5 Ways to Help Your Local Animal Shelter

It's a shocking statistic that around 6.5 million companion animals per year enter refuges and shelters due to abandonment, neglect, or other abuse.

Shelters are run on a not-for-profit basis, and many struggle to find the funds required to continue their work. While you may not have the cash to donate, there are many other ways to get involved and help out. Here are just a few suggestions.

1. Daily care

Could you commit a couple of hours per week to help out with the daily care of the animals, including exercising the dogs, cleaning pens, replacing food and water? This kind of basic but essential help is especially valued during holiday periods, or when the weather is inclement, as fewer volunteers appear. It's a great way to connect and become a part of the shelter team. You'll not only get to know the animals, they'll also get to know you and will always give you a warm welcome.

2. Fundraising

Funds aren't only needed to purchase food for the animals. The cost of even basic veterinary care can be crippling. Do you have a talent for organizing social events, which will attract potential supporters and adopters? The funds you help to raise can be used to improve the facilities, and even purchase certain items of used veterinary equipment, so that basic treatments can be provided on shelter premises, reducing costs.

3. Marketing

Social media, webpages, and local newspapers are all great ways to highlight the work of the shelter and to showcase the animals that need a new home. Are you a natural storyteller, or photographer who's social media savvy? Why not use your talents to spread the word about the shelter by posting and blogging. For example, if a rescued animal needs specialist or cutting-edge care, people often respond to a specific appeal rather than a general call for donations. Raising the profile of the shelter and keeping it in the minds of potential supporters can make all the difference.

4. Fostering

Shelters need to find homes for the animals in their care as quickly as possible, to make room for those still in need of help. While you may not be in a position to offer a dog its 'forever home', many shelters welcome help from temporary foster carers, especially for dogs. After a time in the shelter, this enables them to re-enter a home environment, rather than going 'stir-crazy' in a cage. It shows potential adopters how well that pet will fit into a domestic environment. It also frees up space in the shelter. Best of all, you can have the enjoyment of rehabilitating the dog and giving him or her the chance of a better life until that 'forever family' shows up.

5. Administration

Most people who start shelters do so because they love animals, not because they love paperwork. Yet there is a lot of administration required to run a shelter. If you're highly organized and enjoy seeing records up-to-date and in order, maybe you'd enjoy putting your talents to good use for a few hours per week in the shelter office.

These are just a few ideas. Why not go along to your local shelter and offer to lend a hand?