April 12 – 18 is National Volunteer Week, celebrating the good work and tireless giving done by so many wonderful volunteers. We thought we would take the opportunity to say thank you, first and foremost, and discuss some unique or creative ways to volunteer for those ready to roll up their sleeves.
An Eclectic List of Ways You Can Help Shelter Pets
When people think of volunteering at an animal shelter, they often first think of all of the direct care duties, like dog walks, kennel cleaning, and cat care. And while these are undeniably important, there are actually numerous needs faced by most animal nonprofits that are equally important and perhaps more appealing to some individuals.
- The perfect pet portrait – If you love photography and have a digital camera, consider volunteering to take some portraits of animals up for adoption, since great images go a long way in generating interest.
- Organize a supply drive – Virtually every shelter or rescue goes through tons of food, litter, and other supplies for the daily care of hundreds of animals. If you are a master organizer, consider launching a pet supply or pet food drive in your neighborhood, place of employment, or church.
- Friend-raising – Social media aficionados will greatly enhance the community’s awareness of a shelter or animal nonprofit by promoting it across social media channels. If you have thousands of online contacts, you may help animals get adopted, too, by sharing their profile on Facebook, Twitter, etc.
- Education and awareness – Are you passionate about the importance of spay/neuter programs? Want to end animal cruelty or puppy mills? Many animal welfare nonprofits look for volunteer educators to present to schools, businesses, and clubs as an effective awareness-raising campaign.
- Foster family – If you have the time, space, and heart for additional fur friends in your home, foster pet parents are sorely needed to free up shelter space and provide a less stressful, healthier environment where a stray or homeless pet can receive care, training, and socialization.
- Pet taxi – Many adoption or foster care situations rely on safely transporting pets to their new homes, which can sometimes be an hour or two away. If you love animals and road trips, this is a wonderful way to give back and encourage adoptions.
- Compelling storytelling – It’s a given that better, more detailed pet profiles help encourage adoptions and ensure the right pet family for the pet in question. If you love to write and have a panache for crafting stories to tug at the heartstrings, consider offering your writing services to shelters and rescues.
- Artsy-craftsy – Likewise, if you are gifted with craft skills, why not enlist the help of other pet adoring crafters and get creative making pet beds, blankets, plush dog toys, catnip-filled mice, and other cool items for pets who may not have beds or toys of their own.
We hope we’ve inspired you to think more broadly about ways you can benefit animals. The need is great and volunteerism fills those essential roles that might not otherwise be covered. And, whenever you are in doubt, just call a local humane society or shelter and ask what they need most.
There are many important tasks to tackle and dedicated volunteers are the shining stars of animal shelters and nonprofits. Happy National Volunteer Week!