
Animal shelters struggle from over population and lack of funding. There are many ways to help them. You can donate items they need or you can support by volunteering in your spare time.
The first thing you should do is to find animal shelters in your vicinity. Each shelter is different; there are many organizations, leagues or local animal groups that operate them. Check the yellow pages or the internet to find them by zip code.
Once you have chosen a shelter of your choice, call them and ask about their volunteering process. They may ask you to come in and apply to make sure that you are well suited for their organization. While you are there, get to know the staff, system and working conditions.
Choosing how you will volunteer will depend on the work or activities needed because some require specialized training. Shelters often have an age requirement for volunteers. They must be 16 years old or older. The working hours also depend on availabilities or their volunteering rules.
Cleaning cages, the facilities, admin work such as filing papers or making phone calls are some tasks you may do. Fundraising or collecting blankets and supplies are also other options. Other tasks include feeding, grooming, walking the animals, playing or spending time with them. You may also foster them if you wish.
Each minute you spend trying to help these organizations will help the animals and definitely make a difference.
Image from daveparker
Categories: Animals, Charities, Ideas, Volunteering | Tags: animal home, animal shelter, How to Volunteer at an Animal Shelter, pet shelter, volunteer at an animal shelter
Established in 1994 to address the alarming statistics that shows a yearly rate of abandoned pets to be at 6 to 8 million. Among those, around 3 to 4 million are euthanized due to the inability of shelters to take care of them due to restricted resources and funding. Rated a four-star charity by the Charity navigator, they have managed to save the lives of around 3.3 million pets spanning the species spectrum of animals that they send into adoption programs to get them the loving homes they deserve. These abandoned pets are a result of irresponsible pet ownership, some are abandoned due to financial problems, and some are left to fend for themselves, sometimes in appalling conditions. These animals got through health checks and are brought back to proper health according to pre-set standards. Animals are then checked for signs that may show if they are indeed probable candidates for adoption, animals with degenerative diseases and psychological issues are put down for apparent reasons. Their vision of a home for every pet might be too ambitious but they are getting things done and indeed saving lives of animals who would otherwise have to be put down. With the help of state and local authorities and funding from private individuals and businesses they continue on their loving work to get each and every animal a home that would give them the best possible care.
Categories: Animals, Campaigns, Charities, Volunteering, Wildlife | Tags: Animal Rights, Animal Shelters, Euthanasia, Mercy Killing, pets

The blog is a collection of pet charities and concerned individuals, which combines posts from pet lovers from all over who are tasked into improving the lives of neglected and abandoned pets. The many charities that deal with pets have been wrecked by intrigue and drama that you don’t know which is which. The pages contain warming stories straight from the people who do the rescue work themselves as well as pet lovers who are passionate about our furry friends.
Not just for furry but all types of animals and pets are subject with many links to several blogs that also aim to raise awareness regarding the plight of dogs, cats, birds and even farm animals that are being raised for the pet trade. Hear the warming stories of adopted animals as far as Baghdad that have been brought home to the States, helping their adopted owners deal with the turmoil that is war.
Categories: Activities, Animals, Campaigns, Charities, Children, Disaster Relief, Environmental, Families, Fundraising, Ideas, Inspiration, News, Organizations, Websites | Tags: Animal-charity, animal-protection, animal-welfare, Animals, Organizations
You will know her by her gawky smile. Or maybe by her raucous laughter. No matter what some people may think of her, Rachael Ray seems to have something going on for herself. She has this tendency to charm people and it seems that her charm extends to animals as well.
Just recently, the celebrity chef cum talk show host was honored by the North Shore Animal League America with the President’s Award for Humanitarian Excellence. What for? The Cat Channel has the story:
NSALA has chosen Ray as the recipient of this award for her efforts on behalf of companion animals, according to the no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. The award will be presented to her at the eighth annual Lewyt Humane Awards Luncheon on June 3.
Ray has helped charities that take care of animals through Rachael’s Rescue, which highlights animal welfare organizations such as NSALA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls (BAD RAP).
That is not all, though. She has even gotten together with Ainsworth Pet Nutrition to come up with a line of dog food and treats. You may have seen this product line, Rachael Ray Nutrish. Proceeds from the sales of these products are donated to pet charities, by the way. (I am pretty sure she does not serve these up on her cooking shows, unless her guests are dogs.)
So there you have it – even people who cook meat (and she does cook meat) can be animal lovers as well!
Categories: Animals, News, Products
Member of the Animal Charities of America, Neads was established in 1976 to train and rehabilitate puppies and dogs rescued from all over. Their main goal is to get these dogs, raise them, and then train them as aids to deaf and disabled people who need independence. The rising cost of medical care and care of animals has strained many charitable organizations that rely totally on the goodwill of people who provide donations in monetary and kind. Located in Central Massachusetts, the organization has trained and awarded dogs to many of America’s disabled and deaf. They have allowed people with disabilities to live normal lives without much reliance on other people boosting their self-confidence making them more productive members of society.
Dogs undergo a six-month training cycle where they learn the ropes of becoming a hearing-eye dog becoming the ears for the deaf and eyes for the blind. People who are candidates to receive NEADS trained dogs are houses for two weeks in fully furnished housing units where they work together with the trainers in getting to know better their animals and learning about proper treatment and care of their special animals. Being a charitable institution with little financial might, all candidates have to pay for all the equipment and training costs for their animals. But many who have received animals do earn a lifetime of memories for their dogs become more than guide dogs but members of their family. Often times we hear stories of people getting saved by these magnificent animals who would otherwise have been euthanized, given a second life as aides to the disabled.
Categories: Activities, Animals, Campaigns, Charities, Families, Organizations, Programs | Tags: Charities, Hearing dogs, Seeing eye dogs