Area shelters are running out of room for some of their residents. "If we get too overcrowded, it's more stressful for the animal. It leads to more sickness and fighting and it's just not good," explained Micki Ogrosky of the Henry County Human Society - Geneseo.

Around this time of year, adoptions increase because of the holidays. Many give dogs and cats as gifts. This takes some of the burden off of shelters, however, Samantha DeYoung of the Rock Island County Animal Care and Control cautions giving pets as a surprise for Christmas morning. "We offer gift certificates at Christmas Time. That way, the people who actually get the pet can come and pick their own pet out."

Too many times, families adopt pets because they are cute and small, but forget they don't stay that size forever and require lots of care. Then six months down the road, they bring the pet back to the shelter. "Now we have a six-month-old puppy who needs a little more obedience and harder to adopt'" said DeYoung. "They need to do research on what's involved in owning a pet before getting a pet as a present."

Both shelters seem to be bursting at the seems with cats, but outnumber the dogs they have available. Ogrosky said they have lowered their fees just to make room at their shelter.