CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, Canada -- People with affections to share often travel to China, Africa or elsewhere to adopt children. Those in search of new family members with four legs and fur often make long journeys too.

Frequently, the visitors peering into enclosures at the Prince Edward Island Humane Society, the only animal shelter in Canada’s smallest province, drive hundreds of miles to get there.

“The Internet has been our best friend on so many levels to help get the word out about our animals,” said Humane Society executive director Kelly Mullaly. People come to the shelter from one tip of PEI to the other. “But they come from Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia too. They’ll see a particular animal on our Website and then drive.”

Shelter staff members have shipped animals to Ontario. People have arrived from Ontario or Quebec to look at an animal they wanted to adopt, stayed a few days and then taken the new pet home. People on PEI for holidays have adopted animals and taken them to Whitehouse, Yellowknife or elsewhere.

Are such maneuvers illogical? The travelers have other animal shelters much closer to home.

“Sometimes it’s because of the regional mix,” Kelly said. “People may call us and say ‘there are no black Labs in our area, and we really want one. We see on your Website that you have all kinds of them.’ These people are dedicated to adopting from animal shelters. Generally, such long-distance adoptions succeed.”

Many animals taken from the shelter enrich the lives of their new “parents”. “We’ve had people come to adopt after the loss of a spouse or another pet,” Kelly said. “Sometimes it’s when a child moves away from home and the parents decide it’s time for a pet. We encounter a lot of human-interest stories when people think ‘I’m on my own now and need a cat for company.’

“Animals fill these needs, and the people who adopt them tell us. They share the stories and send pictures. They become very proud adopters. We receive lots of photos that show animals who were in our shelter sprawled on furniture, relaxing in backyards or playing with children.”

The joys and satisfactions after adopting a new pet make the effort worthwhile. So why hesitate to slide into a car and point it toward an animal shelter, even a distant one?

For more information: www.peihumanesociety.com

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