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Be a Volunteer for Your Local Shelter or Rescue Organization

From , former About.com Guide



Volunteering your time at your local animal shelter or rescue organization is a great way to help animals in need. But what can you do if you aren't in a position to fully adopt a dog in need, or are lacking the financial resources to make donations?

You can:
  • Foster a dog.
  • Take the dogs for walks and help socialize them.
  • Drive the dogs to veterinary appointments.
  • Help arrange transport for a dog to his new home.
  • Be a part of the transport to get a dog to his new home.
  • Take pictures of the dogs for fliers and websites
  • Build a website for the rescue or shelter.
  • Update the existing website for a shelter or rescue, with information about the dogs available.
  • Help groom the dogs.
  • Put together information packets for new and potential adopters.
  • Clip and collect dog food or supply coupons from newspapers and fliers.
  • Arrange a fundraising activity (yard sale, raffle, sell your services for yard work, snow shovelling, etc.).
  • Help with basic training.
  • Design a newsletter.
  • Do phone duty (answering, calling out).
  • Offer to help do a home check.
  • Evaluate potential adopting homes or foster home applications
  • Do minour repair work that may be needed.
  • Think of your own thing to help out.
There are many things to do to help with rescue, and volunteers are always in short supply. Join the effort, and make an effort today!

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