Editor, Gazette-Journal:

A huge thank you to the staff and volunteers of the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society and surrounding county animal control departments! You have helped save thousands of animals that have found themselves without homes and families of their own. You all provide loving care beyond the call of duty. Unfortunately, shelter environments remain stressful for the animals. There is no way to relieve the stress other than to find loving home environments … or euthanasia.

In a perfect world, animal shelter resources would be without limits. Unfortunately, we do not live in a perfect world. While there is an unlimited number of homeless animals locally, it is becoming more difficult to find families who can bring another pet into their home. Even the seemingly "perfect" pets with no physical or behavior issues are waiting for their forever family to find them longer than expected.

To paint an even bleaker picture, animals with behavior issues de...