Volunteering at Your Local Animal Shelter

In the article : Volunteerism at Your Local Animal Shelter,
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/30973/ volunteerism_at_your_local_animal_shelter.html, published by Associated Content, the subject of volunteering at your local animal shelter was addressed. The purpose of this article is to expand upon that excellent topic.

The author of this article makes many excellent suggestions about ways to help the animals at your local shelter.I have been a volunteer at Save-A-Pet in Grayslake, Illinois and want to suggest many ways that you can help the helpless animals who have been lost and abandoned. No Kill Animal Shelters are filled with animals, particularly dogs and cats, who have been lost or abandoned and have many needs. The staff and volunteers tend to be big hearted, sympathetic people who are making little or no pay.Helping the animals at no kill shelters can be extremely rewarding spiritually and emotionally.There are many ways that you can help the animals and the people at your local shelter. In addition to feeling like you are making a difference in this world, you can meet some terrific people and form friendships. You will meet people from many walks of life at the shelter. The individuals, who come from all walks of life have one thing in common, compassion for the weaker creatures. You may find that you make solid friendships long lasting friendships at the animal shelter.What are ways you can help?

VOLUNTEER TIME AND ENERGY

Volunteers are always needed to help with everything from daily shelter like to public awareness of the organization. No experience is necessary, and the shelter will probably train you in their methods. Here are some of the assignments that a volunteer may help with:

Dog Walkers
Dog walkers can give the dogs a break by giving them extra time outdoors. Walk the dog to get them exercises and reduce their stress. At Save-A-Pet, volunteers are able to work on their own schedule. Volunteers can chooses to spend a lot of time with one dog, or shorter periods with several dogs. Often, the human volunteer will bond to a certain dog, or dogs, and the flexibility is offered to do that. Dogs that are walked more often are better socialized and that enhances their chances of adoption to a good home. Dog walkers make the dog's stay at the shelter much more pleasant. You may learn that you can spend a short time with a displaced dog and show them more love and care then they have ever known.

Dog Groomers
Dog groomers help dogs physically, and mentally, by grooming and bathing them. Dog grooming may require experience in handling dogs.

Cat Room Care
Spend time with the cats and care for them. Socializing with the cats helps them better future pets and improves their chances for adoption. Spend time showing care for the cats and show them affection that they may never had before.

Adoption Counselors
Assist the adoption counselors by working with prospective adoptive families. Shelters make an effort to make good placements for their animals, so that the home they get placed in will work out to be permanent. Adoption duties could consist of: getting the animals out of their cages to show to their prospective people, helping them fill out the adoption application, and talking to them about the adoption process.

Greeters
Greet visitors and help to make their visit pleasant and rewarding.

Attend and / or Organize Events
Shelters rely on donations for most of their funding. Most of them have fundraisers throughout the year. Volunteers can help by participation in planning and promoting the events. You can support the event by attending it and spending a little money at the auction or benefit.

Shelter Tour Guides
Conduct tours of the shelter for school groups, or any other groups, to increase awareness of the shelter.

Community Speakers
Increase awareness of the shelter by speaking at schools or other organizational events.

Foster Care
Some cats, dogs, puppies and kittens need special care until they are ready for adoption. They may need special care because of health needs. If they are recuperating from a surgery, or have an illness they may do better in a home environment. Most foster care is of a temporary nature, but sometimes, if the animal is elderly, it may be considered a permanent foster home until the end of their days.

Animal Pick Ups
Transport the animals to the shelter if they need to be picked up. Transport the animals to the veterinarians, for there medical needs.

Gift Shop
If the shelter has a gift shop, volunteer to assist customers in the shop and ring up sales.

Writers
Contribute newspaper feature articles, newsletters, and fund raising letters.

Photographers
Take pictures or videos of the animals for promotional purposes. Pictures can be used for newsletters, bulletins, portraits, and for the web site.

Gardening
Maintaining the exterior of the shelter to keep it looking pleasant and inviting.;

Adoption Center Maintenance
A variety of tasks, including cleaning, repair, and maintenance, to keep the shelter in good order. Handymen and handy women can help the shelter by donating their time and know how, saving the shelter money on repairs.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Many professional donate services to the shelter, as charity. Veterinarians often help the shelters by discounting, or donating their medical services to the dogs, cats, and other animals.

DONATIONS

You can help your local shelter by donating money, or by filling their special needs. Financial donations are usually tax deductible, so you can benefit at tax time.

Donate items to be sold at events and auctions. Save-A-Pet in Grayslake, Illinois has several events a year. The major function is the Banquet and Auction which is held every spring. They accept donated items and sell them in the Silent or Live Auction. The charitable event is elegant and enjoyable, serving an excellent meal. Bidding on the items is a lot of fun. Chances are, a shelter in your area has similar events and will accept new, sale able items, or services, that they can sell as a fundraiser. Popular donations are hotel stays, spa services, portrait sessions, restaurant certificates, artwork and so much more. High ticket donations such as plane rides and excursions are also popular. The auction items are terrific because you can get goods or services that you want and the money goes to help the charity. I have purchased massages, hair services, art classes, healing arts classes and gift baskets at the benefit auctions.The benefactor who donates the goods and services also wins because they get exposure for their product, which is advertising that creates good community will. This exposure comes in the form of the advertising they get in the presentation of the products to the people who attend the auction, as well as the positive word of mouth from the winner of the auction who tries their services. They may even get a repeat customer. Truly a win- win -win event.

there are many items that shelters use large quantities of on a daily basis. You can help by donating usable items such as:

Canned Food
Cat Litter
Cat Scratching Post
Cat and Dog Toys
Towels
Blankets
Dog Leashes
Dog Treats
Grooming Supplies
Heating Disc's
Garbage Bags
Latex Gloves
Liquid Bleach
Liquid Soap for hands and dishes.
Paper Towels
Cleaning Supplies such as sponges, dustpans, and floor squeegees.

This list is merely a sampling of items that a shelter may appreciate. If you would like to donate items, you can call ahead and ask what they need or ask if they will accept a donation of something that you have on hand. Shelters use a lot of towels and sheets for grooming and pet beds, so may happily accept donations of your slightly worn, clean linens. If you have any questions about what they need, ask them.

As you can see, animal shelters have many needs to kept their organization going. The animals benefit the cats, dogs, and other pets who are in need. You can help them my donating your time, talents, money, or items. You will find it worthwhile and rewarding to see the grateful smiles of the faces of lost and abandoned pets. Yes, pets can, and do, smile!