Animal shelters are usually in a state of crisis. A raging overpopulation problem combined with a lack of funds and employees can make managing a shelter frustrating, difficult and sometimes hopeless. If there is an animal shelter in your area, chances are good that it could use some sort of help in a variety of areas. Contact the shelter to find out what you can do to help.
Donations
Shelters have a wide range of expenses and can always use a hand financially. Consider making a direct donation to the organization or bringing gift cards to pet stores so that the shelter can invest in supplies and toys. Shelters also need stamps, money for gas, cleaning supplies and unopened food for dogs and cats. If you have something you do not need and you think it could help, ask about donating it.
Volunteering
Most shelters run on a skeleton crew of paid employees with the rest of the work done by volunteers. Spend some time at your local shelter cleaning cages, feeding animals or answering the phones. Whatever time you can spare to assist your local shelter will be appreciated and will likely help some of the animals that live there have a bit of a better life.
Fostering
Some animal shelters rely on foster parents to lessen the load on their facilities. Foster parents keep dogs or cats in their homes and bring them to adoption events so that they might find a family of their own. Fostering can be an expensive and emotionally draining task, as the animals that come into your home will be adopted by another family. This makes fostering a bittersweet experience but one that can have an incredibly positive impact on the life of an animal.
Awareness
The primary reason that shelters are in their current state is the overpopulation of animals. When people do not get their pets spayed or neutered, accidental births are bound to happen. If animals run away or are lost, they will likely end up contributing to the problem with litters of strays. Working with a shelter to organize awareness events in which pet owners learn about the importance of fixing their pets and the plight of shelters can be a valuable contribution of your time, especially if you have event-planning experience or work for a high-profile company.
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