5 Ways To Help Animal Shelters Other Than Adopting

Many people have a heart for animals and want to help abandoned animals but can't adopt every animal they see, much as they might want to. If animals are your passion, however, there are many ways to help animal shelters without adopting an animal. Here are 5 ways to help animal shelters other than adopting:

1. Transport Animals

Many rural shelters get more animals than they can handle, while stray animals are more likely to be adopted in larger cities. Larger shelters also have bigger budgets to maintain websites and keep animal information updated, leading to a higher number of adoptions. Some shelters are mandated to put animals down after a certain amount of time and will often send them to no-kill shelters if they are getting close to that deadline. That means they can always use help transporting animals between shelters.

2. Foster

Some people may not want the commitment of adopting an animal long term or may not be in a position to do so, but may have the ability to foster an animal for a few weeks. This is particularly true of pregnant animals since they often need more care than a shelter can provide and thrive better in a home. Once the offspring are old enough to be adopted, they can all be sent to new homes.

3. Collect Supplies

Shelters are always in need of supplies ranging from old pillows, blankets ,and towels to household supplies such as trash bags or rubber gloves. You can collect items from your own home or even hold a drive to collect items from the community. Shelters are always in need of food as well, but be sure to check with them first before collecting or buying food, since they generally feed the animals a specific brand for a reason.

4. Volunteer

Shelters are always in need of volunteers, and there is always plenty to do in an animal shelter. If you have kids, this can even be an excellent opportunity for them or a great family activity.

5. Take and Share Photos

Most larger shelters run websites that can seriously increase the chances of an animal being adopted. Maintaining the website is time-consuming enough, but taking photos is a job in and of itself. If you have basic photography skills and can take a decent picture, that is always helpful. If you have photography skills that can help capture an animal's personality, that can help publicize animals, specifically ones that have been in the shelter for a while, and raise awareness about adoption.