Balancing Corporate & Homesteading Lifestyles
How You Can Help Your Local Rescues In This Time Of Need
With the pandemic, loss of jobs and social distancing fewer pets are being adopted, but they haven’t stopped coming into shelters. Adoption and rescue groups need your help getting these animals out and into homes! Here are a few ways that you can make a difference.
FOSTER (OR ADOPT!)
With everyone staying home, it’s a perfect opportunity to step up and foster or adopt a cat or dog or other small animal.
If you’ve been considering adoption, now is a great time. With many people at home, its the perfect time to welcome a furry friend into your family.
DONATE ITEMS
Rescue groups are in desperate need of pet food, cat litter and cleaning supplies. They need hand sanitizer, bleach, disinfectant wipes, baby wipes, etc. No one is unaffected by this shortage.
The good news is that you don’t need to go to the shelter to donate but can do it from the comfort of your own home. Many rescues and shelters have online wish lists with links to the most needed items. Most shelters that are closed to the public are still able to receive donation deliveries.
SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Adoptable animals are in need of extra exposure because of the cancellations of adoption events and many shelters.
Through the use of social media, you can help provide additional exposure by sharing your local rescue's list of needed items and available animals.
VOLUNTEER
Some shelters have reduced or limited volunteers, but others are desperate for help. Many shelters are short staffed because employees are staying home to care for their children and many shelter volunteers are over 60 and need to minimize and avoid social contact with others. Because of the staff and volunteer shortage, people are needed to clean, call vet references, take photos for social media, and socialize the animals.
Working with the animals also has many benefits. Animals can reduce anxiety and provide a distraction and dogs and cats aren’t part of the social distancing recommendations.
DONATE CASH
Many rescues rely on annual fundraising events and adoption fees to support their work. With the cancelled events, drastic drop in adoptions, and continuous number of animals still needing help, donations are as important as ever. Donating cash at this time is not an option for many, however if you have a few dollars to spare, the rescues need your help now more than ever.
I understand that we are facing an unprecedented time of fear and uncertainty and everyone is feeling its effects, including our animals. The good news there are things that you can do to help the homeless animals in your community.
