Animal shelters can often be unsung heroes. They are one of the first places we check if our beloved dog gets lost and many volunteers and staff spend countless hours trying to save unwanted pets and have to deal with abuse and abandonment daily.
The holidays are a perfect time of year to give back to the shelters we rely on to provide unwanted and lost dogs a safe refuge.
In the Spirit of Giving, here are some ways you can use your skills to can help a shelter during the holiday season or any day of the year.
The first thing to do is determine how much time you can carve out of your busy day and consider what skills you have to offer. Of course, a cash donation is always welcome if you don’t have extra cash, there is no shortage to other valuable ways you can help.
  1. Promoting. Shelters often host adoption and other events and need flyers passed out to local veterinary offices, parks, pet stores, and any other places people congregate.
  2. Social media. Regardless if you are a social media superstar or a casual user, by keeping in touch and sharing shelter information with your friends, you are helping to save lives. If you have some extra time, you could even volunteer to help the shelter keep their own social media pages current
  3. Transportation services. Many times shelters need help transporting animals and if you have a little time and reliable transportation, there is a need to transport dogs and other animals from the shelter to vet appointments and rescue facilities.
  4. Walking dogs. There is always a need to walk shelter dogs and you can fit this volunteer opportunity into your regular exercise routine. The shelter dogs will appreciate the attention and you are benefiting their mental and physical health.
  5. Writing. If you have writing and/or desk top publishing skills, you could volunteer to write newsletters, flyers, web site copy, grants and more.
  6. Website. If you are a web guru, by volunteering to keep the website up to date and functioning can save the shelter lots of money that could be spent on saving lives.
  7. Photography. If you are a photo bug, shelters have a great need for pictures of incoming pets, events, and much more.
  8. Donations other than cash. Shelters have a constant need for food, blankets, cat litter, dishes, and other supplies. Contact the shelter and ask what their current needs are and add some to your shopping list and ask your friends to do the same.
  9. Crafts. If you are crafty, how about volunteering to make items that can be auctioned off or sold to help raise funds for the shelter.
  10. Carpentry/Paint. If you have these skills, your shelter will appreciate your help in making repairs and painting.
  11. Legal. If you are an attorney, you can help a shelter by helping prepare and keep contacts and legal forms updated and review videos, brochures, and other advertising.
  12. Accounting. If you are an accountant, CPA or have excellent bookkeeping skills, you can help the shelter run in the black by donating your time and budgeting expertise.
  13. Trainers. If you are a dog trainer or a dog trainer in training, working with shelter dogs is a perfect way to showcase your skills while improving the dog’s odds of being adopted.
  14. Behaviorists. If you are a trainer or behaviorist, shelters can use to evaluate and screen dogs for behavior problems and to determine personality traits, social skills, triggers for behavior problems, and other important information that’s needed for determining how adoptable an animal is or what kind of home they need.
  15. Medical/Vetting. It goes without saying that many animals that arrive in shelters are in need of medical care, supplies, and medication.
  16. Support. Lending a hand, dropping off a meal, baking cookies, thanking a person, cleaning a kennel, or answering the phone can go a long way to support shelter staff and free up more time to help the dogs in need.
  17. Foster. Shelters fill up fast, especially around the holidays, by offering to foster, you are giving a needy dog a second chance and a safe place to lay their head, and the best chance of being adopted.
  18. Fund-raising. Shelters are in need of money and there are things you can do to help raise it. Set out donation jars and school or work, ask for donations in lieu of birthday or wedding gifts, make bequeaths, etc. are all creative ways to help shelters raise funds.

18 CASH FREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER DURING THE HOLIDAYS

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