During this pandemic, some animal shelters have become overcrowded due to people struggling to pay their bills. They can no longer afford to take care of the pet due to a loss of a job or other issues. Because of this, more people are stepping up and seeking out the best ways to help animal shelters. Turns out, there are a lot of ways to help animal shelters even if you don’t have money. If you are looking to make an impact in a local community shelter then we can help! We even have suggestions for those people who don’t have much time on their hands but still want to help.
Here are the 5 best ways to help animal shelters near you!
- Donate food, money, or toys
- Donate your time
- Share your success stories
- Become a foster home
- Adopt a pet
Donate food, money, or toys
If you don’t have much spare time on your hands but still want to help out, one of the best ways to help animal shelters is by donating food, money, or toys. Shelters always need more unopened pet food. Even if they have a large amount a food already they can always store more. Shelters themselves often fluctuate in the number of pets they take on. For one month there could be 10 animals in a shelter, while the next month it could be 30. Food is always a top priority. Just check with the shelter beforehand to buy the brand that they prefer.
Due to animals being, well, animals, oftentimes they will tear up their toys. When there aren’t objects for pets to release stress on they can act out, causing them to get into trouble. Shelters need creative ways to entertain their pets so they feel happy and stay relaxed. You can contribute to this by donating some toys or items for pets to play with.
Money makes the world go round, and with animal shelters it’s no different. While most animal shelter workers are volunteers there are still other expenses to consider. Even just keeping the lights on can be a considerable chunk of change. Don’t hesitate to donate if you have little time available to do more. Donations make a big difference!
If you want to donate more items and supplies to a shelter than these listed, just ask what they need!
Donate your time
Your time is valuable in more ways than one. Most people assume volunteering is about keeping the dogs healthy with walking and playtime. While that is true, you can donate your time in other ways that can be very beneficial, such as:
- Accounting
- Cleaning
- Marketing
- Health services
- Transporting dogs
- Web design
- And many more!
Even doing regular data work can be of the best ways to help animal shelters because you can help keep track of all the pets in the facility. Those routine operations help the shelter run smoothly.
Share your success stories
Whether you adopt or just volunteer, sharing your success story is going to help other people become aware of the need and get involved as well. Use social media and other platforms to your advantage. Let people know about the dogs and cats at the animal shelter. Let people know about the time you changed an animal’s life. It may sound inconsequential, but generating excitement about the work a shelter is doing can get more people interested in helping out.
Become a foster home
A foster home will temporarily house animals when an animal shelter becomes too crowded, or the animal doesn’t do well with others. This is a vital resource and one of the best ways to help animal shelters. It gives staff members the flexibility to place animals in a comfortable environment while allowing pets to relax away from danger.
Becoming a foster home for local displaced pets can be challenging, and it’s not for everyone. However, you will have a direct impact on the lives of animals. You may even adopt some pets as your own.
Adopt a pet
Last, but certainly not least, the best way to help animal shelters is to adopt a pet! You get a furry best friend and the animal shelter can care for more pets. Adopting a dog can make you a more caring and empathetic person and gains you a lifelong friend. Just make sure you are ready for the personal and financial responsibility of owning a pet before you decide to make this commitment.
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