Make sure your dog does not accidentally wind up in a shelter. Always keep a collar on your dog with up-to-date contact information to increase the chance of being reunited with him or her in the event of separation. Have your dog microchipped, and keep that information current, too. Even if your dog “would never run away” or “is too old to go far,” accidents happen. Sometimes a squirrel sighting can cause even the most obedient or arthritic dog to go off on an adventure.
If you are struggling to afford pet food or medical care for your dog and are facing the difficult decision to surrender your pet, first contact a local organization like DaisyCares or Pet Pals. These organizations provide support to help keep pets with their families.
Adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group. When you adopt from a shelter, particularly a municipal shelter, you are literally saving a life. Adopting from a rescue group frees up space in a foster home so the group can save another stray or shelter dog. If you have your heart set on a purebred dog, you’ll be able to find them in shelters and rescue groups, too. There are also breed-specific rescue groups which have many wonderful dogs in need of homes.
Between 4 and 5 million animals are killed in shelters in America each year. The first step to no-kill is no birth: spay and neuter your pets!
Additional benefits of spay/neuter surgery include a decreased desire to roam, less aggression, and reduced risk of certain cancers.
If you love puppies, or believe that having a litter of puppies in your household will be a good learning experience for your children, please foster a litter for a shelter or rescue group instead of breeding your dog. There are pregnant dogs and female dogs with young litters of pups who desperately need foster homes. Shelters and rescue groups are always grateful to have more volunteers who would like to care for puppies.
Many people say, “I can’t go to the shelter – it’s too sad.” Go anyway! Yes, it’s sad. It’s sadder for the animals who are there. Even if you aren’t looking to adopt another pet, go to a local shelter. You will be amazed at what you can set in motion. Talk about your shelter experience with friends and coworkers. Mention the Boston Terrier you saw at the pound, and your coworker might respond that his mother-in-law has been looking for a Boston Terrier, but didn’t think she’d find one at a shelter. She goes to the pound to meet the dog and ends up adopting him – all because you stepped out of your comfort zone. These dogs cannot publicize themselves. We must do it for them.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of shelters and rescue groups. The passion and energy of volunteers is incredibly valuable. There are a number of ways you can contribute as a volunteer. You can walk, bathe, and play with dogs at a shelter facility. You can be a foster parent. You can help put up posters advertising adoption events, or help post photos on the internet. You can drive animals to and from veterinarian appointments. You can do laundry. You can help plan fundraising events. Contact an organization and see how you can help.
Fostering homeless dogs is one of the most powerful ways you can help them. By opening your home to a homeless dog, you are offering him the gift of time so that his forever family can find him. He’ll enjoy the comforts of a home and your attention, and you’ll benefit from this act of selflessness. Read about the experience of fostering in The Joy of Dog Fostering, published by The Bark.
If you are interested in fostering an ARF dog, please contact Rita Brauetigam, San Antonio Coordinator, at rita@alamorescuefriends.org.
Make a donation to a shelter or rescue group. Most shelters and rescue groups are non-profit organizations that are funded solely through donations and grant support. Whatever amount you can comfortably give, your donation will go toward the medical care of homeless animals (because the Humane Society of the United States does not actually operate any animal shelters, and less than 1% of its budget goes toward animal shelters, we recommend donating to a local group).
If you can’t make a financial donation, shelters and rescue groups can always use donation of old towels and blankets, newspapers, pet food, and even extra office supplies.
Get Involved
No matter where you live, you can help homeless animals. If you are in the San Antonio area, please consider volunteering with San Antonio Animal Care Services or with another local rescue organization.
How can I help?
Help keep animals out of shelters
Adopt from a shelter or rescue group
Spay or neuter your pets
Visit your local shelter
Volunteer with a shelter or rescue group
Become a foster parent
Make a donation
Help keep animals out of shelters
Make sure your dog does not accidentally wind up in a shelter. Always keep a collar on your dog with up-to-date contact information to increase the chance of being reunited with him or her in the event of separation. Have your dog microchipped, and keep that information current, too. Even if your dog “would never run away” or “is too old to go far,” accidents happen. Sometimes a squirrel sighting can cause even the most obedient or arthritic dog to go off on an adventure.
If you are struggling to afford pet food or medical care for your dog and are facing the difficult decision to surrender your pet, first contact a local organization like DaisyCares or Pet Pals. These organizations provide support to help keep pets with their families.
back to top
Adopt from a shelter or rescue group
Adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue group. When you adopt from a shelter, particularly a municipal shelter, you are literally saving a life. Adopting from a rescue group frees up space in a foster home so the group can save another stray or shelter dog. If you have your heart set on a purebred dog, you’ll be able to find them in shelters and rescue groups, too. There are also breed-specific rescue groups which have many wonderful dogs in need of homes.
back to top
Spay or neuter your pets
Between 4 and 5 million animals are killed in shelters in America each year. The first step to no-kill is no birth: spay and neuter your pets!
Additional benefits of spay/neuter surgery include a decreased desire to roam, less aggression, and reduced risk of certain cancers.
If you love puppies, or believe that having a litter of puppies in your household will be a good learning experience for your children, please foster a litter for a shelter or rescue group instead of breeding your dog. There are pregnant dogs and female dogs with young litters of pups who desperately need foster homes. Shelters and rescue groups are always grateful to have more volunteers who would like to care for puppies.
back to top
Visit your local shelter
Many people say, “I can’t go to the shelter – it’s too sad.” Go anyway! Yes, it’s sad. It’s sadder for the animals who are there. Even if you aren’t looking to adopt another pet, go to a local shelter. You will be amazed at what you can set in motion. Talk about your shelter experience with friends and coworkers. Mention the Boston Terrier you saw at the pound, and your coworker might respond that his mother-in-law has been looking for a Boston Terrier, but didn’t think she’d find one at a shelter. She goes to the pound to meet the dog and ends up adopting him – all because you stepped out of your comfort zone. These dogs cannot publicize themselves. We must do it for them.
back to top
Volunteer with a shelter or rescue group
Volunteers are the lifeblood of shelters and rescue groups. The passion and energy of volunteers is incredibly valuable. There are a number of ways you can contribute as a volunteer. You can walk, bathe, and play with dogs at a shelter facility. You can be a foster parent. You can help put up posters advertising adoption events, or help post photos on the internet. You can drive animals to and from veterinarian appointments. You can do laundry. You can help plan fundraising events. Contact an organization and see how you can help.
back to top
Become a foster parent.
Fostering homeless dogs is one of the most powerful ways you can help them. By opening your home to a homeless dog, you are offering him the gift of time so that his forever family can find him. He’ll enjoy the comforts of a home and your attention, and you’ll benefit from this act of selflessness. Read about the experience of fostering in The Joy of Dog Fostering, published by The Bark.
If you are interested in fostering an ARF dog, please contact Rita Brauetigam, San Antonio Coordinator, at rita@alamorescuefriends.org.
back to top
Make a donation
Make a donation to a shelter or rescue group. Most shelters and rescue groups are non-profit organizations that are funded solely through donations and grant support. Whatever amount you can comfortably give, your donation will go toward the medical care of homeless animals (because the Humane Society of the United States does not actually operate any animal shelters, and less than 1% of its budget goes toward animal shelters, we recommend donating to a local group).
If you can’t make a financial donation, shelters and rescue groups can always use donation of old towels and blankets, newspapers, pet food, and even extra office supplies.
back to top