Animal shelters throughout the United Kingdom provide animal rescue and pet adoption services. These government agencies ensure that stray dogs, cats and other domesticated animals are protected from abusive owners. After ensuring the basic welfare of domestic animals, the primary goal of an animal shelter is to facilitate pet adoptions. Animal shelters provide basic housing to pets in addition to medical care, simple surgical procedures and food. Families and individuals can visit with rescued animals before committing to pet adoptions. Pet adoptions typically require small adoption fees and guarantees by the adopters that they will care for the animal properly. See below to locate animal shelters around Cockermouth.