animal shelter

[an-uh-muhl shel-ter]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an establishment, maintained by local government or supported by charitable contributions, that provides a temporary home for dogs, cats, and other animals that are offered for adoption, and puts to sleep homeless animals that have been deemed unsuitable for adoption.
The animal shelter is requesting donations of old towels, blankets, and other linens.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of animal shelter¹

First recorded in 1890–95

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Preye Maxwell looks distressed as he leaves his beloved dog Hanks at an animal shelter in Lagos, Nigeria's commercial hub.

From

Petersen and her husband, Terry, wanted to make sure they were going to return the dog home to its rightful owner so they took the mystery dog to the Apple Valley Animal Shelter to have its pet microchip scanned.

From

She thinks about all the possibilities that had to happen for him to come home and credits the Petersen family, the online sleuths and the animal shelter team who checked Havoc’s microchip.

From

Prosecutors said they did not have a motive for the killing of Ms Cordingley - a health store worker and animal shelter volunteer - and there was no evidence of a sexual assault.

From

Dozens of dogs were set loose from a San Bernardino animal shelter after someone broke into the facility armed with bolt cutters and broke the locks on multiple kennels, authorities said.

From

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others animal spirits

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