Homeless pets -- lost, abandoned or unwanted dogs and cats that wind up at area Animal Control shelters or with rescue groups -- are an ongoing problem in the Macon area. Thousands of pets become homeless yearly, and many of these are euthanized.

If you can't adopt or foster a dog or cat, you can still help these animals get a second chance at a loving home.

Donate essentials. Macon, Monroe County and other area animal control shelters accept donations of dog food. Often, the shelter shares the food with rescue groups, but the shelter sometimes runs short when there is an influx of animals.

Monroe County Animal Control only handles dogs, but other shelters can use both cat and dog food, plus cat litter. All of the shelters regularly need puppy pads.

Toys and treats are also welcomed.

Local businessman Mallory Jones may have started a trend when he donated $750 earlier this month to prepay the $75 adoption fee for 10 lucky animals at Macon Animal Control. (See that story here)

All 10 prepaid fees were used quickly, which not only helped the animals go to new homes, but helped Animal Control avoid killing to relieve overcrowding.

As all municipal shelters do, Macon Animal Control's shelter quickly filled back up. Sadly, a few dogs were euthanized this week. More were slated to die, but got a last-minute reprieve in the form of Tom Wagoner, who dropped by the shelter this week with a $750 donation of his own.

That donation prepays the adoption fee for 10 more dogs and cats to go to good homes.

But just because the adoption is "free," cautions Halie White of FURever Friends Humane Society in Gray, doesn't mean the pet is "free."