Many of us have soft spots in our hearts for animals. If we could change the world so that not even one dog or cat would be abandoned, homeless or mistreated, we would.
We're willing to help, but what's the best option? Who should we support? Large, national animal rights organizations? National pet welfare organizations? Our local shelters?
Of course there may be many right answers and certainly all help we give to animals is good, but if you'll allow me, I'd like to try to peer into your heart... I may find it is much like my own and both of us may accomplish much good together.
When I give to help animals, I want to have a large impact. I want to change the world. I want to make the world a much better place for a real dog or cat. No wait, I want to make the world a better place for many dogs and many cats.
Local animal shelters are where you can do the most good.
If you want to make a real difference in a real cat or dog's life, look for your local animal shelter, where you can do the most good for a real dog or cat up the street.
Why local?
Your local shelter is probably much more financially needy than national organizations who have budgets in the multi millions of dollars. Local shelters are often run on tight budgets by volunteers who are, bless their hearts, often exhausted and deserve our support.
Your local shelter needs volunteers.
Shelters need volunteers to walk dogs. Can you look into the big brown eyes of a shelter dog and bring him some joy and happiness by taking him for a walk in the sun? Shelters NEED people to walk dogs.
Can you share your love for animals by helping shelters in other ways? Humane Societies and shelters have MANY needs for volunteers and every job is important! Some volunteers do paperwork or send out thank you cards. Some volunteers help clean up. Some volunteers feed animals. Some volunteers do handy work around the shelter. Some volunteers may help keep up the landscape. Some volunteers may help answer phones. As sure as I'm writing these words, your local shelters can probably really use your help as a volunteer.
Supporting shelter volunteers and staff
Working in an animal shelter is hard work and can be discouraging. Can you bring snacks to support the humane society's staff? Maybe buy them gift cards for a fun night out or a special treat? Hire a massage therapist to give massages at the shelter one day? The encouragement you bring to shelter staff will translate directly into the morale of the shelter and thus the quality of life for its four-legged benefactors.
Grant your local shelter three wishes
Most local shelters have a wish list of items they really need, like towels, paper towels, food, bleach and other supplies. Bringing the items they need most, on a completely organic local level, allows you to do the most possible good that you can do... and you don't have to stop at three wishes. You can deliver wish list items every Monday. (And why not throw in a few candy bars for the humane society staff?)
You... the foster parent of a four legged person?
Some humane societies need foster parents to care for kittens and puppies who need more care than the shelter can give. There are also breed-specific rescues that often need foster parents to take in a dog or cat until they can find it a home. Sometimes this is a great option for people with a special spot in their hearts for specific breeds of animals, or puppies or kittens. Foster parents are special people. Can you be one?
Contributing your special skills
There are many things that make you special. You might be surprised to find out that some of the things you've learned in your life... some of the things that make you special, may be of dire need to your local animal shelter! Are you good at planning events? Are you a good graphic designer? Web designer? Are you good at fund-raising? Gardening? Writing? Administrative skills? Many of these skills are badly needed by shelters to update web pages, reach the public, raise money, send out newsletters, have special events that raise money.
Artists and Business Owners
Most humane societies have fund-raising events such as auctions to raise money. Can you contribute a piece of art or other merchandise from your business? Can you contribute employees to volunteer at an event?
The most meaningful help is the help that takes valuable time and psychologists tell us we gain the most benefit from volunteering when we look into the eye of someone we've helped. Consider getting really involved.
It's important to support large organizations, too, but your money may end up one drop in the bucket and may go towards lobbying the government or some other such activity and that may impact a large number of animals, but indirectly. Some national animal welfare organizations don't even operate a shelter.
Your heart's in the right place. Now take the step necessary to contact your local shelter and see what you have that you can share to make a big difference, not only in the life of real dogs and cats, but also in your own.
Thanks for your love for animals, and even more importantly, your willingness to help.
To find a deserving shelter with 10 miles from your ZIP Code here: http://www.animalshelter.org/shelters/states.asp
