How can I help homeless pets?

Question

I've want to volunteer my time to help pets in need, but I do not meet the age restrictions. At the humane society you have to be a minimum of sixteen years old to volunteer. I checked some of the smaller societies but the restrictions were ever higher. What else can I do to help the animals? We adopted one of our dogs from the humane society because they had him scheduled to be youthanized and he was still a young puppy. Our other dog was found off the streets and didn't have much longer to live. My parents have made it very clear that four animals is our maximum, besides fish. So is there anything else a younger person can do to help?

Answer 1

that's very admirable that you want to help.

I think its fantastic.

One thing you can do at your age is... do some chores or if you have some kind of job or a rummage sale where you make a little money-

give some of the proceeds to the humane societies. They are in desparate need of money to help with the pets they still have there.

You have pets now? How about donating used toys to the humane society?

How about spreading the word to people who ARE old enough to volunteer and help them out?

Start a webpage about homeless pet awareness with the help of your parents?

or go to existing websites where you can tell stories- and tell the story about your shelter dog.

And maybe consider studying animals online or read up in books in your spare time, and think of a job in veterinary care when you go to college one day. (I like to think ahead). ^_^

and don't forget to donate your time when you're old enough

best of luck!

Answer 2

I'm so glad you want to help homeless animals. Talk with them and see if they would let you help by forwarding emails about new pets for adoption or that need homes. It's amazing how one email forwarded by everyone ends up helping an animal get a home. They may also need some help designing fliers for fund raisers etc. The best thing to do is call and tell them that you know you can't volunteer at the shelter but that you would like to help in any way you can and mention things like fliers and getting on the email list. It's wonderful to see that you have an intrest and I hope that when are old enough you feel the same way and can spare time to volunteer and do some hands on with the adoptions and care of the animals. Good luck and thank you from all the animals that will be touched by your generosity in the future.

Answer 3

Good question! You didn't say how old you are but you do sound intelligent and your question was very lucid. Is there some type of school project that you can do for school credit? I'm just trying to think of something along the lines of informing the public about the dog and cat over population and how many of these animals end up euthanized. Maybe writing your local newspaper and starting a campaign to restrict breeding. My city has a licensing structure that discourages keeping pets that are intact. A license for a neutered animal is $10 and for an intact one it is $100. Maybe you could try organizing a movement to push for that type of ordinance and have it adopted by your city. A place to start there would be to write your city officials. Present them with the figures for euthanized pets in your city and how much that costs the city. In my city it costs over $400 dollars to capture, hold for five days and then euthanize a homeless pet. Hope I gave you some ideas.

Answer 4

It's great that you want to help out at animal shelters and it's a pain that they are so strict on their age restrictions! Anyway, yes, there is a lot you can do without volunteering at the shelter. Any pocket money you get, you can donate to the shelter. All shelters are in need of supplies and if you don't want to give them money, you can buy things (eg. Kong toys, premium dog food, blankets, crate, etc.) then donate it to the shelter. If you don't already have 4 pets, you can take a trip down to an animal shelter that puts down dogs and adopt an older dog waiting to be euthanized.

Answer 5

You can start a collection for the local shelters, it doens't have to be money, it can be paper towels, bleach, dog and cat toys, and blankets. Shelters use a lot of these things daily and having extra will really help them out...and it won't cost the contributers very much money if any at all.
You can organize a fund raiser at school and ask for local business support. It would be great help for the animals, the workers and it would be a wonderful thing for you to add to your college application. My friends organized an adoption at a local college campus, they had friends supply the food and they take donations for food. It helped a few animals to get adopted and they raised a lot of money and supplies.
It is wonderful that you want to help, good luck.

Answer 6

You can raise awareness of animal abuse at your school through speeches or informative posters (just make sure you ask to put them up), or raise money for the ASPCA / Humane Society. To raise money:

1. Ask your principal if it's okay before you do anything.
2. Starting two days before you begin trying to raise money, draft an informative announcement for your school principal/secretary/announcement-reader to read in the morning (or afternoon).
3. Put out large, clean jars at the ends of the lunch lines into which people can put their change / donations - some people don't like carrying change around all day anyway!
4. Put the jars out for a week and make sure to keep people updated.

Another great thing you can do every day is to go to http://www.animalrescuesite.com and click the button! =)

Good luck!!!

Answer 7

it is great that you are so caring!
It is tough to find things, I know. Many places need to keep in mind the liability that is involved with underaged individuals, as well as child labor laws.
But don't be discouraged, there are plenty of ways to help, if you look hard enough!

Many rescue groups have limited resources and need people to help them with tasks like taking pictures of available pets, updating websites, etc. Look on websites and go tot he area that says "how you can help."

You may want your parents to approach the rescue group for you, since they will can support how responsible you are.

Finally, look for summer camps at zoos and SPCAs. Many run camps for the kids. You will participate in volunteer and learning activities, while also learning of other ways to help.

Answer 8

Save up your money, and donate some to your local shelter or donate food and/or blankets. Help spread the word through your friends that there are animals who need homes.
Good luck!

Answer 9

Shelters can always use extra money, pet supplies, etc. So maybe you could do some extra work around the house or for your neighbors and take that money and donate it to the shelter.

Answer 10

Rob Van Dam but Umaga is quite talented for a big man