Held the first full week of November each year, National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is dedicated to celebrating and showing gratitude towards the lifesaving work provided by animal shelters and rescues nationwide. In all, there are approximately 14,000 shelters and rescue groups in the United States.
Animal shelters and rescues are vital parts of the communities they serve, devoting themselves to bettering the lives of not only homeless animals, but also owned pets in need throughout the community. These organizations offer a variety of services including adoption, sheltering and reuniting lost pets, cruelty investigations, spay and neuter programs, and pet care assistance.
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week is the perfect time to say ‘thank you’ to shelters and rescues in your area. Not sure how best to show your appreciation for their work? We have a few ideas on how you can support your local animal shelter.
Volunteer
Volunteers are an important and much appreciated part of rescue organizations. By becoming a volunteer you can become part of the lifesaving work of your local rescue and be a part of the solution.
Donate
There are many ways to show your support through donations, both monetary or otherwise. Ideas for non-monetary donations include donations of pet food, toys, pet care items, blankets and towels, cleaning products, and office supplies.
Be an advocate
One of the simplest ways to help out your local rescue or shelter is by sharing the word in the community. Let your friends know about events and fundraisers happening, share adoptable pets with those who are looking for a new furry friend, and help be the voice for the dogs and cats who don’t have one.
Foster or adopt a shelter animal
One of the greatest ways you can help your local rescue is choosing to adopt a shelter animal. Dogs and cats of all ages, shapes, sizes, breeds, and colors are looking for their forever homes every day. If you are not able to offer a forever home, fostering frees up space in the shelter for more animals and provides a home environment for shelter pets who would benefit from additional or specialized care.
Be a responsible pet owner
Another great way you can help rescue organizations is by being a responsible pet owner. Keeping your pet spayed/neutered prevents unwanted or accidental litters and keeps your pet from adding to the large population of pets needing homes.
At Pet Cremation Services, we are proud to be the trusted partner of veterinarians throughout the state of Ohio, while also working to shine a light on the work being done by area shelters and rescues.
