The shelter I use to work at was privately funded. They get alot of money from the community & people from the citys drop off dogs there all the time because its much better then some of the city shelters. When the ice storm '98 struck up here, the local Pet Value donated so much dog food & cat food, it lasted a whole year, & the shelter had to build an addition just to store the food. & the dogs who don't get adopted (because of their older age), go to the workers homes to outlive their lives, or until someone wants them.