power-of-pets.org

1.) Volunteer at a local nursing home! Many individuals who live in nursing homes have to give up their dogs because they are too old to walk them and hiring a dog walker can be very expensive. This then causes more dogs to end up in shelters, depleting the few resources that they have. If more people volunteer to walk the dogs of older individuals in nursing homes for free, they wouldn't need to surrender their pets, making a better life for both the pet and the owner!

​

2.) Get your own dog certified as a therapy dog! According to the AKC website, there are 3 steps to do this. First, your dog must earn its Canine Good Citizen title. Next, you should research various therapy dog organizations to further your knowledge and learn the skills you'll need as a handler. As part of this step you can also contact local organizations that you're interested in volunteering at. The third step is to register with a therapy organization! Each organization will have their own application and requirements, so steps will differ from here, but these first three steps are a great place to start!

​

3.) Collect donations for local shelters! As part of my Rescue Roundup project, I made and collected donations for animal rescues around my hometown. It's a sad truth, but animals are constantly being surrendered for a variety of reasons. The more animals that end up in shelters, the less resources they have for each dog, cat, bird, bunny, or other animal that may end up there, and because most animal rescues are nonprofit organizations, they don't have a lot of resources to buy all the supplies they need. By donating toys, treats, food, or anything else they may need, you can help make sure that every animal has what they need to stay happy and healthy until they can find their forever home. For information on what supplies are needed, check you the website for your local animal shelter!