Volunteers sleep overnight at shelter to experience life of a rescue dog

A shelter in Massachusetts held humans behind bars for a good cause.

Cape Ann Animal Aid's second annual "Night Without a Family" event invited volunteers to stay at its no-kill shelter for a day and night in a bid to understand what dogs without forever homes experience.

See also: Woman rescues 'unadoptable' cat from certain death

See also: What you need to know about rescuing a dog

More than 50 community members gathered at the shelter to watch as five volunteers and one staff member took part in the challenge.