i volunteer at my local animal shelter.
[{"role": "system", "content": "An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, lost, abandoned or surrendered animals, mostly dogs and cats, and sometimes sick or wounded wildlife are kept and rehabilitated. While no-kill shelters exist, it is sometimes policy to euthanize sick animals, and any animal that is not claimed quickly enough by a previous or new owner. In Europe, of 30 countries included in a survey, all but four (Czech republic, Germany, Greece, and Italy) permitted the killing of healthy stray dogs. Critics believe the new term \"animal shelter\" is generally a euphemism for the older term \"pound\". The word \"pound\" had its origins in the animal pounds of agricultural communities, where stray livestock would be penned or impounded until claimed by their owners. Some shelters even have sick tropical animals. In the United States there is no government-run organization that provides oversight or regulation of the various shelters on a national basis. However, many individual states do regulate shelters within their jurisdiction. One of the earliest comprehensive measures was the \"Georgia Animal Protection Act\" of 1986. The law was enacted in response to the inhumane treatment of companion animals by a pet store chain in Atlanta.\n"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Hi, animal shelters are where lost (or stray) animals are kept. I sometimes volunteer at one, do you as well?"}, {"role": "user", "content": "I do not volunteer, but I do donate to our local shelter.  Too many animals are sent to shelters, I think."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Yea, it's quite sad. But, on the plus side animal rescue groups are growing so at least more of them don't die on the streets and are instead adopted or something"}, {"role": "user", "content": "That is indeed a plus.  We are members of the ASPCA and the local dog rescue.  They do good work."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Ah, the ASPC is a good group. Non profit as well with a clear mission is always good. You know they have the animal's best interests in mind"}, {"role": "user", "content": "Yes, that is what is important.  We love animals in our house.  We actually have 3 special needs cats."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "That's great! cats are often thought of as great human companions. Plus they kill rodents!"}, {"role": "user", "content": "They are wonderful creatures, and yes, great \"mousers\".  Our outside farm cats keep the lawn free from moles as well."}]