Shelter Pups

I love Sundays. I usually go out to my local animal shelter for a couple of hours to walk dogs on Sunday afternoons. It's super rewarding and provides a great stress outlet both for me and the shelter dogs to get out in the fresh air together. The dogs crave going outside for exercise and socialization. I've seen several new volunteers walking at the shelter lately, which is so exciting. If you're looking for a great way to get involved in your community, go visit your local animal shelter and see if they need volunteers.

There's a common rescue mantra that goes something like, "If you can't adopt, foster. If you can't foster, volunteer. If you can't volunteer, donate. If you can't donate, network." The list goes on, but the point is that everyone can help out in a way that works for them. No method of help is too small or goes unnoticed. If you love photography, see if your local shelter could use help taking pictures of their animals and posting them to websites like Petfinder and Facebook. Photos are a hugely helpful tool in getting pets adopted. Many rescue groups need help transporting pets to and from foster homes, vets, and safe shelters. Volunteer drivers are always appreciated. If you have money but not much spare time, consider sponsoring a dog that needs heartworm treatment or do a little shopping for your local shelter. Mine has a supplies wish list (I'll post it below). There are very few people who are able to do all of these things, but if each of us does a little something, our efforts combine to make a giant difference for homeless animals.

Above all else, please spay and neuter your pets. Pet overpopulation is a massive problem across our nation. Our shelters may as well have revolving doors; mine has over 250 animals at any given point in time. If you're looking for a new furry friend, please adopt. There are so many homeless pets who are counting on us to give them a second chance at life. Our local shelters have all breeds, sizes, colors, and ages. Mine even has a few goats right now! Is it tough to see all the homeless animals at the shelter? Sure, but it's so worth it to know that you're helping in some way. So this is my little PSA blog post - now go get involved! It's fun, it's free, and it's good for the soul. These are pictures of some of the dogs I hung out with today and of course, the goats. Also, please check out the links below for DeKalb County Animal Services' wish list and available pets on their Adopt-A-Pet page.

DeKalb County Animal Services' Pets Available for Adoption: http://www.adoptapet.com/shelter74186-pets.html

DeKalb County Animal Services' Wish List: http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/D1GX1DSCZA9W/ref=cm_sw_su_w