When it comes to saving the lives of dogs and cats, many wonder what they can do to help. Volunteering your time and financially supporting your local shelter or rescue are just a couple of ways you can help animals in need. A couple of weeks ago my friends from Rachael Ray Nutrish hosted me in Pittsburgh for a couple of days. We paid a visit to the Western PA Humane Society while I was there. It was a rewarding and eye opening experience that prompted me to share with you some ways to help your local animal shelter or rescue.
Animals shelters and rescues are amazing. I am in awe by the sheer number of animals who find refuge with local shelters and rescues. These organizations are often operating on a shoestring budget, and rely heavily on the work of volunteers and help from the community. An open door shelter like the Western PA Humane Society never turns away an animal in need. They are truly special and need our help.
Ways to Help Your Local Animal Shelter or Rescue
Volunteer your time.
Volunteering at a local animal shelter can be done in a variety of different ways. It can be the simple act of spending some time petting the kitties. Imagine how much a little petting and snuggling can mean to a scared little shelter cat. Helping with bath time, might be another way you can volunteer. The options are endless. Call your local shelter or rescue group to find out how you can best help out.
While in Pittsburgh, my friends from Nutrish and I spent a morning taking some of the dogs, from the Western PA Humane Society, out for a walk. I was paired up with the most adorable little guy named Turbo. It’s hard to imagine that a dog as cute and well behaved as Turbo can be in need of a furever home.
If you plan to volunteer with your children, keep in mind that your local shelter may not allow younger kids to volunteer because of liability. So, be sure to call ahead to check on age requirements first.
Make a donation.
Animal shelters and rescues are often in need of basic supplies. Pet food and litter are always needed. Also, think along the lines of water and food bowls, leashes and collars, grooming tools, toys, and towels. Call your local rescue or shelter and find out what they need the most.
Consider doing a fundraiser with your children, to raise funds for your local shelter. Host a bake sale or lemonade stand. Get together with some friends to put on a car wash in your neighborhood. Kids can even choose to donate a portion of their allowance to help out. No amount of financial support is too small. It’s all appreciated.
Transport animals.
Have a car and some spare time? Many shelters need help transporting animals to things like vet appointments and local adoption events. This will free up time for shelter employees and volunteers to get other work done.
Share your special talents.
Are you good at accounting, web design or are just really great at cleaning? Have mad photography skills? High quality photos for adoption profiles can make a big difference in how quickly an animal gets adopted. Whatever your special talent or skill, chances are your local animal shelter or rescue can put it to good use.
Help spread the word.
Share photos and information about pets in need on your social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. One of those dogs or cats could be a perfect match for one of your friends or family members.
Foster an animal.
Most animal rescue organizations and shelters deal with overcrowding on a regular basis. Consider fostering a dog or cat until a permanent home can be found for them. Being in a shelter can be extremely stressful for some animals. Providing a foster home to these pets can help ease a lot of stress.
Adopt animals from shelters.
Instead of buying animals from pet stores and breeders, be sure to always adopt animals from local shelters.
Many thanks to Rachael Ray Nutrish for hosting me in Pittsburgh, and for supporting this blog. My pups and I are huge fans of Nutrish pet food, and the great work being done for animals in need through Rachael’s Rescue®.
A portion of Nutrish proceeds go to Rachael’s Rescue®, which was created to help animals in need. To date, over $14MM has been donated. This money has gone toward food, medical supplies and treatments for these unfortunate animals.
Connect with Nutrish:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/nutrish
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NutrishforCats
Instagram: http://instagram.com/nutrish
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/nutrishforpets/
Amber Nelson says
October 7, 2016 at 7:24 PMWe try our best to support the animal shelter here as much as we can!
Annemarie LeBlanc says
October 8, 2016 at 9:10 AMIf I only had more room in the house, I would adopt two more dogs. I love taking care of dogs and it just breaks my heart to see dogs without a home and family to call their own. I need to do two or more of your suggestions. Those pets need a lot of loving too.
Lisa Rios says
October 9, 2016 at 3:01 PMI always love to step-in to help such cause and these are some great ideas that everyone could try out. Adopting animals from shelters could do wonders to their life and I agree that one of our special skill could be a great use for the local animal shelter to make use of it.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
October 10, 2016 at 12:36 PMI love this so much. There are so many animals out there who need help, and the shelters that help them need OUR help. Great!
Colleen Lanin says
October 10, 2016 at 12:41 PMLove it, love it, love it! Our shelters do so much for animals in need, but those shelters operate on a knife’s edge financial margin. They need our help as much as the animals need theirs.
Kristi says
October 10, 2016 at 2:25 PMSome great ideas! I wish the shelters would allow tweens and teens to help walk the dogs though. My daughter would love that.
Debra says
October 10, 2016 at 4:31 PMMy brother in law works with a cat shelter in NYC and devotes a lot of time there. My husband and I wish we had time to give, but we donate regularly to our local animal shelter – donating money and food.
Brandy says
October 10, 2016 at 4:55 PMThese are all really great ideas! I would love to donate some of my time to a shelter.
Meagan says
October 10, 2016 at 6:14 PMOur pets are shelter animals and we love them so much.
Toni | BoulderLocavore.com says
October 10, 2016 at 8:58 PMThis is a great post! We love adopting pets from animal shelter. Love your tips here!
Pam says
October 10, 2016 at 9:06 PMWe foster shelter pets and have adopted all of our animals from shelters or rescues. Shelters and rescues always get my support. We donate our old newspapers to our local one, along with towels and pet food!
Liz Mays says
October 10, 2016 at 9:20 PMThese are some wonderful ideas. I’m sure the shelters can always use an extra hand.
Theresa says
October 10, 2016 at 10:11 PMMy pug is a shelter dog and is the sweetest ever! We volunteer at the adoption events every other weekend at our local shelter.
Our Family World says
October 11, 2016 at 12:49 AMI’m thankful that there are people who are kind to do this.
Amanda Love says
October 11, 2016 at 3:27 AMThese are all great ways to help out. I may not be able to give these fur babies a home but it would be nice to help make their lives a little easier.
Ann Bacciaglia says
October 11, 2016 at 11:53 AMMy Daughter and I go to our local animal shelter a few times a week to help out. I love to take the dogs for walks. I donate a few bags of food every month. They always need newspapers and spare blankets.
Rosey says
October 11, 2016 at 1:13 PMId want to bring every animal home if I volunteered. 🙂 My son’s girlfriend fosters pets and she has kept two ! She does better than I could have…she got two real sweethearts too. I like your list.
Melissa @ The Staten Island family says
October 11, 2016 at 1:38 PMAs someone who works with Louie’s Legacy Animal rescue I can say without hesitation that all these tips are spot on- and yes ALWAYS ADOPT- NEVER SHOP!!
Ora Lee Gurr says
October 11, 2016 at 4:24 PMI feel so badly when I see the kitties, dogs, and other animals in the shelter waiting for a forever home. Your ideas for sharing time, supplies, and such are excellent, especially the towels.
Lisa Favre says
October 11, 2016 at 7:30 PMI try and make donations to animal shelters whenever I can. I have a high intolerance to animal fur, so it’s hard for my to volunteer, but I pitch in in ways that I can!
Janell Poulette says
October 11, 2016 at 8:43 PMI have such a soft spot for animals, especially ones that need a home. These are great ways to help.
Crystal says
October 12, 2016 at 12:18 AMMy daughters’ Girl Scout troop is working our local animal shelter.They’re collecting towels and blankets. I love that they are learning to help our community so young!
Kita Bryant says
October 12, 2016 at 11:33 AMThe biggest way to help outside of adopting an animal is money or food and supplies. It’s so sad how little money they have to work with.
Louise Bishop says
October 12, 2016 at 11:36 AMMy kids and I, when we aren’t running around crazy, like to go volunteer. I feel like our shelter has too many volunteers and not enough funds though.
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
October 21, 2016 at 4:24 AMThese are all great ideas, local shelters need so much help and support!
elizabeth miller says
March 3, 2017 at 6:59 AMWe rescued our current dog and while he is scared to death of men and after 3 years we can not get him to overcome it, he is just as loving as all our other dogs have been.
Sandra Beeman says
March 10, 2017 at 9:14 AMAnother way among the many mentioned to help animals in shelters ts to bring blankets in for frightened animals to feel more secure.
Terry Poage says
March 24, 2017 at 12:19 PMI would love to be able to help my local shelter. I adopted both of my cats from there.
Yevette Denise Parker says
August 24, 2017 at 10:02 AMWithin the next year I will be adopting a dog! I want a older dog. I know that many people just discard their animals after they reach a certain age and I think it is just horrible. I feel that it is very important to utilize our local shelters and donate when possible, they do sooo much!
Angela says
August 24, 2017 at 10:18 AMThat is great! You won’t regret it. My Winston is 10 and he is the best dog ever. Our next rescue will definitely be a senior.