5 Ways To Support Rescue Animals In Your Home Town
GIVEAWAY: a copy of SIT, STAY, LOVE could be yours!
April 4, 2018
In SIT, STAY, LOVE,
a
large-scale dog fighting ring covering several Midwestern states is exposed,
creating national media attention. The High Grove Animal Shelter steps
forward
to take in some of the abused dogs, dedicating countless hours to care for
and
retrain them in an off-site location until they are ready and able to be
adopted
into loving homes. If this sounds like a real-life event that you heard
about on
TV, well, you probably have. All too often, illegal dog fighting rings are
exposed, and some are larger in scale than others. When this happens, area
shelters and caring individuals are instrumental in saving animals' lives
with
the help and services they provide.
Often, whether it's due to natural disasters, large scale animal abuse
cases,
hoarding, or similar scenarios, shelters become saturated with newly
homeless
animals. When this happens, not only is adequate space a concern but
available
funds are rapidly depleted.
Whether it comes about because of a media story or simply because you want
to
connect with homeless animals and the people who care for them, there are
still
many ways to support your local shelters. Here are five inexpensive and fun
ways
to make a big difference even if you aren't ready to adopt:
🐾 Getting ready to host a party? Make it count!
Turn an upcoming birthday party, book club, or other fun gathering into
a
supply or donation drive. Invite guests to bring on-hand households items
for a
supply drive, or, in lieu of a gift, to contribute toward a monetary
donation
toward your local shelter.
If you're hesitant to verbalize such a request, this is a great thing to
include in a printed or virtual invitation. For virtual invitations, include
a
link to the shelter you're supporting. For printed invitations, stop by the
shelter and pick up a handful of brochures to include. Perhaps you'll create
some new life supporters for your chosen shelter.
Be sure to include a copy of your shelter's supply wish list. Often
people
have items like blankets, towels, and cleaning supplies on hand and don't
have
to outlay either money or time to make a helpful donation. Also, many
shelters
have Amazon wish lists in addition to a page on their websites.
🐾 Become a shelter volunteer.
Most shelters welcome volunteers and allow you to make your own time
commitments, as little or as much as you'd like. If you're worried your
shelter
experience might be more traumatic than you hope to experience, don't be
afraid
to say this right off the bat. Caring staff will be happy to direct you to
lighter cases.
And remember, there are many ways to help as a volunteer, from working
in
gift shops, grooming cats and walking dogs, to tossing balls to dogs in play
yards. These experiences will leave you feeling warm and happy and will help
make a positive difference.
🐾 Ready to connect with shelter animals but not ready to adopt?
Consider a
short term or trial foster program. Even if your life is hectic and you
aren't
in the space to adopt an animal for life, fostering makes a big difference,
especially during natural disasters. Committing to a weekend, a few weeks,
or
even a full summer can make a big difference in animals' lives and help free
up
space in shelters, giving all shelter animals their best chance at being
adopted.
🐾 Share your talents. Whether they're derived from a hobby or a
career,
shelters can benefit from your talents.
If you're crafty, then perhaps crochet, knit, sew (or assemble in
whatever
way you choose) a bagful of tug and pounce toys for the kenneled dogs and
cats
who will welcome the fresh new scents and distractions. Many inexpensive and
easy-to-make ideas are online.
If you're a do-it-yourselfer, you can offer your construction services.
From
simple cat trees to building maintenance, projects abound in shelters.
Smaller shelters can almost always use skilled/professional services
like
marketing, accounting, and legal services, too.
🐾 Consider showing your appreciation for your local shelter's
hardworking staff
and volunteers. For folks working in small nonprofits like shelters, hours
are
often long, and other than the love of their four-legged friends, tight
budgets
usually don't provide a ton of perks to those on payroll. And think outside
the
box. There are many ways to help including pampering staff and volunteers
with
snacks, hand lotions, flowers, scarfs and gloves during cold weather and
sunscreen and popsicles in warm weather, or provide staff and volunteers
lunch
for a day. This boost of happy energy they receive will trickle down to the
animals, too.
It's been love at first bark for Debbie Burns's heartwarming new
romance
series for dog lovers
When a large group of dogs are rescued from a deadly situation, shelter
worker Kelsey Sutton volunteers to care for them. It means she'll be working
alongside a sexy, ex-military dog handler who has mysterious dark eyes and
an
inability to relax…
After eight years of military service, Kurt Crawford is committed to
keeping
his heart locked away. He only takes off his emotional armor for the four-
legged
creatures who always have his back. But as Kurt gets to know the
compassionate
and beautiful shelter worker he's been assigned to work with, he can't help
but
let down his guard.
Kurt's job is only temporary, and he's never been one to stick around for
long. Can he take off his armor and bare himself to Kelsey once and for all,
or
do his old wounds still run too deep?
Romance
Contemporary
[Sourcebooks Casablanca, On Sale: April 1, 2018,
Mass Market Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781492650867 / eISBN:
9781492650874]
Debbie lives in Saint Louis with her family, two phenomenal rescue dogs,
and
a somewhat tetchy Maine Coon cat who everyone loves anyway. Her hobbies
include
hiking, gardening, and daydreaming, which of course always leads to new
story
ideas.
I would probably crochet some toys/blankets for the shelter by us. Thank you for the chance. (Patti Pusateri 5:27pm April 4, 2018)
We have adopted rescue animals throughout the years... donate when we can... (Colleen Conklin 6:32pm April 4, 2018)
i adopted many rescue cats (Emily Stemp 7:31pm April 4, 2018)
My son's girlfriend works for an animal shelter. I will donate treats and unused pet stuff. (Susan Clickner 2:21pm April 5, 2018)
volunter at a Animal Shelter (Emily Stemp 3:44pm April 5, 2018)
I would give food and blankets. Marilyn (Marilyn Collins 7:35pm April 6, 2018)
I have taken blankest to the local shelter. (Joy Isley 4:52pm April 7, 2018)
Our Girl Scout troop donated blankets and dog treats. (Sharlene Wegner 7:01pm April 7, 2018)
I have dropped off old towels and sheets at our local shelter. (Sandy Haber 7:05pm April 7, 2018)
I used to make dog pillows from my left over quilting scraps for the animal shelter. I have also rescued / adopted a dog. (Jackie Wisherd 11:55pm April 7, 2018)
Many years ago my husband and I got a dog from the local shelter. She was great. (Melanie Rosen 3:09am April 8, 2018)
My grandkids call me kitty grandma, (Gloria Zimmer 5:18am April 8, 2018)
We have two Shelties and have looked into rescuing another one. (Margaret Yelton 11:33am April 8, 2018)
This book looks amazing! I would love to adopt a rescue dog in the future! (Maria Proctor 12:53pm April 9, 2018)
We adopted a rescue. Tommy is at least 10, deaf from untreated ear infections, he lost one eye & only has maybe 20% vision in the remaining eye. He's such a sweetie and it's been good for Tallulah too. (Ivy Truitt 3:45pm April 9, 2018)
sounds amazing Thanks for the chance (Krys Barton 3:57pm April 9, 2018)
I can donate to my local shelter. (Connie Saunders 4:36pm April 9, 2018)
I contribute to the ASPCA regularly. When I retire, I plan on fostering dogs to help make them more adoptable. So many homeless animals, not enough resources, overwhelming problem. (Nancy Marcho 4:54pm April 9, 2018)
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