How to Help
NOTE: Although I care about both dogs and cats alike, my rescue mission has mostly been focused on dogs due to my allergy of cats so therefore, this website focuses on canines.
There are so many ways that a compassionate person can help improve the life of a dog or cat. But people are at different stages of their lives, have different and changing obligations and different emotional makeups. I have met people who had a hard time fostering because they got too close to the animals and were emotionally crushed when the pet was eventually placed in a permanent home. I have also met people who were so pressed with their lives and families that they couldn’t really give time, but they could donate money. The thing that you have to remember is that any act of compassion, large or small, helps – anything you do to help a dog improves that dog’s life. What is important is to choose a way of expressing your compassion that works within your life, and that you can sustain at the level that feels comfortable. Hopefully this website can give you an idea of the many different ways you can help, so you can decide how best you can turn your compassion, your heart, into action, into helping a dog in need. Below is an overview of some of the ways to help.
Helping to better the life of a dog in your neighborhood. I regularly talk with people that are concerned about a neighbor’s dog. Sometimes the neighbor is mistreating the dog; sometimes just not doing a good job caring for it. Gently educating a neighbor about the needs of their companion animal, while sometimes a challenge, can often help to improve the life of that dog. Many people actually appreciate the knowledge and tips you share with them. Kindness can go a long ways. Example; helping the owner install a trolley system for a chained out dog that jumps the fence.
Helping stray dogs and cats. Sometimes dogs from loving homes get loose. Sometimes dogs from indifferent homes wander away. And sometimes dogs in terrible situations escape. An easy way to help is to keep an eye out for strays in your neighborhood. In ideal situations an ID tag can assist you in helping the dog get back home safely. If an ID tag cannot be found, be sure to take the dog (or cat) to a veterinarian so they can scan for a microchip, which may possibly provide information about the owner or shelter or rescue group if the pet came from a shelter or rescue group.
Serving as a foster parent. Animal Control is the home or last resort for far too many unwanted dogs. A far better approach is to place a rescue or stray dog with a legitimate rescue group & in a loving foster home. This gives the dog a chance to lead a better, happier life, and greatly increases the chances that the dog will be placed in a good home– a happy, clean dog is far more likely to be adopted than a caged, unhappy dog. So find a rescue group in your area and sign up to be a foster parent.
Sponsoring a rescue dog. Sometimes, for whatever reason, fostering isn’t a good idea – your travel schedule, your older dogs not playing well with others, space constraints. Most rescue dogs come from bad situations, where their health and well-being have been neglected. A good shelter or rescue group always takes to the time to “vet” a dog before placing it, insuring it has its shots and that it is in good shape. “Sponsoring” a rescue, helping out with its vet bills, is a nice way to take some of the burden off of the rescue shelter and give the dog a better chance of finding a happy home.
Volunteering at a shelter or event. Chances are there are many shelters & rescue groups in your area that take strays and rescue dogs and desperately need help. These shelters & rescue groups are always short-staffed and looking for volunteers. And there are lots of ways to volunteer – helping with an adoption event, or manning the desk on the weekends, or even coming by to take the dogs for walks. Everything helps, everything contributes.
Organizing an adoptathon. This is a big one. I have helped organize dozens of mega-adoption events, and I can tell you that it can become an all-consuming project. But the rewards can be amazing as well – at one event we placed over 350 dogs and cats in good homes. If you have the passion, the organizational skills, a supportive family, and the time, organizing an adoptathon is both uniquely rewarding and uniquely helpful for the shelters/rescue groups in your area.
Re-homing dogs and cats in bad situations. This is a tough one. Sometimes, even after you try to help a dog/cat owner, it becomes clear that the person just isn’t cut out to love and/or care for a dog or cat. If that is the case, then the best thing for the animal is to be removed from the home and placed with a rescue group or shelter.
Pick a realistic starting point and see how it evolves. There are a wide variety of different ways to help. Sometimes it’s tempting to set your sights on a big role or commitment. But my experience has been that people are better off starting small, doing something they know they can handle and have the time for. Once you get started your involvement may change over time. But make sure that your starting point is comprised of jobs that fit in with your time allotment and energy. After all, animal rescue should be rewarding and not draining. Pace yourself to prevent burnout.
There are so many ways that a compassionate person can help improve the life of a dog or cat. But people are at different stages of their lives, have different and changing obligations and different emotional makeups. I have met people who had a hard time fostering because they got too close to the animals and were emotionally crushed when the pet was eventually placed in a permanent home. I have also met people who were so pressed with their lives and families that they couldn’t really give time, but they could donate money. The thing that you have to remember is that any act of compassion, large or small, helps – anything you do to help a dog improves that dog’s life. What is important is to choose a way of expressing your compassion that works within your life, and that you can sustain at the level that feels comfortable. Hopefully this website can give you an idea of the many different ways you can help, so you can decide how best you can turn your compassion, your heart, into action, into helping a dog in need. Below is an overview of some of the ways to help.
Helping to better the life of a dog in your neighborhood. I regularly talk with people that are concerned about a neighbor’s dog. Sometimes the neighbor is mistreating the dog; sometimes just not doing a good job caring for it. Gently educating a neighbor about the needs of their companion animal, while sometimes a challenge, can often help to improve the life of that dog. Many people actually appreciate the knowledge and tips you share with them. Kindness can go a long ways. Example; helping the owner install a trolley system for a chained out dog that jumps the fence.
Helping stray dogs and cats. Sometimes dogs from loving homes get loose. Sometimes dogs from indifferent homes wander away. And sometimes dogs in terrible situations escape. An easy way to help is to keep an eye out for strays in your neighborhood. In ideal situations an ID tag can assist you in helping the dog get back home safely. If an ID tag cannot be found, be sure to take the dog (or cat) to a veterinarian so they can scan for a microchip, which may possibly provide information about the owner or shelter or rescue group if the pet came from a shelter or rescue group.
Serving as a foster parent. Animal Control is the home or last resort for far too many unwanted dogs. A far better approach is to place a rescue or stray dog with a legitimate rescue group & in a loving foster home. This gives the dog a chance to lead a better, happier life, and greatly increases the chances that the dog will be placed in a good home– a happy, clean dog is far more likely to be adopted than a caged, unhappy dog. So find a rescue group in your area and sign up to be a foster parent.
Sponsoring a rescue dog. Sometimes, for whatever reason, fostering isn’t a good idea – your travel schedule, your older dogs not playing well with others, space constraints. Most rescue dogs come from bad situations, where their health and well-being have been neglected. A good shelter or rescue group always takes to the time to “vet” a dog before placing it, insuring it has its shots and that it is in good shape. “Sponsoring” a rescue, helping out with its vet bills, is a nice way to take some of the burden off of the rescue shelter and give the dog a better chance of finding a happy home.
Volunteering at a shelter or event. Chances are there are many shelters & rescue groups in your area that take strays and rescue dogs and desperately need help. These shelters & rescue groups are always short-staffed and looking for volunteers. And there are lots of ways to volunteer – helping with an adoption event, or manning the desk on the weekends, or even coming by to take the dogs for walks. Everything helps, everything contributes.
Organizing an adoptathon. This is a big one. I have helped organize dozens of mega-adoption events, and I can tell you that it can become an all-consuming project. But the rewards can be amazing as well – at one event we placed over 350 dogs and cats in good homes. If you have the passion, the organizational skills, a supportive family, and the time, organizing an adoptathon is both uniquely rewarding and uniquely helpful for the shelters/rescue groups in your area.
Re-homing dogs and cats in bad situations. This is a tough one. Sometimes, even after you try to help a dog/cat owner, it becomes clear that the person just isn’t cut out to love and/or care for a dog or cat. If that is the case, then the best thing for the animal is to be removed from the home and placed with a rescue group or shelter.
Pick a realistic starting point and see how it evolves. There are a wide variety of different ways to help. Sometimes it’s tempting to set your sights on a big role or commitment. But my experience has been that people are better off starting small, doing something they know they can handle and have the time for. Once you get started your involvement may change over time. But make sure that your starting point is comprised of jobs that fit in with your time allotment and energy. After all, animal rescue should be rewarding and not draining. Pace yourself to prevent burnout.
