INDIANAPOLIS -- Animal Care and Control and the Humane Society of Indianapolis are teaming up to help furry friends find homes and increase their survival rate.

The two groups came together Sunday to sign a memorandum touted as a way to help each agency make better use of its resources.

The agreement creates uniform intake procedures and adoption standards.

The agencies pledged to work together to find the best care and placement for each animal.

"Ignoring animals is ignoring the constituency, and it's a very important part of our community," said Martha Boden, of the Humane Society of Indianapolis. "If we want to make this the best place to live, we have to look at all of the citizens of our community."

The agencies said they also hope to return more lost animals to their owners.

Last year, the two agencies took in more than 27,000 animals and placed more than 10,000 in homes.