I was emailed this list of 100 ways to help a dog rescue group. Thank you, Lori! It’s a good list full of ways to help rescue dogs. If you are unable or unwilling to foster a dog, there are tons of other ways you can help. So browse through the list and let me know if you have any other ideas.
I came up with a few more ideas to help dog rescue groups:
1. Take a dog for a run.
Dogs living in shelters or boarding facilities have tons of pent-up energy. Although a walk is very important to them, a run is even better. I run with rescue dogs all the time, and there is no workout buddy more positive and motivating than a rescue dog! If you are not a runner, you could drive one of the dogs to a park and go for a long hike.
2. Let one of the dogs spend an afternoon or a day with you.
You may not be able to foster long term, but you probably have a few hours or a day available to spend with a dog that doesn’t have a foster home. Make it a dog date and go for long walks, play in your fenced yard or cuddle on the couch. The dog will love being your pet for a day. It would also be good for the dog as far as socialization, behavior, training and well-being.
3. Take a dog to an adoption event.
Sometimes rescue groups need extra handlers for adoption events, especially for the “problem” dogs. It’s also nice to have an extra person there for answering questions and to be on stand-by for cleaning up accidents and supervising potentially aggressive dogs.
The photos above are of Jesse, an American pit bull terrier with 4 Luv of Dog Rescue in Fargo. He and I went to West Fargo’s Elmwood Park before heading over to an adoption event.
4. Donate bandannas for adoption events.
Anything cute will make the dogs look more attractive to potential adopters. Donate cute collars, leashes or costumes in bright colors – anything to draw attention.
5. Make fliers for individual dogs and hang them up in your office or around town.
Close-up photos catching unique expressions or photos of the dog doing something cute will attract more attention than the usual glowing-eyed, blurred shot of a hyperactive dog. Create fliers with good photos and specific information about the dog.
6. Make calls to breed rescues.
Some breed rescues will take in homeless dogs of their breed from anywhere in the country, so help these groups become aware of the dogs in your area.
7. Give a private training session to a dog.
Work on things like heel, sit, down and teaching the dog its name. You don’t need to be a professional trainer. Just grab some treats and work on the basics.
8. Clip the rescue dogs’ nails.
Little things like nail trims are often last on the list for busy rescue volunteers. If you know how to clip a dog’s nails, it can be a big help. Maybe you could clean a dog’s ears or give it a general look over to see if you notice anything out of the ordinary like lumps or bad teeth.
9. Deliver dog food and supplies to all the foster homes.
Many rescues cover the expenses of dog food for the foster dogs. But someone has to deliver it or pick it up, and that can be very time consuming for one person.
10. Donate a muzzle.
Many of the dogs in the rescue programs have aggression issues, whether it’s with cats, other dogs or around food. A muzzle allows a dog to interact closely with others and learn proper social skills without harming anyone. Muzzles of all sizes are needed. You could also donate other training tools such as a dog backpack, prong collars, Haltis or Gentle Leaders.
What are some other ways to help a dog shelter or dog rescue?
Send an email to Lindsay@thatmutt.com if you are interested in adopting Jesse or if you would like more information about him. You may also visit his profile at the 4 Luv of Dog Rescue. The rescue is always in need of more foster homes, so if you are considering fostering a dog, now is a good time!
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February 16th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Great ideas! One thing I always do is collect blankets and towels for shelter animals. In several cases they just lay on the concrete floor and a blankey or towel makes things a little more comfortable for them. I know when I got my big guy, he had calloused elbows from laying on concrete all the time. Now that he has a soft bed, the area is becoming more normal. This is really better for him since large breeds can be prone to joint issues.
If you contact a local rescue or shelter, they most likely have clean towels and blankets on their wish list.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Great idea, Apryl!
February 16th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Thanks for the tips, Lindsay. You always give such great advice. I haven’t been receiving any of your posts, by the way. I thought I’d let you know.
February 16th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Thanks Mayra. And thanks for letting me know about the posts not showing up. I am working on that problem. Thanks for being patient and for taking the time to visit my site.
February 16th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Excellent thoughts and ideas. Thanks for sharing!
February 16th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
I think it’s sad when dogs don’t have a toy. I got one of the pet stores in town to let me take a bunch out to the shelter.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:00 am
I liked the fostering idea thing! You may not be able to adopt them 24/24, but you keeping them social only increases their chances of finding a good family of their own.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Apryl makes a good point.
We donate blankets on ocassion. It is surprising how many Dogs sleep on bare concrete.
February 17th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Good point about the toys, Jan. That is sad if a dog doesn’t have a toy to play with.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
The rescue organization that I volunteer with has a big clean up event once a quarter. We had one last Saturday and had 15 more volunteers show up than usually do on a Saturday morning. We did a deep cleaning of all the kennels, including steam cleaning the floors and walls, and we scrubbed down all of the area walkways, weeded, and did other general maintenance to help our yards, kennels, walkways, and other areas where potential adopters might go. It makes a big difference to present the dogs in a clean, comfortable, happy environment.
February 17th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Wow, that sounds like a great idea!
February 17th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Those are all great ideas. At our local SPCA they are always looking for people to take the dogs out for walks to get them some exercise.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I really love the idea of taking a dog out for a walk! I don’t have my own pup, so “borrowing” a shelter dog to take out is an enticing idea!! It would benefit me AND the dog!
February 18th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
neat suggestions.
I’m gonna check out that list!