Remember The Animals, Too!

The holidays are coming up soon and everyone should be thinking about how they can help those less fortunate. Since we don't have national holidays that really get people thinking about helping pets, I like to always include them in my holiday charities I participate in.

This list is a general idea of how you can help local animals by taking steps to prevent animal cruelty and pet overpopulation. It ranges from giving a little time or money to a lot. Everyone has something different they can offer. The list is from this post.

Here are some ways you can help:

1. Check with the local animal shelter before you buy a pet from a breeder. If you want a pure bred animal, you're in luck! Shelters have purebreds also, so you can get a good deal on one. If you are renting or don't have the neccessary time it takes to train a puppy, please visit the shelter and adopt an adult. MANY of the dogs have lived in homes before and are owner surrenders, so they know how to live inside. They also are the most in need of homes.

2. SPAY or NEUTER your pets! Even if you aren't planning on breeding, "accidents" happen all of the time. Even if your pet has only one litter, you are directly contributing to the sad overcrowding in our shelters today. Even if you find all of their offspring homes, those were homes that maybe could've gone to a shelter animal already in need.

*** If you are in the Hattiesburg, MS area, visit the Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic. These are everywhere, so just search for one in your area.

3. Use Goodsearch instead of Google to search the internet, and you can help donate money to local charities. Go to http://www.goodsearch.com/ and pick your charity. If you don't know your local shelter or they aren't listed, then search for animal shelters and just pick any random one! Everytime you search for a specified charity, the site donates money. You can even look to see how much you've raised.

4. If you have the extra time, money, and heart for it, become a foster. If you have a favorite breed, look up the national club and volunteer to be a foster for misplaced animals of that breed. If you don't have a specific breed you love, then you can volunteer to foster for a local shelter.

5. Donate your time or money to a local animal shelter. If you'd rather not give cash, all of them need dog food, cat food, blankets, paper towels, bath towels, light bulbs, garbage bags, 409, laundry detergent, etc.

**Click the "Help Prevent Animal Cruelty" link at the top of my blog for more info.