Helping Philly’s Homeless Dogs in 2020
Posted Jun 16, 2020 in News
Your furry friend lives a great life, with a loving home, plenty of belly rubs, toys galore, a soft bed to call their own, and so much more. But not all pups are so lucky. Countless dogs are living in homeless shelters every day. And without adopting them all yourself, you might think there’s not much you can do. But there are a handful of things that you should consider doing to support your local homeless dogs in Philly.
Become a Foster Pet Parent
Taking a dog into your home and providing it with love, stability, and care until it can be placed in it’s forever home is an enriching experience. Fostering a dog not only helps the canine that you allow into your home, but it also frees up shelter space for other animals that are in need.
Adopt a Dog
Maybe you become a foster parent and grow so attached to the new pooch in your home that you decide to adopt them yourself. Or perhaps you’ve been considering getting a dog (or another), and this was the push you needed to do it. Adopting a dog a huge responsibility that should not be taken lightly. But if you have the adequate resources, time, and energy to do so – then it might be the right choice for you.
Volunteer at Your Local Shelters
It’s a beautiful sight to see dedicated and genuine people give their time, energy, and passion in support of the well-being of animals in need. You can be one of those people, and there are various ways how. Depending on the size of the shelter, each animal might not be receiving the amount of direct attention they need to thrive. So one way you can volunteer at your local animal shelters is simply by spending time with the animals.
You can also bring your talents to the table. Are you an electrician or in the marketing field? You might be able to fix the lighting system that a rescue organization has been struggling with for months or help a shelter improve and expand its overall image to help get it more attention. No matter your profession, there could be a way that you could donate your skills to your local shelter. And all you have to do is ask.
Go on a Run
Dogs need exercise, and to get that exercise, they sometimes need a partner. Numerous shelters depend on volunteers to take their canines on walks and runs to help promote their health and happiness. Which, in effect, contributes to a calmer environment within the shelter overall. Not to mention helps that dog release pent up energy, making it easier for them to be well-behaved. And a well-behaved dog is much more likely to get adopted.
Get Your Work Involved
There are numerous employers and establishments that will offer a workplace fundraising program for the benefit of nonprofits (like animal shelters) where they’ll match whatever donations the employees can give. If you work at a place that does this, maybe consider giving a little extra this year, or suggesting a local rescue organization. If your work doesn’t have something like this in place, try to suggest it. You might even spark an annual fundraiser that becomes a tradition within the company!
Make a Donation
If you have the extra money, consider putting it towards a local shelter, especially if you don’t have the time or resources to help out in any of the other ways mentioned. Financial gifts help rescues fulfill monetary needs where they’re needed most. That could be for medical care, food, or transportation of an animal.
Shelters are full of furry friends that need love and support. Being able to provide that in any way you can, no matter if it’s a donation or full-on adopting one of the pups yourself, you’re impacting the lives of more animals than you probably know. So get out there and support your local animal rescues in any way you can.