In many countries and cultures, dogs are considered man’s best friend. They are wholesome and lovable creatures that can be close companions to many. People love them for their loyalty and ability to bring joy and also positivity to any place they touch.
People adore dogs, yet the sad reality of the state of stray dogs is highly problematic. In many countries, stray dogs are sent to the pounds or shelters which have no funding or help from the government. Many people fail to understand the responsibilities of taking care and leave them at such shelters when the situation gets tough.
Please do consider some ngo for dogs. Many NGO workers work day and night without any salary, to ensure that these dogs are cared for but the sheer number of dogs that are displaced or homeless is way too high. This is why many NGOs and local shelters depend mostly on donations and charities for dogs.
Monthly expenses for dogs can get very high, and just the thought of paying for food and medical bills is enough to scare anyone away. If you consider the cost of giving these animals a safe space to run around freely, it is practically impossible with the funds a local shelter gets.
Though many of us love and adore dogs, we don’t adopt it for various reasons. But fret not, there are so many other ways you could help your local shelter and bring a smile on the faces of lovely, pure dogs. If you’re interested to know, read on.
Various Ways to Help Local Shelters for Dogs:
- Adoption:
The easiest way to help a shelter is by lifting the burden of having too many mouths to feed. If you are at a place to adopt a puppy, ensure that you find a local shelter to adopt instead of contacting a breeder. If you choose to adopt, we highly recommend that you read about the responsibilities and costs of having a dog so you will not abandon it.
You can also adopt a puppy for a special event like birthdays or anniversaries, for someone who’s been yearning for companions. Of course, you must ensure that they are capable and willing to take up this huge commitment. Redirecting any acquaintance to your local dog shelter, away from breeders is a huge bonus.
- Donate:
Donations are highly welcomed by the volunteers running a shelter. Giving them any amount of money will ensure that you help in some small way. Of course, if you aren’t very comfortable with giving away your money, you can donate food, toys, old blankets to keep them warm, puppy chew toys, medicines, and a whole list of things which they cannot afford to buy themselves.
You can also host tiny occasions that would raise funds or items during special events like your birthday or holidays. People even go as far as putting these items and names of charities to donate on their wedding gift registry!
- Increase awareness:
Another way with which you can help your local shelter is by helping them in raising awareness. You can do this by holding fundraisers, online crowdfunding projects, social media campaigns, and a whole array of activities that will help the shelter. Doing this increases the chances of the shelter getting donations to pay the rent along with bills for the animals.
You can come up with fun ways, like dog-washing events for your neighbourhood dogs. The social media events that highlight the speciality of the dogs in the shelter or even hang up fancy fliers which will catch the attention of any passer-by.
- Volunteer:
You can provide your services by volunteering at the local shelter of your choice. Since most of them are highly understaffed, any effort and time you can put into this project will be well appreciated. You can also rally up the dog-loving friends in your circles to do the same.
If you’re someone who has specialized skills like accounting, law, photography, art, or any other skill, lending the shelter with your help takes off a load of pressure, as hiring professionals is never an inexpensive process.
Dogs are truly humanity’s greatest gift, but they often suffer at the hands of the new reality that man has set. If every dog enthusiast out there could put in a tiny sliver of effort, it would cause a full ripple effect in a local shelter. We must also look to the volunteers and ngo for dogs with admiration to ensure that no dog has to go hungry or be euthanized for the mistakes of another. This is why, in this holiday season, take your first step in giving the dogs a better future.
