A recent situation in Clark County proved exactly how vital our local animal shelter is and how lucky we are to be a community that has an animal shelter.

Last month, the shelter unexpectedly took in more than 30 cats from a hoarding situation. That put the shelter well over capacity.

But the staff there worked tirelessly and even extended hours to make sure the cats were cared for and that many of them found the forever homes they needed and avoided euthanasia.

The first full week of November is recognized as Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, so we wanted to make sure to sing the praises of our local shelter, the staff there and the hard work they put in daily to save the lives of hundreds of animals each year.

The most recent case is just one example of many of the ways the local shelter helps animals in need.

There are approximately 3,500 animal shelters around the country that are able to serve the estimated 6 to 8 million homeless animals that need to be sheltered each year. Beyond providing a safe and warm place for these animals — from cats and dogs to horses and rabbits and beyond — shelters are responsible for finding food, veterinary care and supplying their various other needs.

Animal shelters are safe havens for animals that are stray, lost or abandoned and are vital resources in the community.

Shelters, including the one in Clark County, also provide critical services such as investigating cruelty and neglect, reuniting lost pets with their families, teaching children to care about animals and providing spay/neuter services to help reduce pet overpopulation.

All of this is accomplished on a strict and limited budget and with small staffs. Much of what shelters are able to accomplish depends on the members of the community willing to contribute time, money and supplies.

Volunteers play many roles from providing foster homes for pets that can’t stay at the shelter to working adoption events where pets are introduced to their forever homes and donations are collected and even transporting pets across state lines to rescues that can help find fosters and homes for the animals.

There are several ways people in Clark County can help recognize National Animal Shelter Awareness Week:

— Consider volunteering your time at the Clark County Animal Shelter or one of the rescues that supports the shelter.

— If you are interested in giving a home to a new pet, consider adopting from the local shelter. While 63 percent of American households include pets, fewer than 20 percent of them were adopted from shelters.

— Donate supplies like food, blankets, toys, treats or cleaning supplies to the shelter. Monetary donations toward veterinary expenses are also helpful.

— Follow the Clark County Animal Shelter on Facebook and share information about pets looking for a forever home.

— Be a responsible pet owner. Keep your pet at home as a member of your family for a lifetime. Spay/neuter your pets, make sure they’re wearing collars and ID tags (to get them home if they become lost). Don’t let your pets roam loose.

National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is a perfect opportunity for you, your family and the community to become acquainted with the local shelter and to help homeless pets.

For more information about the local shelter follow their Facebook page or call 737-0053.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.