Shelter statistics and information

Some statistics specifically about California shelters:
http://www.examiner.com/article/the-statisics-the-shocking-truth-about-calirfornia-s-shelter-numbers

http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/animal-shelter-euthanasia.html

http://shelteranimalscount.org/

Facts and figures about US shelters:
http://www.oxfordpets.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61

Some limited stats about shelters:
http://www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse/fact-sheets/animal-shelter-euthanasia.html

Commercial breeder info

Why puppy mills are shit:
http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/puppy-mills/puppy-mill-faq

Why you shouldn't buy a puppy or kitten online, ever.
http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/puppy-mills/why-you-should-never-buy-puppy-online

How to stop puppy mills, plus more info:
http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/puppy_mills/tips/what_you_can_do_stop_puppy_mills.html

Facts and laws about puppy mills:
http://www.thepuppymillproject.org/know-the-facts-and-the-law/

Yes, kitten mills are a problem too:
http://www.petsadviser.com/animal-welfare/kitten-mills/

All-around pet-related resources:

My absolute favorite resource for everything dog related:
Whole Dog Journal

Lots of information plus you can search shelters and rescues for your new best friend:
Pet Finder

Help when looking for a new pet

Good starting article about where to get a pet here.

A Humane Society flyer about assessing the quality of a dog breeder, with a lot of good info.

PupQuest, a website devoted to helping people decide where to get their next dog.

Why you shouldn't ever buy a cat or dog from a pet store.

How to choose a dog that fits your lifestyle.

Another dog-choosing guide.