to shelter workers can also truly lift their spirits

-        And, of course, nothing would make them happier than for you to adopt one of their precious orphans, who is truly in need of a good home.

Pet overpopulation remains the leading killer of both cats and dogs in our country. Each year, up to 6 million sheltered animals are tragically euthanized to make room for more.

Please help them – any way you can.