Ways to Volunteer to Help Animals in Your Community

Rescue Greyhound Racing Dogs. 

Did you know that there are greyhound rescue programs out there that work to find homes for racing dogs that are not fast enough to win?  Greyhounds have long been appreciated for their speed and their beauty, but that has come with a cost.  Once the dogs are no longer fast enough to continue racing, they may be left homeless.  Many of these greyhounds never find a home and are euthanized. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Many of these greyhound rescue organizations could use your help with spreading the word and educating the public about the greyhounds.  You may be able to reach potential adopters of greyhounds. You can personally help too but providing a foster home to a homeless greyhound or even adopting one permanently.  These are really docile, loving dogs and they make great pets. 

Provide a Foster Home for Newborn Kittens. 

Newborn kittens are too young to be adopted, and they tend to cause problems for animal shelters who become overrun with litters of newborn kittens.  If you volunteer to foster newborn kittens in your home, you can help support the shelter and reduce the need for euthanasia.  The peak months are usually spring and summer, so even if you can volunteer during those peak months, you will be a huge help.  Millions of cats and kittens are killed every year due to a lack of homes to adopt them. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Contact your local animal shelter and see if you can be a foster home for newborn kittens.  You will likely be responsible for the kittens for between one and eight weeks.  You would feed, socialize, and cuddle the newborn kittens that you are taking care of.  You may also need to bottle-feed the kittens or even administer medication. 

There are many exotic birds in trouble around the world.  Their habitats are being destroyed, but many parrots, lovebirds, parakeets, cockatoos, lorys, macaws, cockatiels, conures, and other exotic birds are being captured and shipped around the world as pets.  Did you know that eighty percent of the exotic birds that are caught in the wild will die during their capture and transport?  Those that do survive typically live their entire life in a cage that is too small, with no companions or toys.  The diet of captured birds is typically inadequate too.  Living in captivity often causes these birds enormous stress and behavior problems emerge.  It is not uncommon for exotic birds to be kept in a dark closet to keep the noise down, starved to death, or even to be beaten.  This industry is a multibillion dollar animal trade. 

Volunteer Opportunities:  You can participate in special events, such as education of the public, fundraising, and publicity.  You also could inspect the homes of prospective adopters to ensure that the home is suitable for an exotic bird.  You could provide a temporary home as a foster home for adoptable birds.  If you are willing, you can also adopt a bird once you have enough experience working with birds.   

Volunteer to be a Dog Walker at an Animal Shelter. 

Dogs that are being held at animal shelters are confined to cages.  They are isolated and their physical activity is restricted.  They are in a highly stressful environment.  This can cause their quality of life to be poor and decrease their opportunities for adoption.  Volunteer dog walkers provide affection, socialization, and daily exercise that these dogs need in order to stay healthy so that they can be adopted.  Animal shelters and humane societies need the help of volunteers so that they can stay in operation.  Walking dogs is one of the most flexible ways to help at an animal shelter. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Walk dogs at your local shelter.  If you do not know your local animal shelter, you can visit Pets 911 or Petfinder.  You may need to complete paperwork, and go through an orientation and training at your shelter before you can begin volunteering with the dogs, but this is a great opportunity for you to bring some sunshine into the dark world of a dog at an animal shelter.  If possible, you could also encourage your friends or even co-workers to join you as a dog-walker. 

Make Pet Blankets and Toys for Animal Shelters. 

This is a unique way for volunteers to help animals at animal shelters from the comfort of their own home.  Imagine what it must be like for animals living at an animal shelter.  They are isolated in concrete cages with lots of barking animals surrounding them and with lots of strangers peering into their cages.  It seems that the longer the animals stay in the shelter, the more stress they feel, and the less likely it becomes that they will be adopted.  As a result, some animal shelters have begun a Cage Comforter Program in which volunteers can make and donate pet blankets and toys for homeless cats, kittens, and small dogs.  They have found that these items help the animals feel more at home, which also helps increase their chance for adoption. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Make or donate small toys or blankets for cats and dogs at the animal shelter. 

Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Release Injured Wildlife. 

Wildlife rehabilitation volunteers care for and treat ill, injured, or orphaned wildlife until they are able to be returned to their native habitat.  Did you know that it is estimated that more than 75% of injured wildlife has been affected by humans in some manner?  Loss of habitat, collisions with vehicles, poisonings, non-target trapping or shooting, and unrestrained pets are all factors.  Wildlife rehabbers are treating hundreds of thousands of injured animals annually.  The release rates are excellent for these animals:  55% for birds, 70% for mammals, and 60% for reptiles and amphibians.  Rehabbers, in addition to helping these animals, also provide educational programs for over 8 million people annually in order to help decrease the impact humans have on native wildlife.  The wildlife rehabilitation specialists teach children and adults that we must take care of the natural habitat in order for the wildlife to survive. 

Volunteer Opportunities:  You can begin by contacting your local wildlife rehabilitation center to find out what you can do to help out.  Volunteers can often be trained to feed and assist injured wildlife.  There are many other jobs necessary to help with these animals too, such as record keeping, office work, answering telephones, fundraising, and educating the public.  Volunteers also can be trained to transport wildlife safely to a wildlife rehabber.  

Ways to Help Animals Around the World>