5 Unique Ways to Help Animals in Need
Helping animals in need can be an incredibly rewarding experience, sometimes meaning the difference between life and death for an abandoned, abused, or homeless animal. There are countless animals in need no matter where you live, and many ways you can help. From fundraising for animal charities to helping endangered species, we can each make a difference. Learn various ways of helping animals in need below, from volunteering to donating, fostering, and adopting.
Understanding animal cruelty and neglect
Animal cruelty can take many forms, such as physical abuse, neglect, and poor care. Signs of abuse may include untreated wounds, thinness, limping, or signs of beatings. Neglect can be seen as a lack of food, water, and unhealthy living conditions. Behavioral signs like extreme fear, aggression, or withdrawal can also show mistreatment. Recognizing these signs is vital to act and stop them. If you suspect animal cruelty, take notes and photos, if possible, and gather information.
Reporting and combating animal cruelty
It is heartbreaking to see an abused animal, and there is no reason why any animal should have to suffer abuse. Animal cruelty is a felony in all 50 states, and abuse toward animals is repeatedly seen as an indicator of future violent crime. Report it to local animal control, law enforcement, or animal welfare organizations by doing the following:
- Collect information, photos, and notes of any evidence of cruelty.
- Report any suspicious puppy mills.
- Reach out to your local animal control agency, law enforcement, or humane society with the evidence to file a report.
- Do not confront the pet owner aggressively as this could pose more risk for you and the animal.
- Consult with other neighbors that can corroborate your story for additional witnesses.
- Prioritize your safety and report anonymously if needed.
- Never remove the animal without authorization.
Animal control and organizations like the Humane Society play a crucial role in protecting animals from cruelty. They investigate reports of animal abuse and rescue animals and enforce laws to ensure that animals are treated humanely. Active community involvement is essential in supporting these efforts. Individuals can volunteer at local shelters, participate in awareness campaigns, and advocate for stronger animal protection laws.
Supporting animal shelters and rescues
Selecting a reputable animal shelter is a crucial step in finding the perfect furry companion. It’s important to visit the shelter in person and assess the cleanliness, organization, and overall environment for the animals. Ask questions about the shelter’s adoption process, veterinary care, and community involvement. Reputable shelters are transparent about their policies and prioritize the well-being of their animal residents. You can also check if recognized organizations accredit the shelter, which often indicates that they adhere to high standards.
But if you can’t adopt a pet, learn how to help the animals in your community in many ways:
1. Volunteer with the Humane Society
The Humane Society offers opportunities to help any local animal in all 50 states and is always accepting new volunteers. Volunteer duties range from working directly with animal rescue and response teams to organizing community outreach events and saving animals that are abused.
2. Sponsor a shelter animal
Many shelters also offer the option to sponsor an individual pet. Usually, these animals are difficult to rehome, sometimes due to either behavioral or medical issues. As long-term residents of the shelter, your donation will help cover their ongoing cost of care. You’ll also be able to visit your sponsor creature and take them on walks. Starting a fundraiser can be a great way to provide financial assistance to sponsor one, if not many, shelter animals.
3. Raise money for veterinary costs
Many animals who suffer abuse also require costly surgery. Depending on the nature of the injury or illness, veterinary costs including surgery can exceed $8,000 for one. Surgery can be lifesaving, and starting a fundraiser can help. Contact your local shelter of animals to find one in need, and start a fundraiser to help cover the cost of vet bills. Make sure to include a breakdown of medical expenses in your fundraiser to show donors the cost of treatment.
4. Donate to an Animal Charity
You can support nonprofits who are on the ground actively working to prevent animal cruelty while also supporting and rehoming animals who have experienced abuse. This list of the best animal charities to donate to on GoFundMe is a great place to start. By starting an animal fundraiser, you can rally support for rescue organizations in your community and spread awareness on ways you can help. The funds can go to neuter and spaying animals in the shelter plus needed supplies like blankets, pet food, and more.
5. Foster an animal
Becoming a foster parent to a dog or cat in need of a home can be rewarding for everyone involved. Fostering an animal helps relieve crowded shelters, and gives that animal a higher chance at a quick adoption. Taking your foster dog to community events or parks is a fun activity for you both, and a great way to let others know the animal is available for adoption.
Responsible Pet Ownership
Owning a pet is a big responsibility. It involves daily care, exercise, vet visits, and social interaction. Before getting a pet, consider the time, effort, and resources required. Remember, pets are lifelong companions who need love, care, and stability. Be prepared to embrace the responsibilities that come with providing a forever home as a pet caregiver.
When pet owners can no longer take care of their pet, some may see abandoning them as the only option. Animal abandonment is a widespread issue, with only 11% of animals entering shelters as strays returned to their owners.
The staggering number of homeless animals is due in large part to overpopulation, something which is easily preventable through proper spaying and neutering. Low-cost spay and neuter programs are essential to prevent unplanned litters and keeping shelter numbers down. These programs also often include comprehensive pet health checks, microchip, vaccinations, and medical care. Organize a fundraiser to support spay and neuter programs in your area.
Local humane society organizations often have resources for rehoming pets in case of illness, financial hardship, or other issues. Local animal shelters and rescue groups provide temporary foster care, help finding pet-friendly housing, assistance with vet expenses, low-cost training, and more.
If you’re not ready for full pet ownership, consider fostering an animal. It can be a fulfilling commitment that involves providing temporary care and a loving home for animals in need. Before embarking on this journey, it’s crucial to consider factors like your living situation, available time, and the compatibility of existing pets.
Fostering often requires patience and flexibility since the needs of each animal can vary. Requirements usually include a stable home environment, a willingness to follow the fostering organization’s guidelines, and the ability to provide necessary care, such as feeding, grooming, and regular veterinary care. Fostering not only offers animals a safe haven before adoption, but it also enables potential foster parents to contribute to the well-being of animals without a long-term commitment.
Fundraising and Advocacy
While there are over 3 million animals adopted from shelters each year, this is less than half the total number of dogs and cats entering U.S. animal shelters on an annual basis. Adopting a shelter animal fills an urgent need, and often brings irreplaceable joy to the individuals and families that do adopt.
Rescuing and rehoming animals can be an expensive endeavor, and these rescue groups and organizations often rely on donations from generous supporters to keep their efforts going. One way to support them is by initiating an animal fundraiser that promotes awareness of their work and encourages community involvement. By doing so, you can help these organizations continue their mission to rescue animals in need.
Create your fundraiser. Organize a fun community event as a way to raise funds to help a shelter. A couple of fundraising tips include sharing your fundraiser with family and friends and promoting your cause on social media. Some community fundraising ideas include a walk-a-thon for people and their pets, organizing a car wash, or hosting a silent auction.
Host an adoption event. An adoption event can be an effective way for a lot of animals to quickly find their forever home. You can organize an independent event and share with your colleagues, family, and friends, or partner with an animal shelter to host a larger event.
Share on social media. Pick a platform of your choice, from Instagram to TikTok, and create a page dedicated to showcasing animals in need of adoption. Focus on one specific category to gain the most traction, such as location, breed, or species. Feature animals from different shelters, and follow up with a success story after each adoption.
Many people have used online fundraising to successfully raise money to help animals in need. See a few examples below of how others are using crowdfunding to make a positive impact in the lives of animals.
Successful fundraisers that help animals in need
Many people have used online fundraising to successfully raise money to help animals in need. See a few examples below of how others are using crowdfunding to make a positive impact in the lives of animals.
Marathon fundraiser for charity
Brian and Carey created a fundraiser to benefit the Jameson Animal Rescue Ranch, a no-kill shelter in Napa Valley. They each ran a 50-mile ultramarathon to raise money for the ranch and collected nearly $6,000 in donations.
Disaster relief for animals in need
In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, countless animals were left abandoned and homeless. Pamela started a fundraiser to collect donations to support the animal evacuation effort, as the lives of animals remaining in shelters near the coast were in danger. Pamela was able to raise more than her $5,000 goal, resulting in close to 200 animals transported to safety.
Fundraiser for emergency animal rescue
When a member of their community reached out in need, the team at ASH Animal Rescue knew they had to help. The organization, a non profit, no-kill shelter in Ireland, started an emergency fundraiser to help cover the cost of rescuing and rehoming 70 dogs from a private residence. Donations covered the cost of medical treatment, vaccinations, food, and transport. Thanks to generous donors, hey nearly doubled their $8,000 goal.
Education and Community Involvement
Community-based animal welfare programs promote responsible pet ownership through low-cost clinics and educational workshops. Most cities have an animal welfare department, and volunteers are always needed. Animal control is often the first to know about homeless animals, and many of these animals end up at the city’s shelter. Volunteer opportunities could include socializing and walking dogs, or assisting with adoption paperwork.
Start an initiative to raise awareness about the physical and environmental signs of animal abuse. Create fliers with information about the warning signs, and include resources for how to report animal cruelty. Reach out to local authorities as well to advocate for stronger animal protection laws and regulations.
Do your part to help animals in need
The bond between animals and humans is both unique and special. We can all do our part to ensure animals in need get the help they deserve. Coming together as a community to help animals thrive in a new forever home can be incredibly impactful. If there is a cause close to your heart, a fundraiser can help. Sign up today to start your fundraiser for helping animals in need, and see what kind of an impact you can make when you bring people together around a common goal.