When it was time for my family to welcome a new furry friend, we opted to rescue a pup from a local shelter. Pet adoption is one of the best ways to help end the vicious cycle of puppy mills and over-breeding, but how do you help the shelters when adoption isn’t feasible?
Donate $
When it comes time to make your charitable gifts, don’t forget about your favorite local pet shelters! And get your kids involved! My kids had been begging to host their own lemonade stand, and I finally allowed them to do it so long as the proceeds went to charity – and they chose a local shelter. People don’t mind overpaying for a cup of lemonade when they know it’s going to a good cause, and your kids learn the value of volunteering their time and money – win-win!
Read to Shelter Dogs
The Humane Society of Missouri has an awesome program called Shelter Reading Buddies, where kids can come into the shelters and read to the dogs in the kennels. For a minimal registration fee ($10) and 2 hours of training, your kid can go to the Humane Society during normal operating hours and help socialize the dogs available for adoption by sitting outside their kennel and reading aloud to them. Bonus: reading aloud also helps young readers (besides, the dogs don’t mind if they mess up the words!).
Make (or Donate) Toys
Shelters want to provide their animals with enrichment, such as toys, but are often working on tight budgets. So, consider donating toys or making your own to drop off at your favorite shelter. My daughter’s Girl Scout troop earned their Pet badge by learning how to make pet toys from reusable materials such as old t-shirts. It was fun, easy, and a great lesson in volunteering your time and talents for others.
Put Your Social Media Time to Good Use
Social media algorithms reward profiles and posts that get interaction, so every time you “like” a post or picture of a shelter pet available for adoption – or even better, share it – you are helping spread the message to a wider audience, which means more pets find forever homes!
Consider Fostering a Pet
Not able to take in another furry family member permanently? If you’ve got the time and space (and patience) in the short term, consider fostering a dog or a cat until they find their forever home. For some anxious animals, shelters are a scary place, but living in a foster home can help them feel safe and allow their true personalities to shine through for potential adopters. Most shelters help provide the basics to care for the pet and give you plenty of advice and support throughout the process.
If you are feeling inspired, check out these local shelters that could use your time, talents, and resources:
St. Louis County Pet Adoption Center
