One Dollar, One Shelter, One Month Program Helps Fund Animal Shelters

According to the Humane Society of the United States, animal shelters care for at least six million dogs and cats each year. Animal feed and vet care, staff salaries and administrative costs and property maintenance costs force some shelters to close and others make do with second rate facilities. Humane societies seldom have large benefactors and fund raising is difficult, but AnimalHelp.com has launched the One Dollar, One Shelter, One Month program to help fund animal shelters in need.

Danielle Witte, the 9-year-old daughter of AnimalHelp.com owner Jodi Witte, formulated the plan while looking for a way to help fund shelters. The program features a shelter of the month on the AnimalHelp.com website, and asks each visitor to donate just one dollar to the featured shelter.

"If all my friends and your friends would give just one dollar, and get their friends to give one dollar, and on and on, we could raise one hundred thousand dollars," Danielle told her mother. Danielle decided on one dollar because everyone can help with that amount, and she believes it's easier to get a small amount from a lot of people than to get a lot of money from a few people.

AnimalHelp.com encourages each donor to send their dollar to the featured shelter and provides the mailing address and contact information along with information about the shelter and the surrounding community. Because AnimalHelp.com doesn't act as the middle man, the donations go directly to work for the animals.

AnimalHelp.com encourages site visitors to post information about the One Dollar, One Shelter, One Month campaign in emails, blogs, email groups and MySpace accounts. The campaign has it's own MySpace page, and Care2.com has also championed the cause.

Local animal shelters close each year because if inadequate facilities and funding, leaving many animals without food, shelter or adequate medical care. Unspayed or unneutered stray animals lead to more pet population troubles, and place even more strain on the shelters that are able to keep their doors open. In addition to housing unwanted pets, many animal shelters provide education, basic vet care and spaying and neutering services for low-income pet owners. Without proper funding, local animal shelters can not provide these basic services and pets suffer injuries, malnutrition and exposure to the elements.

The HSUS provides links to your local animal shelter and gives tips on the ways you can help the animal population and volunteer at your local shelter.

Source: Press Release: One Dollar, One Shelter, One Month - Helping Animal Shelters One Dollar at a Time
Human Society of the United States
AnimalHelp.com