I started volunteering at the local animal shelter to pass time.
I did that as a kid, An animal shelter or pound is a place where stray, or lost animals are kept.
It was very rewarding to be at the animal shelter. Do you have any inside information?
While no-kill shelters exist, it is sometimes policy to euthanize sick animals. I dont know if a agree with this practice.
Yea that is a tough position to take. Some animal shelters just can not handle it all.
The word "pound" had its origins in the animal pounds of agricultural communities. The would keep livestock in them back then though.
You know, I never once thought where the word "pound" came from in animal pound. 
One of the earliest laws to protect animals was the  "Georgia Animal Protection Act" of 1986