Now that we know so many cats and dogs need good homes, it's just a matter of knowing where to look for them if you're ready to add a new member to your family. There are so many good organizations out there that take in unwanted animals, so make sure to check locally to see which ones exist in your area.

If you aren't sure where to start, check out Petfinder.com, an on-line searchable database of pets that are looking for new owners. Petfinder also has a directory of more than 10,000 animal shelters and adoption organizations throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The website aims to increase public awareness about the high-quality animals that are available for adoption and to increase the overall effectiveness of pet adoption programs in North America to eliminate the practic of euthanasia as much as possible.

Searching for a pet on the site is easy: simply enter some details regarding the pet you are searching for. Petfinder doesn't just specialize in finding homes for cats and dogs, but birds, horses, pigs, rabbits, reptiles and the miscellaneous "small and furry" variety. You can also narrow down your search by breed, age group, size, gender and your location, and the database will retrieve all pets that meet that criteria. You can view the animal profiles which include important information about the pet's disposition, if it is housetrained and warnings if the animal is not good with other pets or children. You can also search for a specific shelter or organization and find valuable information about animal breeds and training tips.

Visit Petfinder to locate your newest furry friend after the jump!

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