Will You Make Room in Your Home for a Pet This Christmas?

Every day until Christmas Eve, Rochester Patch is past your front porch to people and organizations across the area. Have a local cause or nonprofit you'd like us to write about? Tell us in the comments or send an email to kristin.bull@patch.com.

There are thousands of cats and dogs in Michigan without a home, and many are waiting in area shelters to join a new family. Animals of all ages and sizes can be found in these shelters — some are picked immediately by welcoming families, while others wait for years to be adopted. If you or your loved one have an interest in sharing your home with a pet, consider adopting a cat, dog or any other kind of pet from your local shelter.

Remember, if you are debating buying a pet as a present, it is better to have your loved one pick the animal out on their own. However, there are gift certificates available at various animal shelters so that you can wrap the certificate, along with toys, and stick it under the tree. If you aren't sure about having the time for a pet year round, many shelters offer opportunities to foster pets until they are placed in appropriate homes. 

Local animal shelters and humane societies include the

More ways to give back this season: