The life expectancy for a shelter animal is 72 hours, and the number of dogs put down in shelters each day is 5,500. Those numbers are according to An Act of Dog, a nonprofit started by Mark Barone, an artist who hand painted 5,500 photos of dogs to help put the number into perspective. Proceeds from the prints (anactofdog.org) help fund the lifesaving work of various rescue groups and no-kill animal shelters. For 10 local rescues, where you can pick up a furever companion of your own, read on. 

1. Fat Kitty City is operated by the Agee Memorial Wildlife Fund, Inc. and holds adoptions of their fully rehabilitated kitties at pet stores in Folsom and Cameron Park. 

2. All About Equine Animal Rescue in El Dorado Hills has seen more than 95 neglected or abandoned horses come through their barn doors since opening in 2009. 

3. El Dorado County Animal Services in Diamond Springs offers found pets (including dogs, cats, rabbits and more) for adoption. 

4. Shelter Hope Pet Shop, a Rancho Cordova-based group dedicated to aid shelter pet adoptions, showcases animals for same-day adoption and saves the lives of hundreds of dogs each year. 

5. Central California Labrador Retriever Rescue cares for rescued labs and holds adoption events all over the Central Valley, including Folsom’s East Bidwell PetSmart on the first and third Sundays of the month. 

6. NorCal Cocker Rescue, Inc., based in Cameron Park, works with public animal shelters to place at-risk cocker spaniels and spaniel mixes in loving homes all over Northern California. 

7. Sacramento SPCA is one of the largest animal shelters in the region and offers rescued cats, dogs, chickens, birds, rabbits and more for adoption. 

8. SaveALife DOG Rescue cares for and encourages the adoption of rescued dogs in Rancho Cordova and surrounding areas. 916-715-7431

9. American Black & Tan Coonhound Rescue is a coonhound rescue group that saves dogs from shelters and places them into a foster home, later for adoption all over California. 

10. Almost Home 4ever, based in the Sacramento area, is dedicated to rescuing, fostering and finding forever homes for companion animals. [email protected]

— Robert Bender