Do you want to make a difference in your community? Consider stepping up and helping abandoned and neglected pets! Every year, approximately 6.3 million pets enter U.S. animal shelters across the country.
While the number of abandoned companion animals is steadily declining, any amount is too many. Nearly one million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters every year. Check out the following tips from Pettsie to learn how you can help!
Start a rescue nonprofit
If your local animal shelters are overflowing and you’ve noticed a lack of affordable spay/neuter facilities in your area, consider starting your own nonprofit to fill the gap! You could open a no-kill animal rescue, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, a pet food bank, an animal trap and release group, or any other animal nonprofit that seeks to solve an unmet problem in your community.
The Balance Careers outlines everything you will need to do to get your animal nonprofit off the ground. While you’re preparing for the launch of your new business, consider running some Facebook ads to promote what you’re doing. Facebook advertising offers powerful targeting capabilities, so it’s great for raising awareness and encouraging donations from people who feel passionately about your cause. Start with this Facebook ads maker to create an eye-catching ad in minutes, for free!
Adopt, don’t shop
If you’re thinking about bringing home a new pet, look for a shelter dog instead of buying from a breeder or pet store. Besides saving the life of a furry friend, adopting from a shelter has a number of additional advantages. Most adult shelter dogs are already trained, meaning you won’t have to deal with potty training a puppy or managing destructive behaviors around the home. The shelter will also work with you to find a pet whose personality and temperament align with your lifestyle. Plus, adopting from a shelter is much cheaper than purchasing from a breeder!
Foster pets in your home
Not ready to adopt? No problem! You can make a huge difference in the lives of some abandoned pets by fostering them in your home temporarily. Adoption groups need people to foster pets when they run out of shelter space, when dogs are showing signs of stress in the shelter, or when pets need to be socialized. Rover explains that fostering a dog is a great way to get some pet ownership practice while helping dogs in need. And if you already have a pet, fostering can offer them some animal companionship!
To get started, contact local shelters and rescue groups. Let them know you’re interested in fostering and ask about their approval process. You’ll likely have to fill out an application form. Once you’re all set, the shelter will work with you to find the right foster pet for your household!
Find local volunteer opportunities
Besides fostering abandoned animals, there are many other ways you can volunteer your time towards this important cause. Consider volunteering at a local animal shelter after work or on the weekends. Many things need to be done around an animal shelter. Shelters rely on volunteers for various jobs, including cleaning, training dogs, walking dogs, making calls, participating in fundraising events, posting on social media, and more.Skilled professionals also have a lot to offer shelters. For example, graphic designers, writers, and event planners can offer their services to shelters on a volunteer basis. The great part about these roles is that they can be done remotely, so you can support a local rescue group even if you live far from town.
While it’s easy to feel powerless to stop pet abandonment, there are many things you can do to help reduce the number of animals that end up in shelters and support the ones that do. Whether you want to bring home a furry friend or launch your own pet rescue nonprofit, stepping up and helping abandoned companion animals is sure to be rewarding!
Adopting a new pet? Welcome your furry friend to the family with a matching dog collar and owner friendship bracelet set from Pettsie! Browse our selection of beautiful patterns today!