International Homeless Animals Day

Thanks to the International Society for Animal Rights, the third Saturday in August raises awareness worldwide of homeless animals and pet overpopulation. On International Homeless Animals Day the ISAR holds candlelight vigils, rallies, walks and much more to bring awareness to the problem. You can request a packet for International Homeless Animals Day here. If you are just learning about International Homeless Animal Day, as I am, then here are some activities you can do to support the cause.

Schedule an appointment to have your pet spayed or neutered.

Would it surprise you that 3 million dogs and cats are euthanized in shelters nationwide? Most times there is nothing wrong with the animal other than being born to a family pet. There are more of these animals entering these shelters than there are people wanting to take them in as a pet. The result is 3 million homeless animals that are put to sleep each year.

For International Homeless Animals Day, be a responsible pet owner and help end this tragedy! Spay or neuter your pet.

Volunteer at your local animal shelter

Animal shelters are busy places and could really use more help. Volunteering your time in honor of International Homeless Animals Day will not only help them, but may help you too. You get to bond and love on the homeless animals and they greatly appreciate and love you back.

Ways you can help animal shelters are endless. You can donate food, clean cages, hold kittens, walk dogs or ask what they need for help. I am sure they will be glad to have the volunteer help. I've never been turned away.

If you can't volunteer time at a shelter for International Homeless Animals Day, donating food, new feeding dishes, brushes or toys is a wonderful idea to help support your local homeless animals.

Adopt an animal- give a pet a home

If you are able and willing, the best way to celebrate International Homeless Animals Day is to do what I did. Adopting a homeless animal won't fix the problem of homeless animals overnight, but it will fix the problem by giving one homeless animal a home.

This is how got our cat, Kadoosh. He was a homeless animal until we rescued him from our local animal shelter. Since he was neutered we paid a very small adoption fee. They have vouchers to help pay for spaying or neutering of adopted pets if they aren't already.

Offer to be a foster home for pets

Another idea for International Homeless Animals Day is if you have the room, you can offer to be a foster home for homeless animals until a home can be found for them. Some shelters offer this option. It helps alleviate the crowded conditions in the shelters while saving a homeless animal from being euthanized.

Support International Homeless Animals Day any way you can. No matter what you do, we need to find an end to this tragedy.

Sources:
The Humane Society
International Society for Animal Rights