Ways Your Kids Can Help Shelter Animals When They Are too Young to Volunteer

Imagine my surprise and my children's disappointment when we learned all my children were too young to volunteer at our local animal shelter, even with parental supervision. Knowing the kids wanted to help, but not quite sure what we could do we started brainstorming, and came up with some ways that children can help our shelter animals even though they were too young.

The first idea we came up with was making toys and bedding. This is an easy way to get your children involved. Have them go through their old clothes and get all the things they don't wear anymore. Remove all buttons, brads and zippers. Use denim as the outside of your toy, it is strong and durable and will hold up better under serious chewing. You can use old shirts and socks as the stuffing. When sewing the toys closed be sure to double stitch all the open edges for longer wear. You can also round up old blankets that aren't going to be used, cut them down and sew up all open edges to make pet blankets and bed covers.

Doing odd jobs for friends and family is a great way to earn money needed to buy supplies. I think it is important for children to earn the money for donations because it gives them a sense of accomplishment. Check with your local animal shelter to get a list of supplies they need and what brands they prefer. If donating food you will want to get the same brand the shelter uses so there aren't any upset stomach's

Baking homemade dog and cat treats is another way to do something special for shelter animals and learn their way around a kitchen. Here are a couple or recipes to get you started.

Every day biscuits for dogs

2 tsp dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 TBSP each dried parsley and minced garlic
11/2 cups chicken broth
3 TBSP honey
1 egg
5-6 cups whole wheat flour

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Stir in parsley, garlic, broth, honey and egg. Gradually blend in flour, adding enough to form a stiff ball. Knead on floured surface until smooth. Roll to 1/2 inch thick. Cut out with cookie cutters. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for thirty minutes, turn over and bake additional fifteen minutes. Cool completely

Savory cheese treats for cats

3/4 cup white flour
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
5 TBSP grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup cornmeal

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cheeses and yogurt. Add flour and cornmeal. Knead dough into a ball and roll to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into one inch pieces.Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool completely

Children can also organize small fund raisers like a lemonade stand, bake sale or yard sale. With the money they make they can choose to buy items for the shelter or donate the money directly to the shelter to help pay for vet visits and spay or neutering.

Just because you are young does not mean you can't make a difference in an animal or persons life. Teaching your children to have compassion is a gift that will continue to give for generations.