The uncertainty surrounding the nation's economic health and the continuing decline of the housing market has most Americans focused on staying afloat and riding out the storm. And there are those who keep one eye focused on themselves and the other focused on the creatures unable speak for themselves.

The Antioch Animal Shelter, along with most shelters across the country, is being forced to accept an increasing number of animals at its facility. As more and more families continue to lose their homes, many of them are being forced to move into rental properties where pets are not allowed. For many families with pets, the only option is to surrender their beloved dog or cat to the local animal shelter and pray that it will be among the lucky few to find a new home.

Every October, the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) celebrates Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. As in previous years, one of Antioch's longstanding nonprofit organizations, Friends of Animal Services (FOAS), is offseting some of the costs that adopters take on. This year, FOAS paid for the spay/neuter surgeries for the first 30 dogs adopted during October and, as a bonus, will pay the surgery costs for the first 30 cats adopted during the month.

The Antioch shelter is also promoting adoptions, providing for free all the required vaccinations for the first 30 dogs and 30 cats adopted. In addition, the first 10 dogs received special goodie bags containing, among other things, a wonderful book entitled The Dog Behavior Answer Book, a new dog toy, a video on dog training called The Adopted Dog and a variety of food samples.

Another special gift donated to the Antioch shelter this year came from one of Antioch's own residents, Julie Carlson. Carlson provided one of her custom-crafted doghouses from her Dog Cabin product line. These doghouses are striking replicas of the log cabins we see in scenic wilderness areas or history books. Carlson's Dog Cabin homes feature shingled roofs, walls made of solid wood logs, a fresh air vent that opens and shuts, and a detachable winter door. The Fur Chalet model she donated to the Antioch shelter retails for about $550.

The Fur Chalet Dog Cabin will be the grand prize in drawing to be held at the end of month. The name of each person who adopts an animal from the Antioch shelter before Oct. 31 will be entered into the drawing for the grand prize. Entry forms will be completed by the shelter staff as a part of the adoption paperwork. The drawing will be held on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. at the Antioch Shelter. You must be present to win. The doghouse will be on display at the Antioch Shelter all month.