In 1996, The Humane Society of the United States founded National Animal Shelter & Rescue Appreciation Week. This week is to help encourage people to learn more about their local shelters, what they are doing to help animals all over, and to help people learn how they can help too!
According to the HSUS, “Approximately 3,500 animal shelters across the United States serve the estimated 6-8 million homeless animals who need refuge each year, and many more animals find themselves in need of the services provided by local rescue groups”. The workers and volunteers that make up these shelters & rescues deserve all the appreciation for the great work they are doing to find forever homes & care for as many animals as possible.
We wanted to take this time to show some appreciation to some of the amazing shelters that work with PetHub and to highlight some of the amazing programs and efforts they are doing.
Kitten Social Hour: fostered kittens visit with residents of an assisted living home.
Pet Food Bank: dog and cat food is distributed as needed and as available.
Monthly Pet Supplies Giveaway: we receive lots of used items we can’t use, ranging from collars and leashes to beds and kennels. These items are made available to the public once a month at no charge. People line up an hour before because the items go so quickly.
Shelter Cat Storytime: young readers read to sheltered cats while the cats hang out in strollers.
“Whisper Says” presentation: we teach K–6th graders how to understand dogs and treat them appropriately in order to avoid dog bites. My dog, Whisper, accompanies me to the schools
HOPE Express: This mobile pet adoption unit visits communities to find new homes for shelter pets. Helping Our Pets Everyday (HOPE) is the mission of this traveling vehicle and crew.
Kitten Cuddles: Tiny, orphaned newborn kittens need round-the-clock care to stay alive. We are recruiting foster parents to help care for and feed the very young kittens abandoned at the Pet Adoption and Protection Center.
Doggie Day Out: This program helps shelter dogs that might be experiencing stress in the shelter. It’s a great way to burn off energy, get more exposure to possible adopters and heck, who knows, you might make new friends while you’re out there! All you have to do is "borrow" one of our shelter dogs and go on an outing, maybe a quick run, perhaps a lunch date or even a sleepover!
Front Street Foster: Fostering an animal in need has rewards too numerous to list. Knowing you have helped save a live is often the best reward. Providing the TLC and time required to help an animal in need is a feeling like no other. Fostering is also a way to have an animal companion without a lifetime commitment.
PAWS San Diego: This is a program of San Diego Humane Society, helps people keep their pets by providing essential pet services and support to pet families living with low incomes all over San Diego County.
Pet Assisted Therapy: This program is designed to share animals with people of all ages in care facilities, including convalescent homes, hospitals, mental health centers, juvenile detention centers, corporate offices and children's programs. Volunteers bring rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, and dogs to visit people who aren’t able to experience the joys of pet ownership. Our program proudly serves over 20,000 clients each year.
Animal Adventure Camp: Games, crafts and hands-on animal activities help children develop respect and a positive attitude toward all living beings. We have spring, summer and mini camps throughout the school year that your child will love.
Volunteer With Your Pet: San Diego Humane Society has a canine volunteer program that helps educate children at our shelter and in the classroom, visits community members at outreach events and brings joy to those who are no longer able to own a pet through Pet-Assisted Therapy and Welcome Waggin' visits.
Pets For Life: The Pets for Life (PFL) program is dedicated to keeping people and pets together during the times they need each other most. Whether through temporary hardships or due to limited income, we know that a lack of financial means doesn't mean a lack of love when it comes to pets. PFL provides assistance to people in a variety of ways, including (but not limited to): food, boarding, supplies. spay/neuter and other pet related services to those with limited or nonexistent access to resources.
Spay-ghetti & No Balls: This is a dinner benefit held annually in June, Spay-ghetti and No Balls celebrates spayed and neutered pets of our community and raises funds to help alter even more!
Club Pet: Club Pet is the home away from home for the happiest pets in the Wenatchee Valley – providing lodging and day camp to those from Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Cashmere, and areas beyond for over 14 years. Owned and operated by the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society, all revenues generated by Club Pet are used to support the homeless animals in your community.
Shelters all over the country work tirelessly to help save animals and find forever homes for many homeless pets. But they can't do it alone. There are lots of ways you can help and show your appreciation every day just by DONATING some simple things such as:
Your Skills/Experience: Shelters need help from those with specialized knowledge and skills. For example, those who love taking photos or making videos of animals could be a huge help in closing the gap between animals and adopters.
Your Time: Volunteering to spend time with the animals at your local shelter or rescue is an incredible gift, not only to the animals, but to those that work there. Animal shelters need all the extra hands they can get.
Your Pet's Gently Used Items: Most animal shelters have a wish list that you can donate to. Maybe your dog isn't interested in the toy you bought him so instead of burying it in the bottom of the toy box, donate it! Just because these animals are in shelters doesn't mean they don't like a good game of tug-a-war.
Household Items: Do you have old towels and sheets that you don't know what to do with? Donate them to your local animal shelter. Just ensure they are clean and washed properly as most shelters use them to provide comfortable bedding for cats and dogs.
Grooming Supplies: Animals waiting in shelters rely on being groomed to look their best for potential adopters. Shampoo, pet soaps, brushes and combs are all needed in your shelters.
Pet Food: A large amount of the money donated by generous individuals goes toward buying pet food and milk formula. No one likes going to bed on an empty stomach, which includes the pets at your local shelters. Donate a few bags of food or formula to ensure those waiting to be adopted don't go to bed hungry.
A Place In Your Home: Being a foster parent can be unimaginably rewarding. Giving an animal in need a place in your home allows them to feel something they may not have felt before, safe. Donating a place in your home will not only bring the animals spirits up, but it will be a fulfilling experience for you and your family.
At PetHub, we are all about helping as many pets as possible. Not only do we help pets directly by helping get them home quickly with PetHub tags, we also help the shelters and organizations that find homes for pets through our Shelter Share program.
We started our Shelter Share program to do our part in giving back to the organizations that are focused on helping lost and displaced animals in their communities. Animal welfare organizations that distribute customized PetHub ID tags to pets in their communities (through license, rabies or other ID programs) is part of PetHub Shelter Share. As pet parents register their pets and activate their Powered by PetHub tags, they have the option to upgrade to PetHub’s Premium Membership. When customers upgrade their pets to the Premium Subscription on PetHub, we donate a portion of our profits back to the community animal welfare organization that gave them the PetHub tag.
You can learn more about PetHub's Shelter Share program here. And if you would like your shelter to work with PetHub, reach out to us at solutions@pethub.com
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