Coming at you a tad tired as I got home last night from the Bears/Vikings game around midnight and spent too long falling asleep. But here at Rescue in Style, I don’t want to miss a chance to fill you in on something going on so here I am. Apologies in advance for any typos/nonsensical verbiage.
I know I talk a lot about adopting your next pet, but a lot of you are probably not in the right space to adopt one yet. Maybe you already have a dog or you’re job is too demanding or it’s simply not the right time. I get it. It’s not the right time for us to get a dog (Roni and Cheese are still testing us daily) so what can you do to help the animals looking for a home? I’m so glad you asked.
Foster – This is by far the biggest need for most shelters. As you can imagine, shelters are over-crowded as it is so they rely heavily on their foster homes to help free up space. You can foster dogs with behavioral issues, puppies that need more care, cats that do better in a home setting or, my personal favorite, kittens that are too young to thrive in a shelter. You can apply for certain animals that need fostering and they’ll match you to an animal that works best with your lifestyle. Each foster is different but they generally recommend two weeks of foster care which is a great way to do a lot of good in a short amount of time.
Volunteer – If you can’t have a pet in your home or you can’t commit to fostering, you can volunteer. Shelters and rescues can’t ever have enough volunteers helping to clean kennels, walk dogs or help with admin work. Whatever skills you have, a rescue could greatly benefit from them. Generally, they ask for a certain amount of hours per month to volunteer for but the commitment is easy enough over four weeks. Reach out to your local shelter and find ways to get involved, it’s one of the best resources you can offer the animals.
Advocate – Maybe you’re just too crazy busy to commit any time to being at a rescue, that’s okay, you can become an adoption advocate! If you like law or politics, this one is for you. Get involved with your community and see if you can work towards eliminating pet shops from selling kittens and puppies. Review your local ordinances and ensure they’re keeping animals safe. Call representatives and ask that they amend them and work towards making adoption the new norm. PSST: start by signing and sharing this petition: Make Puppy Mills Humane.
Educate – I like to think I fall into this category sometimes (maybe with a pinch of preaching?) but educating people about the impacts of adoption can be crucial to helping save lives. The search for a new pet can be overwhelming so offer to step in and assist a friend with finding a reputable shelter and animal that matches their lifestyle. Tell them that 1.2 million animals are euthanized each year because of overpopulation. Share adoption success stories on your social media platforms. There many ways to spread the adoption word and by educating those around you about the importance of considering rescuing a pet, you’ll create a ripple effect ensuring animals are saved.
Donate – When all else fails, open your wallet and give what you can. Majority of shelters run completely on the donations of their local community and trust me, it isn’t cheap to feed and care for hundreds of animals. Your money will go a long way to ensure animals get the care they need. And if you don’t have money to spare, donate items. Shelters need towels, blankets, toys and treats to keep their residents happy and it’s an easy way to make an impact. Contact your local shelter and see what items they need, I promise they won’t say nothing.
So there you have it. I totally understand that adopting isn’t an option for everyone right now, including myself. But all the ways listed above will help animals find their forever homes and their happy endings.
I wanted to lastly list some shelters right here in Chicago that you can start working with today. Each of them is willing to accept donations, volunteers or fosters, you just need to reach out and tell them you’re ready. Trust me, they’ll appreciate it more than you know.
If you’re not from Chicago (first of all, heyyy) a quick google search for “animal shelter” will help you find a local rescue to contact. If all else fails, contact me and I’ll personally help you find a shelter in need.
What do you think? Which aspect can you commit to in order to help save our furry companions? Let me know in the comments below!
THE RESCUES:
I’m not sure what’s going on lately but I’ve fallen in love this week multiple times with adoptable pets. Be still my heart.
The first girl is Lucy, and I met her last week with her puppies. She’s actually a Hurricane Irma pup and has had a rough go at it. All of her pups have been adopted and now she’s looking for her forever home. As you can see, she has a Thunder Shirt to help her with her anxiety because of all the changes she’s been through. She would probably do best with someone who works from home and would be able to hang with her throughout the day. For more information about Lucy, click here.
Oh Tony, you sweet man you. A staff favorite, Tony came to ACS from another shelter and is all sorts of sweet. He’s about eight-years-old and would do well in almost setting with his chill personality. Tony definitely sheds and could afford to gain a couple of pounds, but otherwise, he’s perfect. For more information about Tony, click here.
THE RUNWAY:
Little known fact: I love midi skirts. They’re such an easy thing to throw on and are the perfect piece for that awkward season transition. This one that I happen to be wearing was actually my Grandma’s and when I wear it, I am of her warmth and style. I’ve picked out five of my favorites that I may have to scoop up myself. I’ve also been wearing this sweater turtleneck for almost all occasions. I love the fit and the bell sleeves are the perfect little detail. I threw on my favorite fringe booties and called it a day.
xoxo,
Pawssip Girl