During this holiday season when our hearts are full, we are all inundated with year-end donation requests. Consider helping local animal welfare organizations that face the challenges of caring for adoptable animals during the upcoming cold months.
The gift may not necessarily be monetary. Donations of warm blankets, towels, and dog and cat food are especially appreciated. That’s year-round, of course, but some shelters especially struggle during the holidays and cold winter months if their “guests” are overlooked.
You can participate in a drive, or start one on your own, such as within your neighborhood. I recently organized a drive for Brandywine Valley SPCA (BVSPCA) of Georgetown, close to my heart since it is where we adopted our own dog.
The response was remarkable. People anonymously dropped off everything from cat carriers and dog beds to 50-pound bags of kibble and gently used leashes. It took us two pickup truck trips to deliver it all, but we made it easy for everyone to take care of transporting the supplies.
Volunteer opportunities also abound. Dog walkers, adoption event assistants and kennel attendants at the shelter are good examples. There are other roles, however, that may not immediately come to mind, such as photography and publicity.
Fostering is a heroic and rewarding way to volunteer to assist an animal that is not suited for shelter living. Fostering also alleviates the burden of overcrowded shelters from time to time. Foster parents admirably welcome dogs into their home, often with their own pet, and care for them until they are successfully adopted.
Letting go of their guest when this happens is inevitably bittersweet; therefore, there’s a notable amount of “foster failures,” meaning they decided to adopt them for their own family. Even better, since the pet has been acclimated to their “temporary” home.
In Delaware, probably the most dog friendly state in the country, our shelters are by state law, “no kill,” meaning almost 100% of shelter animals are never euthanized (the exception is for extreme medical or behavioral issues).
Delaware is paws down one of the most dog-friendly states in the country. So far, it is the first and only designated No-Kill state. That has a lot to do with the adoption culture so prevalent here. Many of the dogs that end up in Delaware shelters are actually from other states.
Next time you pass a mixed breed dog along one of our trails or at the beach, chances are it was adopted from a local shelter or rescue organization. BVSPCA and Delaware Humane Partners are the most well-known local shelters/adoption centers. However, there are several lesser known, all volunteer adoption organizations.
Here we share contact information of several organizations promoting adoption. Not only could they use your donation, but they also are always in need of supplies and food.
So, as we exchange gifts and surprise nonprofits with year-end donations, consider our four-legged friends who also need your love and generosity.
By Bridget FitzPatrick