As an animal lover, you want to play a role in helping all the furry, scaly, and feathered creatures out there. After all, they deserve our care and protection. Unfortunately, you’re unable to open your home to every animal in need. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference! There are many ways to support animal welfare—some of which you’ve probably never considered.
If you’re eager to lend a hand to rescues and shelters or contribute to the well-being of animals in general, check out some unique ideas below.
1. Volunteer Your Time
Giving your time to help out at your local shelter is one of the most impactful ways to support animal welfare. That’s because these facilities are often short-staffed. With shelter intakes increasing and employees suffering burnout, even one volunteer can go a long way.
Typically, shelters require help with a variety of tasks—from animal care to administrative duties. There’s no shortage of opportunities available. Some examples include the following:
- Feeding animals
- Bathing and grooming animals
- Playing with rescue animals
- Taking dogs on walks
- Folding laundry
- Cleaning out kennels
- Writing thank-you notes to donors
- Providing temporary fostering
- Working at adoption events
Volunteering with animals can be incredibly rewarding. If you have the time to spare, reach out to your local shelter to see what you can do. Chances are, they’ll be thrilled to explain their needs and help you find the right fit.
2. Offer Up Your Skills
If you want to go beyond traditional volunteering, offer up your skills to rescue organizations. No matter where your skills and talents lie, you can likely use them to support animal welfare causes. Sometimes you just need to think outside the box!
Are you crafty? Consider making toys or sewing blankets for shelter animals. Many are surrendered or found without any items of their own. This small gesture can give scared animals comfort in an unfamiliar environment.
Do you run a bakery? In that case, you can put your skills to use by baking some goodies for the animals at your local rescue. There are countless recipes online for homemade cat treats, dog treats, and more. Just double-check that the ingredients are safe for consumption.
Are you a professional photographer? Offer to take pictures of adoptable pets for free. Most organizations don’t have the equipment or expertise to create high-quality photos. By snapping some great shots, you can help them garner attention from potential adopters.
3. Encourage Adoption
You can do a lot for animals in need just by encouraging people to adopt. In 2023, roughly 6.5 million animals entered shelters and rescues in the U.S. We need people to spread the word about the value of giving a forever home to a shelter pet.
Here are some ways to promote adoption:
- Share adoption success stories on social media.
- Direct pet seekers to local shelters and rescues.
- Take part in adoption events in your community.
By advocating for adoption, you can help reduce the number of animals in shelters and give more pets the chance at a happy life.
4. Raise Awareness of Resources
Another method of supporting animal welfare is by offering guidance to rescues. Did you know that many organizations aren’t aware of the resources available to them? There are several opportunities for funding, discounted services, and more.
- The Google Ad Grants program gives nonprofits $10,000 in free advertising monthly.
- Canva for Nonprofits allows free access to premium features for nonprofits.
- TechSoup provides refurbished computers to nonprofits at competitive prices.
- A variety of groups offer assistance to rescue organizations.
Additionally, Rescued by Rembrandt offers marketing services for animal rescues in need. Those wanting to extend their reach and bring in funding can receive expert support from our team. Thanks to the donations from our supporters and partner organizations, we’re able to provide these services at subsidized or no cost!
Take the initiative to spread awareness about these offerings. In doing so, you can help organizations take advantage of them. That way, they’ll be better equipped to carry on their lifesaving work.
5. Donate to a Relevant Cause
Financial contributions are critical for animal welfare organizations. They need funding to maintain their day-to-day operations and provide for the animals in their care. That’s why it’s worth donating to a relevant cause. Research reputable rescue groups, sanctuaries, and charities online and consider making a donation. Keep in mind most allow you to give a one-time gift or set up recurring donations.
You can also donate to animal rescues in general through Rescued by Rembrandt. We offer three ways to give:
- Contribute to our emergency fund.
- Help subsidize our marketing services.
- Sponsor a rescue for Google Ad Grants setup.
Whatever you choose, you can feel confident your gift will go toward lifting up rescues.
Of course, donations don’t need to be in the form of money. You can opt to donate supplies instead. Most shelters and rescues happily accept food, bedding, brushes, and toys. Contact the organization to determine their animals’ needs before you go shopping.
6. Get Involved Politically
If you want to support animal welfare on a broader scale, you need to get involved. Become an advocate for vulnerable creatures. By pushing animal-friendly legislation and policies, you can help make lasting change.
Start by learning about animal-related initiatives at the local, state, and federal levels. Read the latest news from the Humane Society and browse the ASPCA’s Advocacy Center. Once you’re informed about the goings-on, take action.
- Write letters to lawmakers.
- Attend town hall meetings.
- Participate in advocacy campaigns.
Animals may not have a voice, but you do. Make it count! Advocate for the voiceless and create a more compassionate world for all animals.
7. Leverage Your Network
Supporting animal welfare and rescue organizations doesn’t have to require a lot of time, effort, or funds. In fact, you can drive change with a few taps on your phone. All it takes is leveraging your network to inform others about important causes.
Here are some examples of what you can do:
- Share pet adoption posts from shelters you follow.
- Amplify fundraising campaigns to bring in donations.
- Highlight urgent appeals from animal rescues.
- Notify followers about volunteer opportunities.
- Post animal-related issues in the news.
Social media is the perfect place to inspire, educate, and encourage others. Don’t underestimate the impact you can make. Every share spreads compassion and boosts awareness, applying the collective power of our networks to make a meaningful difference.
Do Your Part to Support Animal Welfare!
When it comes to the well-being of animals, even the smallest act matters. As you’ve discovered, there are many ways to support animal welfare and rescue organizations. And that means there’s a role for everyone to play in making an impact. Find the one that’s right for you and take the next step! Together, we can create a better world for our animal friends.
To join us in our mission to empower animal rescues, donate today.