How can you help dogs this winter? Local dog shelters and animal rescue groups are always in need of volunteers and donations. Community support helps local rescues and shelters provide better, higher quality care for the animals. Whether it’s through time or monetary commitments, there’s always a way to support shelter dogs in your community!
Organize A Food Drive
Shelters are always in need of more dog food. This winter, consider donating food to local shelters in your area. Donate on your own or organize a pet food donation drive with friends, family, and coworkers. Before starting the food drive, consult the dog shelter to learn the type of food needed.
Donate Dog Toys
New dog toys are also something that shelters may need. In the winter a shelter may want extra toys to give special holiday gifts. When you’re shopping for your own dogs this holiday season, consider purchasing an extra toy to donate. If you’re hosting soon, consider asking friends and family to bring a dog toy and then coordinate the donation drop.
Make Tug Toys
Get crafty and make tug toys to help dogs in shelters. Braid long, thin strips of fleece together to make a simple tug toy. These toys are inexpensive to make and can be a great way to treat shelter dogs to something special this winter. This option is easy for beginning crafters and children. Opt to organize a crafting session for school groups and after-school clubs! Alternatively, you can make other types of DIY toys from common household objects (read more here).
Financial Donations
Although food, toys, and other tangible donations are always welcomed by shelters and rescue groups, financial support is always needed. Donations allow shelters to cover unexpected expenses for dogs in their care. Donating money allows shelters to provide more comprehensive treatment to dogs with significant health conditions. For example, dogs that need specialized veterinary care or surgeries.
Foster Home for The Holidays
If you have the time and space in your home this winter, apply to foster. Fostering helps dogs decompress outside of a shelter environment. In turn, this improves overall quality of life and provides a break from the stress of the shelter. Expenses for foster dogs (e.g. food and vet bills) are usually covered by the shelter. In addition to providing respite and comfort to shelter dogs, fostering also gives shelter staff important information about how a dog will behave in a home. This kind of additional behavioral information can help shelter staff to find the right forever family for that dog. We love working with Muddy Paws Rescue in NYC. This organization is a foster-based rescue meaning they place dogs with foster families immediately upon arrival.
Donate Your Time To Help Dogs
If you can’t make the commitment to fostering, volunteer at a shelter in your local area to help dogs. Most shelters will have a volunteer orientation process to help get you trained on different roles they can use support with at the shelter. Volunteering at a shelter is highly rewarding, and makes a big difference for resident dogs who are waiting for their forever families. Shelter volunteers get to spend quality time walking and playing with resident dogs which is fun for you and the dogs awaiting families of their own. This individualized attention helps shelter dogs and puppies of all ages form positive relationships with people, supports training, and helps to make shelter dogs more adoptable.
