National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week begins today. It's a time when communities celebrate the many ways animal shelters serve pets and people. This year, the Hawaiian Humane Society celebrates 110 years of caring for animals like family.

Here are eight ways to show your support for your favorite shelter.

Choose adoption. Animal shelters are brimming with pets in need of homes. Adoption makes a powerful, profound statement. It says you are committed to ending pet overpopulation. It says that you support an organization devoted to animal welfare.

Be a responsible pet owner. Just like people, pets need so much more than food, water and shelter; exercise, training and affection are other essentials. Animals need your protection, which you can give by providing veterinary care, spaying and neutering. Cats, dogs and rabbits need identification, including a microchip. Pet owners who move or change phone numbers need to update their contact information with the Humane Society to ensure lost pets find their way home.

Educate others. When families treat animals with kindness, it fosters values that build empathetic and compassionate communities. Whether you are visiting the neighborhood dog park or suggesting ideas for children's science projects, everyone can enlighten others.

Support laws and pet-friendly initiatives. Whether it's strengthening animal protection laws or establishing a neighborhood dog park, citizen support matters. Everyone can make a difference in a multitude of ways by getting involved in their local Humane Society's advocacy hui and taking action.

Spay/neuter your pets. Sterilized pets live longer and are healthier. Neutered male dogs and cats are less likely to roam, get lost or be aggressive.

Create a Neighborhood Watch for Pet Safety. Caring animal lovers are in the best position to recognize animal cruelty in their neighborhoods. If animal abuse is suspected, people can call the Humane Society immediately at 356-2250. Humane investigators teach responsible pet care and enforce Hawai'i's animal cruelty laws.

Another reason to report abuse is that animal abusers are much more likely to commit violent crimes against people.

Donate. Animal shelters such as the nonprofit Hawaiian Humane Society receive no national funding from organizations such as the Humane Society of the United States or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. All of Hawai'i's humane societies are independent of one another and rely on donations to fund many of their programs that help people and animals. Every donation counts.

Volunteer. Volunteering provides much-needed assistance for animal shelters and fosters personal purpose, fulfillment and friendship. You can help in many ways. The society's emergency management team for pet-friendly evacuation shelters on O'ahu needs volunteers, too.

ANIMAL COMPANIONS

CURLY

TAG NO. 07-10822

Curly doesn't really suit this striking young tortoiseshell, who came to us as a stray waaay back on July 26. Where have they been keeping you, Curly? It's high time you got an opportunity to strut your stuff!

ASHLEY

TAG NO. 07-22756

Ashley is quite the proper Englishwoman, you know — she even has the fair skin to prove it. White and brown and lean all over, this gal is definitely high-energy and will require a patient owner with a relaxed lifestyle.

These animals already may have found homes. The Hawaiian Humane Society and McInerny Dog Park at 2700 Wai'alae Ave. are open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekends and holidays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.hawaiianhumane.org or call 946-2187. Report lost or found animals at ext. 4.