Easy Ways to Help Pets in Shelters and Rescues

Published: Dec. 14, 2011
Subject: Lend a Paw - Simple Ways to Get Started
Category: Lend a Paw

With so many simple, actionable (and free!) ideas for helping pets in shelter and rescue organizations waiting for their forever homes, there's no reason not to contribute in some way. The idea is....just do one small thing, and it can really make a difference. Hopefully these easy tips will encourage you to give back to those that give so much to us each day!

• Support a local shelter or rescue by attending one of their fundraising events! Search by state and month at BringFido.com, which lists events for SPCAs, as well as those that welcome dogs - hence the name! If you support a shelter, consider listing any upcoming events at the site for free, and if there are no events on the horizon, you'll likely get inspired to plan one one you browse the listings!

• If you'd like to volunteer to help animals, but don't know where to start or the type of work you'd like to do, head on over to volunteermatch.org. You can search for volunteer opportunities based on your location and the type of work you'd prefer (and even find virtual opportunities). Also, browse the listings for all areas for ideas on how you can help a local shelter you already support, and consider helping to list your shelter's volunteer needs on the site.

• For yet another option for finding volunteer opportunities to help animals, head on over to sparked.com, a micro-volunteering network.
What's that you ask? It's an entirely online form of volunteering that allows you to lend your skills whenever and wherever you have time. They focus on volunteering tasks that can be completed in between two minutes and two hours, making it easy for you to find the time to help. Just plug in the cause or causes you're interested in, and your skills, and you'll receive matches online and by email if you choose. And if there's a shelter you support in need of help, consider listing their volunteer needs on the site.

• If and when you're planning to send flowers, order through www.teleflora.com/aspca and 20% of your purchase price is donated to the ASPCA.

• Begin your shopping at an online mall that donates a percentage of every purchase to your favorite charity. Visit Goodshop.com, and shop online as usual, and a percent of your purchase price will be donated to the charity of your choice at no cost to you. Average donations are approximately 3% of the sale, but go up to 20% or even more, and you’ll find nearly all of the top online stores are participating.

• Help the dog shelter or rescue organization you support get found so more pets are adopted!
 Provide Meow Report with the name of the shelter or rescue you support. Use the 'Contact Us' link below and include the shelter or rescue name or names, city and state (include the phone number and website if you can) and it will be added to Meow Report's Adopt-a-Cat Directory.

• As you embark upon your spring/summer/fall/winter cleaning routine, keep your local animal shelters in mind. They will gratefully accept your donations of basic, everyday needs. To find out what your community shelters need, give them a call and in the meantime, set aside these often requested items: kennels, carriers, cozy pet beds, bedding and blankets, towels and cleaning supplies such as bleach, sponges, and laundry detergent. And there’s more: baby gates, digital cameras, gently used toys, and various office supplies.

• Did you know you can help feed shelter pets without spending a cent? Simply add a quick visit to these two sites each day: At Freekibble.com and Freekibblekat.com donate ten pieces of tasty kibble to shelter pets when you answer a daily trivia question at one or both of their sites. Visit TheAnimalRescueSite.com click the purple "Click Here to Give – it's FREE” button and site sponsors pick up the tab for food and care for animals at pet shelters supported by the Petfinder Foundation and other worthy pet causes.

• Read the informative articles at the links below to learn the common myths about adopting pets from shelters. These misconceptions stop many people from considering adoption when shelters are overflowing with wonderful pets that are in need of loving homes. Share these links to encourage people to adopt their next pet!

www.dailywag.marthastewart.com/shelter-animal-myths

www.petfinder.com/shelter-animal-myths

• If you’re committed to helping pets in shelters and rescues, you want to make sure the next generation is too. And thanks to a relatively new website from Best Friends Animal Sanctuary called NextGen, it’s easy to do. The site is packed with information, videos, and even craft projects, all related to caring for pets and helping animals. There are separate sections for kids and teens ages 5-8, 9-12, and 13-17 and also a section for parents and educators. Share the site with your family and family friends and help prepare the next generation of animal lovers!

• Helping pets in need doesn’t always mean adopting a cat or even donating money (although these are always good too). Fostering a cat is wonderful way to support overcrowded shelters and rescue organizations and get a cat ready for finding his forever home. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to help cats in need without taking on the commitment of a lifelong pet adoption or to see if another cat is just what you need.

• Just as you can use Facebook and Twitter to help homeless pets find loving families by sharing a link to an adoptable pet's profile page, you can also help shelters obtain items they need to provide the best care for their animals. Many people don't realize how easy it is to support shelters by donating items they no longer need, such as blankets, towels and even newspapers. Simply go to a shelter or rescue's website and find the 'wish list' of items they need, and post that link to your Facebook status update or a Twitter post, and add a short note. If the shelter you support does not have a list, send them a suggestion to add one to their site and a compile a list to help them get started.

• Use Facebook and Twitter to help homeless pets find loving homes. Here’s how easy it is: Visit Petfinder.com, DogTime.com or AdoptAPet.com and find a pet of your choice currently available for adoption. Copy and paste the url from the pet’s profile page into a Facebook status update or a Twitter post, and add a short note about the pet. You’re finished and it’s there for all to see; and it’s such an easy way to help, you can post a new pet each week. And just imagine if your efforts helped to find a pet a new home or encouraged someone to adopt!

• Put your daily web searches to work for pets with GoodSearch.com, a Yahoo/Bing-powered search engine that donates around a penny per search to the cause of your choice. Just pick a charity or add your own to their database of thousands and search away as you normally would – those pennies really add up!

• Clean out your linen closet this weekend. Do you need all of those extra towels? And how about those blankets and comforters that you no longer use? Probably not. Make space in your linen closet and keep pets in shelters warm and cozy this winter. Donate your gently used goods to your local shelter or rescue and they’ll be greatly appreciated.

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