Actionable Tips and Tools for Helping Neglected Pets in Your Area
Pets enrich our lives in many ways, from providing emotional support to giving adorable cuddles. Unfortunately, not all pets get the care and attention they need. If there are abandoned, neglected, or unwanted pets in your community, you may want to take steps to help them. Of course, you can’t personally take in every furry friend you meet—as much as you might like to. Rest assured, there are other ways to help. Here are some resources and ideas for supporting your neighborhood animals.
Look up animal charities you can donate to
There are likely already some nonprofits and charities in your area dedicated to helping furry friends. For example, Pet Parents Place helps connect rescue animals with happy homes. Many of these organizations rely on donations to help maintain their operations. If you have extra money to give, these are worthy causes. Here are some other charities that may operate in your area or nationally that you can donate to. Hint: Hang on to all receipts from charitable donations because they may be tax deductible.
Find innovative ways other than money to give
If you’re strapped for cash, giving money to a charity may not be possible. Don’t worry, as there are many other ways you can help. For example, you might donate your time and energy by volunteering at a local animal shelter. Petcurean explains what types of tasks you might do, from walking dogs to cleaning cages, and reveals how you can get involved. You can also donate goods instead of money to local shelters. Items they may appreciate include pet beds, food, toys, and grooming supplies.
Raise awareness in your community for animal causes
The best way to make a big difference when it comes to any charitable cause is to get a lot of people involved. Engage others in your area about animal welfare topics and encourage them to help, for example by donating their time or money. There are many ways you can raise awareness for charitable causes. For example, you might talk about relevant issues online, via forums like neighborhood groups or social media. The aim is to educate people and get them on board for your cause.
Host a fundraiser to raise money for animal charities
Hosting a fundraiser is a great way to raise both awareness and money for animal-friendly causes. Zeffy provides tips for arranging a charitable fundraising event. You need to start with a fitting location, determine the number of participants, and come up with a promotional plan. It’s also important to be clear about where donations are going and what purpose they’ll serve. Collaborating with a chosen animal charity upfront will ensure that your fundraiser is legitimate. Plus, the charity can help promote the event.
Set up your own animal support nonprofit
If you aren’t finding a lot of animal charities in your area to support, you might consider setting up your own charity. You can establish a formal nonprofit entity following these steps from Forbes. Through your nonprofit, you can then provide funds and care for animals in need. It’s important to promote your nonprofit through various marketing channels. For example, you can engage with people on social media using memes. It’s easy with this tool to create your own meme.
Knowing that there are animals in your neighborhood that aren’t getting the love and care they need can be saddening. Unfortunately, you probably can’t adopt every unwanted pet yourself. However, there are other steps you can take to protect and help your community’s critters. Trust the above guide for ideas.
For more content about helping animals in your community and beyond, check out the blog.