It's amazing to me that in the US there is no national government oversight of animal shelters. It's left to the states to decide what, if any, regulation is applied.
I dont know a lot about animal shelters can you explain?
It's a place where stray, lost or abandoned animals are kept. Some are no-kill shelters, but others euthanize healthy animals if they can't get them adopted.
Does it cost to adopt one?
Usually. Some organizations give the pet to the adopter; others monitor the animal's future and care.