Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Getting Started

5 great ways you can help homeless animals

Vera Lawlor
By

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), an estimated 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. shelters every year, and of those, approximately 1.5 million are euthanized. That’s heartbreaking. On International Homeless Animals Day, which falls every year on the third Saturday in August, animal shelters, rescue groups, and animal welfare organizations worldwide work together to spread awareness about pet overpopulation. Following are five great ways you can help homeless animals.

Adopt, don’t shop

If you’re thinking about adding a pet to your family, choose adoption over buying from a breeder or pet store. You’ll find rescue groups for just about any type of pet. And if you’re looking for a purebred dog, remember that there are dogs of every breed available for adoption. The American Kennel Club Rescue Network offers a list of breed rescues throughout the country. Petfinder, an online searchable database of animals in need of homes, is another great place to look for adoptable pets. The site features a wide variety of pets, including dogs, cats, fish, rabbits, birds, horses, and barnyard animals. Here are just a few great reasons to adopt a pet.

  • The best reason is that you’ll be saving a life. According to the Humane Society of the United States, the number of euthanized animals could be reduced dramatically if more people adopted pets instead of buying them.
  • Animal shelters and rescue groups have happy, healthy pets just waiting to share their love with forever families. Many are housebroken, know basic commands, and make wonderful companions.
  • Typically shelters and rescues include the cost of spaying or neutering and first vaccinations in the adoption fee. This is a lot less than what you would pay for these services if you purchase your pet from a breeder or pet store.
Family meeting shelter dog.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Foster a homeless animal

Maybe you’re not in a position to adopt a new pet but could offer a temporary home while a dog or cat is waiting for a new family. Fostering is a wonderful way to give homeless animals a break from the shelter while also helping to socialize them in a home environment. It also frees up space for shelters to take in more animals. Fostering is especially important during kitten season, the annual high-breeding period that runs through spring and summer. The ASPCA estimates that one foster home could potentially help 20 kittens in a single season. Many breed rescue groups operate without shelter facilities and couldn’t save lives without the help of foster families.

Recommended Videos

Spay or neuter your pet

Many families opt to let their dogs or cats have “just one litter” before having them spayed or neutered. Some say they just want their dogs to have the experience, while others believe it’s healthier for their pet. Even if you think you have homes lined up for the pups or kittens, breeding your pet contributes to the pet overpopulation problem. It’s important to remember that each home where you place a pup or kitten is one less home for a shelter pet. There are also health benefits for your pet when you get them fixed. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, early spaying of female dogs and cats can help protect them from some serious health problems later in life, such as uterine infections and breast cancer. Neutering your male pet can also lessen his risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland) and testicular cancer.

Volunteer at a local shelter

Animal shelters and rescue groups are always in need of volunteers. Opportunities include walking dogs, cleaning kennels, socializing cats, cleaning litter boxes, helping with office work, gardening, and assisting with fundraisers. Those who prefer to volunteer remotely can help with social media posts, newsletters, or writing pet profiles. Many shelters welcome volunteers who can commit once in a while: for example, helping out at off-site adoption events. Volunteering at shelters is a great way to teach children about helping animals. There may be age restrictions, so check with your local shelter to see if your child can get involved.

Male volunteer socializing shelter dog. i
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Make a donation

Animal shelters and rescues rely on monetary donations to save lives and care for homeless animals. Donations help in the cost of running the shelter, including animal food, staff training, upgrades to buildings, veterinary care, community outreach, and animal enrichment programs. Many shelters ask supporters to sponsor special-needs animals to help cover the cost of expensive health care. In addition to financial support, check out your local shelter’s wish list and send or drop off some of the much-needed supplies.

If you don’t have time to volunteer and you cannot afford to donate right now, you can still help homeless animals. According to the ASPCA, rescue groups believe that social media is invaluable in finding new homes for the animals in their care. You can help by following your local shelter on social media and sharing posts of homeless pets. The more exposure these animals get, the sooner they will be living happily in forever homes.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Vera Lawlor
Vera Lawlor
Contributor
Vera was the pet columnist for 201 Family magazine and has contributed pet and animal welfare articles to Bone-A-Fide Mutts…
Meet the 5 newest dog breeds and what makes them so special
If you’re thinking of bringing home a new dog, consider one of these elusive breeds
A Bracco Italiano runs on the beach

Some dog owners (and fans of dogs) can name dozens of dog breeds like the back of their hands, but others can't even tell the difference between a dachshund and a Corgi breed. That's OK! As long as a dog owner knows how to take good care of their fur baby, they don't necessarily need to know the fun facts. At the same time, learning about different dog breeds can be valuable in certain situations, whether you like watching dog shows or are considering volunteering at a rescue.

Even if it's just for fun, there's a lot you'll want to know about the five newest dog breeds in the show universe. The American Kennel Club (AKC) is one of the largest dog breed registries in the world, and it oversees the standards and requirements for each new breed that's created. Since 2021, it has welcomed five new breeds to its ranks, and you may have even seen these dogs in a local or televised dog show (except for the newest breed, that is).

Read more
When do kittens open their eyes? This is what happens if they do it too early
Find out all you should know about kittens opening their eyes
Two people holding a tiny gray and white kitten whose eyes haven't opened yet

Is there anything more adorable than a kitten whose eyes haven't opened yet? That's debatable. Although scientists have found that puppies are marginally cuter than kittens, cat people strongly disagree. Whether you're a dog person or a lifelong cat aficionado, there's something about tiny kittens that tugs at the heartstrings.

Have you ever wondered, "When do kittens open their eyes? What happens if they open their eyes too early?" You're not alone. We're here with the scoop on what veterinarians have to say about when kittens first look at the world, why you should never force a kitten to open their eyes too early, and what happens if your newborn kitten's eyes open ahead of schedule.

Read more
Off-leash dog training is easy if you follow these 5 tips
These tips will make this process smoother
Puppy learning to heel

We’re going out on a limb here, but it’s safe to say that if you’ve ever caught the look on a dog’s face when he’s running off leash at the dog park, you’ve caught a glimpse of what pure bliss looks like.

As a pet parent, it’s only natural to want to see that expression more often. And, without disparaging the leashed walk around the neighborhood, your dog would probably tell you he’d prefer being off leash more often. Is that possible, given local leash laws and all the mischief your untethered pet can get himself into? Perhaps, if he is well trained.

Read more