Homelessness is an issue that is not only faced by humans but animals too. Did you know that only 1 out of every 10 dogs born is able to find a permanent shelter? Every year, approximately 2.7 million cats and dogs are euthanized because shelters are full already, and there isn’t enough space to accommodate newer animals. These statistics provide only a slight glimpse of the severity of homelessness among animals. It is important to realize that animals need love and support to keep going – just like humans do.
Without having a roof over their head, animals suffer a tragic fate. They are left to fend for themselves on the streets. These poor animals suffer from contagious disease, get hit by cars, get attacked by other animals, or starve to death. To protect animals from meeting this heart-wrenching end, it is necessary to help them in whatever ways we can. In this blog post, we’ve gathered some amazing ways to reduce the suffering of these helpless creatures.
Animal shelters are usually non-profit organizations, which means that they depend on donations from the public to perform important work.
Without enough money, animal shelters may face challenges like a lack of employees, animal food, and grooming tools. It is also difficult to keep up their maintenance. All of this increases the chances of animal shelters shutting down, completely depriving animals of their homes. Therefore, it is advised to donate money to animal shelters in your area.
Whenever you go grocery shopping, make sure to visit the section where all pet necessities (including pet food) are available. At times, grocery stores have ripped bags of pet food. Instead of walking past them, get these items and donate them to an animal shelter nearby. These ripped bags of food can feed hundreds of rescued animals that may be starving otherwise.
You can also get these ripped bags delivered to a local shelter.
When people visit an animal shelter, the first thing they notice about the animals is their physical appearance and temperament. Unfortunately, due to overpopulation, shelter workers don’t get enough time to bathe and train every animal. And hence, a loving dog may not be adopted because it looks dirty or may act roguish.
Volunteer your time and skills to train and groom rescued animals so that they find a permanent home at the earliest.
Shower homeless animals with gifts that will make them endlessly happy. You can create DIY toys for cats and dogs from pieces of an old yarn or fabric. You can also find these items at a low price from an online store or a local pet store. You can also make treats for these animals at home and get them delivered to an animal shelter.
Each and every animal will be grateful to you for your gift and will show it. Apart from that, workers at the shelter will be thankful for your kindness and generosity, too.
Stray animals are at risk of developing life-threatening illnesses. What’s more worrisome is that these diseases can be contagious. To manage and protect the pet population, it is crucial for animals to get spayed and neutered.
You can play your part by becoming a volunteer for a spay/neuter program. Find out about these programs in your locality and save the lives of animals on the street.
Animal shelters run out of space for new animals really quickly. In such a scenario, you can help out by fostering animals. Provide shelter to these animals in your home until they find a permanent home elsewhere.
Look after their needs, feed them with good food, train them properly, take them for a walk, give them toys to play, and socialize them with other pets in your house. This will help make a homeless dog or cat a potential pet for a new owner.
The best step you can take is to adopt a pet from an animal shelter. Most pet owners prefer getting a pet from a pet store. However, it is better to consider adopting one as doing so will keep animals safe from euthanasia. Pet adoption will also help make room for new additions.
It is your duty to motivate your family members, relatives, and friends to adopt an animal instead of getting one from a pet market. The more people who adopt a pet, the better it is for the animals in the shelter.
Whenever you learn about the schedule of upcoming adopting events sponsored by local shelters, ask your family and friends to attend. If you know of someone who is looking for a pet, tell them about these events as well.
Local shelters usually have their own websites and social media pages. You can share their links on various social media platforms and encourage others to visit these shelters if they are looking to adopt a new pet! Some people also have reservations about animal shelters since a lot of myths surround animal rescues. Debunk these myths and spread the positive word about animal shelters on social media.
On every International Homeless Animals Day, the plight of stray animals is raised, which goes to show that homelessness is a worldwide pet issue that needs to be tackled as soon as possible. With the help of the above-mentioned ways, you can help homeless animals find their space in this community!
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
Facts About Animal Homelessness:
Here are a some adoptions for consideration: puccicafe.com/adoptions