Ladies, I am totally depressed right now. I am involved with dog rescue.
Because I am on animal lists & rescue lists, I get help requests, horribly depressing dog "interviews from the pound" and descriptions of what it's like to put an animal to sleep by injection or by gas chamber.
All the messages I get want to make the public realize how bad things are or how they shouldn't be. The problem is, they only go to rescuers and animal lovers who are already doing everything they can to help or make changes. I am just sick with the emails from today about a number of beautiful healthy dogs that have until 9am tomorrow morning.
The only thing I can think to do is go to forums that are not animal related.

So I'm asking you please, if you have extra room and extra love, please consider fostering a dog or cat. Rescues desparately need you. There are rescues out there for almost every breed of dog. Some only save 1 or 2 dogs a year, others are asked to help several a day.
All you have to do ia search for the breed and rescue, or your area and dog rescue and rescues will come up. I rescue pointers, but am wiling to help anyone find a group if they'd like.

Things you can do to help, even if you can't foster.:

Tell everyone you know (who'd be a good animal parent) about rescues and fostering
Adopt from a shelter or rescue
Do not buy a dog from a pet store, even if you want to "free" them from their cage.
a store will give you a good story of where they get their dogs. No reputable breeder would ever send their dog to be sold at a store. And that AKC paper you're paying for doesn't mean quat - any dog that has two parents of the same breed can get it whether they are breed standard or unhealthy. If you are going to spend hundreds on a dog, you should see at least one parent and where they came from.
Spay & Neuter your pets, there is no good reason not to.