Best Friends Animal Society, the widely admired animal-rescue organization, has opened its first pet adoption center in New York City, on W. Broadway just above Canal. If you think animal shelters are depressing, this one will change your mind: It’s bright and clean and joyful. (Some of the animals come from partner organizations.) There are even “meeting rooms” where you—and your pet, if you like—can get to know an adoptee before committing to it. The goal of Best Friends isn’t just to get you to adopt; it’s to make the entire country stop killing animals due to lack of space by 2015. There are many ways to help, including donating, fostering a pet, and volunteering. The kittens, for example, need to be fed every two hours in order to survive, so volunteers are on-site 24 hours a day.

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