Animal Rescue: Different Ways You Can Help

There are so many ways to dive in and make a difference in animal rescue. Not everyone is able to foster kittens in their home but that doesn't mean you can't help! Let's explore some options.

At The Shelter/Rescue:

If you can't foster, consider volunteering at a shelter for a couple hours a week. There are so many different ways you can help out at a shelter. They have positions for everything from walking the dogs to feeding the animals to helping customers. Some cities even have kitten nurseries and you can sign up for a shift of bottle feeding & caring for the babies that are too young to be adopted yet.

Positions that may be available:

• Helping adopters with the animals

• Working tables/booths at events (Handing out information or helping adopters meet the animals at adoption events)

• Clerical duties (Such as filing, preparing paperwork, answering phone calls)

• Walking dogs

• Feeding the animals

• Transporting animals from (This could be a short, local trip or a longer, multi-day trip)

• Socializing & training the animals

• Cleaning the cages & kennels

• Assist with shelter repairs/maintenance

• Fundraising events & activities

Donate:

The next best thing to volunteering is DONATING. Pick up some litter, dry & wet food and some Kitten Formula and drop them off at the shelter/rescue. You can also send items to your favorite foster through their wish list if you can't make it out to a shelter.

• Drop off food, litter & bedding at your local shelter or rescue (You can view my personal favorites lists HERE)

• Have supplies sent to a foster family via their wish list

• Purchase humane traps & food for your local TNR organization

• Donate funds to help rescues, TNR groups & foster families (who foster independently) spay/neuter & fully vet their rescues. You can often donate directly to a veterinarians office so you know exactly where your money is going.

EDUCATE & SUPPORT:

Finally, if you can't volunteer or donate, EDUCATE & SUPPORT. We have to work harder to educate our communities on the importance of spaying & neutering. SHARE posts from your shelters, rescues, your favorite foster families. Like and comment on those posts. I can't tell you how much we appreciate the support of our followers. Your love & support helps to keep us going and it doesn't cost a penny.

• Share posts from shelters/rescues/fosters to help their rescues get adopted

• Share informational posts to spread the facts on spay/neuter, leash laws, micro-chipping, use of collars+tags

• Sharing & commenting will help boost the page/account/channel and this will help keep the foster/shelter/rescue coming up in news feeds & search results.

• Start a conversation! Talk to that neighbor with the intact, "outside" cat (remember to be kind. Being angry will only alienate them and that won't get you anywhere)

We Need You!

Right now, foster families everywhere are preparing for kitten season. We are cleaning our foster rooms, taking inventory of our kitten supplies and trying to recruit more volunteers. Because there are simply not enough of us and kittens WILL be euthanized if they aren't placed in foster homes. Don't get mad at the shelters. Be proactive and make the difference. Be part of the solution.

I would love to answer any questions you have and help you get started. You can contact me, Missi, at FosterTheFelines@hotmail.com.