How To Get Involved With A Dog Rescue Without Donating Money
Not everyone has the extra time to help volunteer with local dog rescue operations, but that doesnt mean they still cant make an effort to help out. There are a lot of ways for people to get involved without having to make a big commitment, or simply writing a check. Here are a few great ways to help out your local shelter or rescue group.
Use social media: Social media has become a big asset to dog rescue communities worldwide. Not only does it help them raise awareness and collect funding, it allows them to share their story and promote their adoptable dogs. Like your local shelters Facebook page, follow them on twitter, and share meaningful posts with your friends and family.
Participate at dog walking events: Many shelters and rescue organizations host dog walking days where people can come and walk the dogs in the shelter together. Spend a day helping them exercise all of their dogs awaiting families. Its not a long-term commitment, but can mean a lot to a dog who may not be getting regular attention while in their kennel.
Donate items to bake sales, garage sales, etc: A lot of non-profits host rummage sales and bake sale events to raise funding for their organization. If you have a few items laying around the house to donate to a garage sale- make a point to give them away. If you enjoy baking, offer to help out with the bake sale.
Wear their t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, etc: If your local organization is selling t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers or other promotional items, buy one and use it! There is no better way to promote an organization by using yourself to advertise them. It will help familiarize their name with people who read it on your shirt, car, or even key-chain.
Support businesses that support them: Many small businesses make a huge effort to help out non-profits in their community. If your local shelter or rescue organization sends a shout-out to a business who donated to them, support that business by shopping with them. When you shop with a business that donates to your local dog shelter, youre helping that business create extra funds that they can use to donate once again.
Help promote adoptable pets on craigslist and pet finder: Many non-profits do not want to use their funds for expensive online, television, or radio campaigns. So instead they turn to free websites like craigslist and pet finder to list their adoptable pets. Help them out by reposting their original post daily on free advertising sites. Other great sites to repost on include kijiji and kungphoo.
Sponsor a foster parent: Even if you dont have the time to foster a dog yourself, you can still help another foster parent provide a loving home for a canine waiting a forever family. Offer to sponsor a foster parent, by buying their food, paying for any dog care items (collars, toys, snacks, etc), or babysitting the dog when they go out of town.
Mention their organization in online reviews: Do you write reviews of dog products online? If youre posting a review of a dog product, make a point to mention your local rescue group. Saying something like "these would make a great donation for my local shelter (insert shelter name)" or "I plan to make additional donations of these to (insert rescue group name)" can help spread the word about your favorite dog rescue organization.
Use social media: Social media has become a big asset to dog rescue communities worldwide. Not only does it help them raise awareness and collect funding, it allows them to share their story and promote their adoptable dogs. Like your local shelters Facebook page, follow them on twitter, and share meaningful posts with your friends and family.
Participate at dog walking events: Many shelters and rescue organizations host dog walking days where people can come and walk the dogs in the shelter together. Spend a day helping them exercise all of their dogs awaiting families. Its not a long-term commitment, but can mean a lot to a dog who may not be getting regular attention while in their kennel.
Donate items to bake sales, garage sales, etc: A lot of non-profits host rummage sales and bake sale events to raise funding for their organization. If you have a few items laying around the house to donate to a garage sale- make a point to give them away. If you enjoy baking, offer to help out with the bake sale.
Wear their t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers, etc: If your local organization is selling t-shirts, hats, bumper stickers or other promotional items, buy one and use it! There is no better way to promote an organization by using yourself to advertise them. It will help familiarize their name with people who read it on your shirt, car, or even key-chain.
Support businesses that support them: Many small businesses make a huge effort to help out non-profits in their community. If your local shelter or rescue organization sends a shout-out to a business who donated to them, support that business by shopping with them. When you shop with a business that donates to your local dog shelter, youre helping that business create extra funds that they can use to donate once again.
Help promote adoptable pets on craigslist and pet finder: Many non-profits do not want to use their funds for expensive online, television, or radio campaigns. So instead they turn to free websites like craigslist and pet finder to list their adoptable pets. Help them out by reposting their original post daily on free advertising sites. Other great sites to repost on include kijiji and kungphoo.
Sponsor a foster parent: Even if you dont have the time to foster a dog yourself, you can still help another foster parent provide a loving home for a canine waiting a forever family. Offer to sponsor a foster parent, by buying their food, paying for any dog care items (collars, toys, snacks, etc), or babysitting the dog when they go out of town.
Mention their organization in online reviews: Do you write reviews of dog products online? If youre posting a review of a dog product, make a point to mention your local rescue group. Saying something like "these would make a great donation for my local shelter (insert shelter name)" or "I plan to make additional donations of these to (insert rescue group name)" can help spread the word about your favorite dog rescue organization.
