1. DONATE
Donations are always toward the top of every animal rescue’s wish list. They don’t have to be monetary, however. Donated items like cat litter, pet toys and unopened cans or bags of pet food are essential to ensuring rescues stay open and continue to have enough funds to pay for daily operations and vet expenses. Even donations as simple as extra towels, blankets and sheets taking up space in your closet that you’re looking to discard are a big help to shelters and rescues. Household items, too, like paper towels, trash bags and laundry detergents are encouraged. Many animal shelters, rescues and organizations have specific wish lists on their website if you’re unsure where to start.
2. VOLUNTEER
Volunteering doesn’t have to look like devoting several hours a week to an organization. We get it, you’re busy! Many shelters and rescues understand your busy schedule and will embrace your help, even if it’s just for an hour or two every week. Plus, volunteering means you get to spend time with adorable animals who are usually very appreciative of any affection and cuddles they can get. Different organizations have different volunteer needs, so whether you’re scooping litter boxes, walking puppies, providing pet medical assistance or setting up a cat trap, you’re making a big impact on the lives of the animals around you.
3. FOSTER
Fostering isn’t possible for everyone, but for those who have the means to foster an animal, it is a life-changing experience. Foster homes bring love, comfort and shelter into the world of animals who are going through adversity. Fostering means to temporarily have a pet and care for it as if it were your own until the animal finds their perfect forever home. A famous quote, “Saving one animal will not change the world, but for that one animal, their world will change forever,” truly embodies what it means to be a foster parent to a pet. And who knows, you may just fall in love and end up finding your forever furry friend!
4. PROMOTE
If you’re interested in saving the lives of animals but don’t have the time or means to donate, volunteer or foster with an organization, you can still get involved by promoting them and their mission. Following, liking and sharing content from them on social media is a free, quick and impactful way to get the word out to family, friends and individuals who may be interested in donating or volunteering but aren’t aware of the organization. And don’t forget about the classic word-of-mouth method of promotion, which, again, you can do easily for free.
5. ADOPT
Adopt, don’t shop! Adopting a pet is sure to make a difference in an animal’s life and is one of the most impactful ways to support your local animal shelter or rescue. However, there’s a lot to consider before you adopt a pet, like lifestyle, time, budget, other people/pets currently living in your household and the type of pet you’re looking for. Fostering is a great start to gain some experience of what it may be like to own a pet and to see if it fits into your lifestyle.
