Sadly, there are millions of abandoned animals throughout the United States, and animal shelters are often overcrowded and short-staffed. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help homeless or neglected animals in your community – even if you personally can’t adopt a pet at this time. Kimberly Meuse Watercolors shares some resources to learn how you can make a difference!
Help Local Animal Rescues
Local shelters and rescues rely on kind volunteers like you to care for the dogs, cats, and other animals in their care.
● Volunteer to help animals directly, or donate items for their care, such as fleece blankets, gallon storage bags, or dog and cat treats.
● Use VolunteerMatch to search for other volunteer opportunities in your community. Virtual opportunities are also available.
Welcome an Animal Companion Into Your Home
Are you ready to welcome a dog, cat, rabbit, or another companion animal into your home? Here are some resources for potential adopters and fosters.
● Foster a dog, cat, rabbit, guinea pig, or another small animal.
● Be sure to read product reviews from veterinarians to find out what pet products are best for your home.
● Learn how to rescue stray animals in your community, even if you can only provide temporary housing.
Start Your Own Animal Nonprofit or Business
If you’re business-minded and passionate about saving animals, why not start a nonprofit organization or business of your own?
● Find out how to start an LLC to better meet the needs of animals in your community.
● Learn how to start a nonprofit corporation, which will make it easier to gain access to grants and other funding.
● Utilize free or low-cost tools for nonprofits, including MailChimp, Salesforce, Slack, and Google Analytics.
● Use an infographic maker to create a graphic for your website or social media page detailing your mission and goals.
● For inspiration, check out some of the best animal charities in the U.S.
Do Your Best to Make a Difference
One person can’t do it all, but each act of kindness adds up and makes a difference in the lives of animals everywhere. Help abandoned or neglected animals in your community by volunteering with a local shelter or rescue, fostering or adopting an animal in need, or starting your own nonprofit organization!
Kimberly Meuse Watercolors creates beautiful portraits of pets that you could commission and use in promotional materials for your nonprofit. Visit her website to see examples and to enquire about commission opportunities.