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Step 1
Adopt a dog or cat from a shelter. You can visit the shelter in person or attend one of their off-site pet adoption events. Most private shelters (and even some city shelters) have off-site adoptions at parks, pet supply stores and various other locations. You can also search Petfinder.com, Adopt a Pet.com and Pets 911, which list thousands of pets up for adoption at shelters and rescues all over the United States and Canada. All you need to do is put in your zip code and the type of pet you're looking for (see Resources below).
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Step 2
Find out what’s on your local shelter’s “wish list” and donate needed supplies such as food, toys and blankets, or of course, money. You can also sponsor a shelter dog or cat with a monthly donation to an organization such as the ASPCA for as little as $18 a month (or 60 cents a day). See link in Resources.
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Step 3
Attend fundraising events for a shelter such as a concert or dinner, or participate in a fundraising event such as a walk-a-thon. Many cities have free local pet publications that list these types of events.
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Step 4
Organize your own fundraising event for the shelter such as a comedy show or bowl-a-thon. It shouldn't be hard to find participants or sponsors that want to help animals. There are also websites such as First Giving and Changing the Present where you can start an online fundraising drive for the shelter of your choice. Changing the Present also allows you to sponsor shelter pets with spaying/neutering, vaccines, microchips and care.
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Step 5
Volunteer at the shelter. There are a variety of ways to help, including walking and playing with the dogs, visiting with the cats, cleaning cages and volunteering in the office. You can also help out at mobile pet adoption events.
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Step 6
Become a foster parent to a shelter animal. When shelters run out of space, they need good citizens to house pets temporarily until they can place them in forever homes. Both city and private shelters have fostering programs and reimburse for expenses.
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Step 7
Create a website or a newsletter for a shelter by taking pictures of the animals up for adoption and including a description and history for each. If you don’t know html, you can always connect with a computer-savvy animal lover and make the website a joint collaboration. You might also create a MySpace page for the shelter.
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Step 8
Spread the word about specific animals that are up for adoption by telling people you know, or by posting flyers at pet supply stores and various other places around town. If you have a MySpace account, you can also send out a bulletin to all your "friends" who are animal lovers.
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Step 9
Visit The Animal Rescue Site and click daily to help homeless pets. Your free click helps provide food and care for animals in shelters and sanctuaries. When you shop at the Animal Rescue Site store, a percentage of your purchase is also donated.















Comments
diggitydogg said
on 10/25/2008 That's wonderful that you're doing that! Please let me know when it's up and I'll spread the word as well as help support it.
Melissa
Kaloni said
on 10/25/2008 Hello, I found your article here. It has given me some help here. I have a blog, and I would like to start a online fundraiser for homeless and neglected animals. And, your article has helped me alot on the different options.
Thank You Very Much,
Kaloni