The Humane Society of the United States (http://www.humanesociety.org) estimates that between 6-8 million dogs and cats are living in animal shelter care each year. Approximately 3-4 million are euthanized while they wait for that forever friend to give them a forever home. (see Reference 1). Many of the shelters need the basics: food, blankets or towels and volunteers. You can help your local animal shelters as they care for the animals that have found themselves homeless through neglect, abuse and circumstance.
Instructions
Help Your Local Animal Shelters
1. Volunteer your time. Sometimes just an hour or two of your volunteer time is a huge relief to the animal shelter workers. Volunteers are needed to walk and play with the animals to help with socialization skills. A gentle pat on the head, an encouraging word and a loving presence will help these animals find loving homes. Some of the shelter animals have never known anything other than a life of abuse and torment.
2. Donate unwanted animal toys. Gently used toys, balls and stuffed animals are welcomed at most shelters. Since the basics of supplying the animals with food, medications and shelter are the priorities--there is rarely extra to purchase toys. By donating your pet's used toys you are providing a necessary distraction from the countless hours these animals spend locked in cages everyday.
3. Solicit donations. Hotels and motels replace their blankets, sheets and towels on a regular basis and would surely donate the used linens to the local animal shelter. Oftentimes, the shelters do not have the personnel to reach out to the hospitality industry to coordinate the donations. You can act as the go-between in collecting the bounty for your animal shelter.
4. Collect food and treats. Shelters are always in need of food to feed the masses. I realize with many starving people in our midst it may be difficult to organize a food drive for the animal shelter. Perhaps you could collect the unused food from those neighborhood finicky eaters. Or, run an ad on Craigslist or in your local community section of the newspaper stating that the animal shelter is in need of food, even opened, unused food. One dog or cat's trash is another one's treasure.
5. Remember your thrift shop. Most animal shelters have a thrift shop that sells stuff to earn revenue for the animal shelter. The next time it rains on your yard sale and you do not sell all of your goods-consider donating the leftovers to the shelter's thrift store.
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