Ways You Can Help Your Local Animal Shelter

Help Homeless Animals . . .

Support Your Local Animal Shelter

There's a place in your community where the hungry are fed, the homeless are sheltered, and the abandoned are given care. It's your local animal shelter, which provides comfort and care for your community's unwanted animals.

Your shelter offers many other services, too, for pets and their owners and even for people without pets. To do all this, your shelter relies on the support of people like you. Here are a few ways you can help animals, especially those at your local shelter:

• Give a little bit. Donate food, old blankets and towels, or other needed supplies to your local shelter. Contribute to one of its special programs.
  
• Lend a hand. Volunteer your time at your local shelter. Bathe and groom the animals, walk dogs, or play with cats. Stuff envelopes for a mailing. Help publicize an event.
  
• Find that special someone. Choose your next pet from your local shelter. The shelter has many wonderful dogs and cats of different shapes and sizes just waiting for a permanent, loving home.
  
• Help spread the word. Tell your friends about your local shelter's services. Promote animal safety and responsible pet ownership.
  
• Be a responsible pet owner. Keep current identification on your dog or cat at all times. Spay or neuter your pet. Always keep your dog or cat properly confined or supervised. In addition to the basics—food, water, shelter, and veterinary care—give your pet lots of love and attention.
  
• Vote for the animals. Support legislation to protect animals. Contact government officials about animal issues and urge them to support pro-animal legislation.
  
• Be a hero. Report animal cruelty and neglect as well as injured or stray animals. You may prevent suffering and even save a life.
  
• Teach your children well. Instruct children in how to care for animals properly and how to treat them with kindness. Set an example by doing the same.