1. Spay or neuter your pet to SAVE A LIFE.

The biggest single cause of unwanted and homeless animals is pet owners who do not spay or neuter their pets - even though it is required by Buncombe County and Asheville ordinances.

Un-neutered male cats and dogs roam, looking for un-spayed females. Un-spayed female cats and dogs have many litters with multiple kittens or puppies. Most of these end up as strays and are brought to the county shelter, which quickly becomes overwhelmed with animals.

One of our LifeGuards, the Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic, offers affordable spaying and neutering. Some LifeGuards may be able to help you pay for spay/neuter if you are unable to do so. Be sure the cats and dogs you own, and those of your family and friends, are spayed or neutered!

2. Adopt a pet to SAVE A LIFE.

Look into the eyes of a homeless dog or cat and it could very well be love at first sight. There are many lovable unwanted animals yearning for a good home like yours.

Make your first stop the Asheville Humane Society shelter, or contact Animal Compassion Network or Brother Wolf Canine Rescue. These organizations always have happy, healthy animals available for adoption. Please don't buy a pet from a pet store or a "backyard breeder." Pet stores typically sell dogs that come from puppy mills - places whose terrible conditions lead to animals with behavioral and medical problems.

3. Foster an animal to SAVE A LIFE.

Even if you're not ready to own a cat or a dog, you can experience the joy of living with an animal by fostering. A number of our LifeGuards can offer you animals who need homes on a temporary basis, while they are waiting to be adopted.

By fostering a pet, you help keep homeless animals off the streets and save lives. Your love and attention help create a better adjusted cat or dog that will be easier to place in a permanent home.

4. Trap-Neuter-Return feral cats to SAVE A LIFE.

Feral (wild) cats roaming neighborhoods struggle to survive on their own—and unaltered cats can become a nuisance. The best way to improve the situation is to trap the cats, have them spay/neutered and vaccinated for rabies, return them back to their territory, and then provide regular food and shelter. The cats lead better lives, and problem behavior is controlled. For help with a feral cat situation, contact Friends 2 Ferals, one of our LifeGuards, to see what options are available for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) in your area.

5. Socialize and train your dog to SAVE A LIFE.

One of the top reasons owners surrender their dogs to shelters is lack of training, resulting in behavior problems. The surest way to prevent this is to socialize your pet to have appropriate behavior at home and in public. We know this contributes greatly to keeping an animal in its home and having a long and lasting life with its owner. Contact one of our LifeGuards for more information or referral to a training facility.

6. Identify your pet to SAVE A LIFE.

If your dog or cat is ever separated from you, the best way to assure your pet's safe return is through proper identification. Put a tag on your pet's collar or, better yet, also have your pet tattooed or microchipped. Microchipping is available at low cost through Buncombe County Animal Control or at the Asheville Humane Society shelter during regular business hours.

7. Volunteer or give money SAVE A LIFE.

Whether you like cats or dogs (or both), our LifeGuards want and need your help and support. They are always looking for volunteers to work with animals or assist with administrative tasks. We also encourage you to consider giving money to the LifeGuard of your choice, or directly to the Save A Life Campaign. To make a donation, please write a check payable to Humane Alliance: Save A Life and mail it to: Save A Life, c/o Humane Alliance Spay/Neuter Clinic, 25 Heritage Drive, Asheville, NC 28806. Your support will truly help save lives.