Are you Ready to Help Pets but Don’t Know Where to Start?
1. Call a Shelter or Rescue Near You
Ask how you can help locally! Can you drop off unopened food, litter, toys, towels, blankets? Do they need walkers, cleaners, volunteers (may vary by area). If you don’t know where a shelter is near you, check google, google maps, facebook and instagram by typing in animal shelter or dog (cat, rabbit, etc) rescue.
2. Adopt!
Have you had a Pet before and know you want to be a pawrent to a new pet? Perfect! Call a nearby shelter or rescue or check their website in advance to see if you can meet the pet that interests you most! Also, keep in mind that you may actually “connect” with another pet “in person” so please keep an open mind and be flexible to adopt the pet speaking to your heart! Remember senior pets are often looked over and we all know from Scooby that they make AMAZING family members! Also, please consider “bonded pairs” as they are often passed by or get separated (ask if they have any bonded pairs or separated bonded pairs as they may not tell you).
3. Foster!
Not sure if having a pet is right for you, your family or your lifestyle? Have no idea what kind of pet, age, size or how many pets are the best fit? Fostering allows you time to make sure a particular pet in need is the right fit in your home.
Remember it takes several days to weeks for the pet to “decompress” after so much turmoil and change. The best thing you can give them is patience, space, love and kindness. You need to earn their trust while positioning yourself as their leader! It takes several more weeks for them to begin feeling familiar with their surroundings and your routines. Give it time and don’t rush anything! This is a great time to begin some basic training like sit and here / come with praise or treats (or both) as rewards! They need to understand the boundaries in a kind way. There are lots of resources available so find books, online tutorials or online trainings that use positive reinforcement methods.
Be Prepared!
Some dogs are easy breezy (take Scooby for instance) who are just happy go lucky and thankful to have a new life! Ella and Luna, on the other hand, were the first pups I’ve ever rescued that were terrified of everything which very quickly presented as fear based aggression in both dogs. The key for them has been consistency, patience, getting one on one training and practice, practice, practice!
No matter which scenario, the key is to slowy and gently expose your pups to new things and people (treats rewards can make it more fun) while you assess their demeanor. It took about 3 months before Ella and Luna turned the corner and the beginning was emotionally, mentally and physically demanding (they weren’t leash trained and are heavy)! We still have lots of work ahead but there’s been major progress – slow progress – but even the “regular” strangers we see have made it a point to tell us all of our hard work is paying off!
4. Can’t Have a Pet? Help Virtually!
There are so many ways you can help animals from your couch! You can even see them on live cams via youtube or the rescues website! Some Rescues will even allow you to virtually adopt an animal and send you a parent certificate! Some places allow you to shop and send items they need directly or shop for yourself with proceeds going towards the rescue!
How cool! Here’s some of our Favowite Ways to Contribute Online:
If you make purchases on Amazon you can set up your amazon account to automatically donate to your favorite rescue or shelter! If you cannot find please let them know they can sign up and benefit from this amazon program! Amazon has millions of customers and this is an easy way to automatically give as you shop!
Animal Rescue Site – Click to Feed Rescues
Even if we aren’t in quarantine, this is something GREAT to do EVERY day to help feed Rescues at no cost to you! Just click on “Click to Give It’s Free” button in the top right corner and viola! That’s it! Sign up for the reminder daily email so you don’t forget. To provide more meals, they’ve now opened up permission to click 4 times per day during quarantine! They rock!
Your Favorite Shelter or Rescue!
There are so many shelters and rescues around the world who need funds, food, litter – whatever is on their list. Some have their “wish list” posted on Amazon so all you do is make a purchase and it goes straight to them! If your fav shelter or rescue doesn’t have this option or a website or an amazon smile account maybe you can help them during this time!
Here are some of our FAVOWITE Rescues!
Friends for Pets – Scooby’s Rescue! Auntie Diane ran the rescue for 30 years and last year decided to support other local rescue with funding. Thank you for rescuing Scooby Diane! We WUV you!
Last Call K9 Rescue – Kelly found Luna who was near death and her Mommy Ella while on a pickup for litter of 8 week old puppies in a 5 acre dirt yard of 13 dogs. Last Call K9 rescues, spays and neuters in the High Desert of CA where unfortunately there are way too many abandoned, neglected pups.
Ghetto Rescue Foundation – Based in So Cal, they save the lives of injured, abandoned, neglected pets on the streets of So Cal all the way out to Texas. They also work closely with local law enforcement when they find pets in need on the streets.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center – is located near us in Laguna Beach, CA. PMMC provides such an invaluable service to the Pacific Ocean rescued, saved, rehabilitated so many ocean mammals and marine life! Their mission is to “inspire ocean stewardship through research, education and collaboration”.
Cats of San Bernardino – They help feral cats through trap / spay / neuter and release (when necessary) and their poor little kittens and find homes for the cats that show them they can live in a home.
Mom visited Romania years ago and the amount of homeless, hungry and even suffering dogs and cats was so troubling. So, when Mom saw Romania Animal Rescue pop up in Facebook almost a decade ago she knew she had to investigate it! Nancy Janes and her husband (who is a DVM) had the same experience and decided to do something about it. So, they started RAR! They trained a wonderful young vet, Dr. Aurelian who travels Romania offering free spay and neuter in a mobile Clinic. They have recently raised enough funds to build a new clinic as well! This has brought so much hope and care to people who cannot afford to spay and neuter or and pets who have never had love. Thank you!
Gentle Barn – with 3 Farms across he USA, Gentle Barn rescues abused and neglected small and large animals and birds and pretty much anything that needs help. Their farms are open to visit and they love education children and their parents about kindness towards all animals.
Monterey Bay Aquarium – Non Profit Amazing Aquarium in Monterey, CA. They help preserve local habitat, practice rescue and release, educate childtren and have amazing online live feeds and youtube channel!