I’ve been volunteering at my local, open-intake animal shelter since 2017. In fact, if you’ve found yourself here and you didn’t know North Carolina is the number three state with the most euthanized animals in our country.

During that time, I’ve learned a lot about the animal rescue community along with how complex and nuanced it is. I also have found out so many ways the people can help and get involved that aren’t driven by money.

Often, I’ve seen people say that they don’t get involved, because they feel too overwhelmed at the problem, don’t know where to start, don’t have time, or don’t think that they will make enough of an impact with what little they can do.

Let me tell you — change doesn’t happen in grand gestures; it happens with each person willing to do a small something.

No matter how big or small your contribution or how you contribute—whether that’s with your time, energy, talents, or money—everything makes a difference. I’ve seen first hand how individuals who decide to make an impact, can.

With that in mind, I was inspired to write this post about different ways you can support homeless animals in your community (that are not all monetary!).

Let’s get started!

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EDUCATE YOURSELF.
I think it’s really important when you first become involved in rescue to educate yourself around the problems that rescues and shelters face with the animal overpopulation crisis. When I first started volunteering, I had a very different mindset surrounding many things in the animal shelter and rescue system that I look differently at now.
The issues at hand are more complex than one might think! For instance, it’s easy to judge a family when someone surrenders a pet, but we really never know what’s going on underneath the surface. When people are suffering, our pets are also suffering. When you actively work to educate yourself about the ins and outs of animal rescue, you are able to be a comprehensive, well-educated advocate out in the community and hopefully inspire others to get involved as well.

Jetta is available for adoption through Charley’s K9 rescue!

DIRECT DONATIONS.
Obviously, rescues and shelters always are in need of funds! This is one of the easiest ways to help especially if you have discretionary income to do so, but maybe not a lot of time to help in other ways.

Even just a few dollars a month to your favorite shelter, rescue, or non-profit organization can do a lot. Most organizations have an auto-donate option where you can sign up to have your donation taken out automatically. For something like $5 a month, you wouldn’t even miss it and you’d still be able to help your favorite organization continue to do amazing work! Did I mention your donations are tax deductible?!

*A note about direct donations: Not all rescue organizations or non-profits are created equal or are as upstanding as others. With all of the rescue scams out there, be sure to do your due diligence on the organization you wish to support and ensure they are using the funds to help the animals in their care! Transparency is key. If there are any red flags about where the money is going, how the funds are used, or if the organization isn’t willing to answer the simplest of questions—buyer beware!

HOST A FUNDRAISER, SUPPLY DRIVE, VOLUNTEER DAY, OR ADOPTION EVENT.
Maybe you aren’t able to donate or have a lot of time to foster or volunteer, but you are great at rallying people together and planning an event!

Then, hosting a fundraiser, supply drive, volunteer day, or adoption event for your favorite organization might be a good fit. Supply drives are one of the easiest ways to support for a local rescue or shelter organization, but if you have the space, manpower, and interest, an adoption event, volunteer day, or other fundraiser of some kind are always useful and much needed!

Cybil is currently available for adoption through Freedom Ride Rescue!

SPONSOR AN ADOPTABLE ANIMAL.
A really easy way to help an animal in need is to sponsor them! And no, I don’t mean financially. I mean, reach out to your local shelter or rescue and find out which animals have been waiting the longest for their forever home or which animal(s) could use some additional marketing.

Become the sponsor for that animal by actively promoting them on social media, in various groups, NextDoor, Reddit, in person, flyers, etc. If possible, try to meet with the animal and get some photos or videos of them you can share, but also to give you a chance to get to know them a bit better. One of our volunteers does this (this is the only way she’s able to volunteer since her physicality is limited), and it has definitely helped some of our pups get added visibility and adopted!
VOLUNTEER.
Before you scroll on by thinking you might not have the time to commit to volunteering, let me tell you that in this day and age, there are so many ways to help that can be on your own time.
Now, most county shelters will have specific days and times that you can volunteer and a specific number of hours to maintain your volunteer status, but most rescues are much more flexible on the time commitment and how you volunteer.
When it comes to animal rescue, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities that can be done at home, online, or in person and the right fit for pretty much anyone! Simply reach out to your local rescue or shelter organization and see in what ways you might be able to volunteer!
Here is just a quick list of some ways you can volunteer:
- Dog Walking / Cuddling
- Cat Cuddling
- Social Media Marketing
- Grant Writing (for rescues)
- Bio Writing
- Animal Transport (from a facility to an adopter / foster or from foster to foster)
- Event Outreach / Event Support
- Photography
- Donation Pick Up / Drop Off
- Daycations (Taking an animal off site for the day to get a break)
- Graphic Design
- Fundraising
- Grooming
- Adoption Support
- Foster Support
- Bookkeeping
- Website Maintenance
- Copy Writing
- And more…

Nico is currently available for adoption through Second Chance Pet Adoptions!

FOSTER.
One thing that continues to surprise me as a Dog Rescue Advocate in my community is that so many people don’t quite understand what fostering an animal is. Or they think that fostering means they have to put up their own money to support an animal before they get adopted.
I’m here to tell you that fostering an animal is a lot more flexible and cost effective than you might think.
First, let’s define what fostering is. Dog fostering involves temporarily welcoming a dog into your home to provide a safe, loving environment and care until they can find a permanent, adoptive home.
Some benefits of fostering include:
- Can be a temporary foster (such as fostering a dog until their permanent foster home becomes available or if they are going through some sort of treatment), long term foster, or some rescues even offer a staycation on the weekends where you can give a foster dog a break from the shelter for just a few days
- Freeing up space in the shelter for another animal in need
- Allowing a rescue to pull an animal they may not have been able to because you committed to fostering; in other words, truly saving a life
- Giving an animal time to decompress and heal through whatever they have been through (being found as a stray, being surrendered, long time stay in the shelter, neglect, abuse, or cruelty)
- Learning more about that animal in a home environment, which in turn helps them be more adoptable and gain more visibility to get adopted more quickly
- Being able to promote an animal within your community and online
- Feeling good about contributing to help animals in need in your community
The other great thing about fostering that people often don’t realize is that the animal’s veterinary care, food, and other supplies are all supplied and paid for by the rescue of choice.
Of course, there are fosters out there who like to buy their fosters various things, so they cover the expense, but that’s optional!
Fostering is also available for little critters, dogs, and cats, so if dogs aren’t your thing or where you live doesn’t allow them, then there are other opportunities to help!
Simply Google or research local rescues in your area and find the one that feel like it might be a good fit for you. Simply apply to be a foster and you’ll be off to the races!

CHOOSE ADOPTION.
I know that not every animal is the right fit for every home, however, I also believe that rescue and shelter dogs have a lot to offer.
A common misconception about shelter / rescue dogs is that they are damaged, broken, problematic, etc.
But I like to thing about dogs like people; we are all products of our circumstances! From our birth to where we are raised to our unique genetic qualities. Even getting a dog from an ethical breeder and sourced from a long line of champion dogs doesn’t mean the dog won’t have issues, preferences, or medical problems.
My point here is that, I have seen hundreds if not thousands of shelter and rescue dogs go on to become amazing companions. Sure, some don’t like other dogs, cats, farm animals, or kids, but you don’t like all people either do you?! (I jest, but you get my point).
Another thing I’d like to point out is that dogs are resilient. I have seen dogs come from the worst of circumstances and go on to live amazing, healthy, loving, and full lives.
To hit the point home a little harder, we’ve had shelter dogs go on to become service dogs, therapy animals, dock diving champions, and agility stars! It’s just all about giving them that second chance.
So, before you immediately go the breeder route, here are some tips to consider before adopting:
- Looking for a specific breed of animal? Then search for breed-specific rescue in your area.
- Need to know if a dog is good with cats, kids, or other dogs? Consider adopting an animal in foster where they can give you more information about a specific animal and for you to get a chance to meet them before adoption!
- What type of dog suits your lifestyle? Are you active and adventurous? Looking for a dog who is happy to walk, but also chill? Or are you looking for a snuggly couch potato that has minimal activity needs?
- What age are you looking for? Sure, puppies are cute, but they are a lot of work! The other consideration is that when adopting an older animal (past three years of age), their personalities and preferences are set in stone, so you kind of know already what you are going to get.
- Ask around at your local shelter. Most shelters have very dedicated staff and volunteers that do their very best for the animals in their care. Sometimes, it’s good to ask about an animal especially if they came in as a surrender, where they can provide more information about their history, likes, dislikes. Of course, if an animal is a stray there may not be a ton of information, but that’s where volunteers try to learn as much as they can about an animal in an effort to matchmake for people looking to adopt.
- Do you have time to commit to a dog or cat right now? Animals are a lot of work especially high energy breeds or puppies! Be sure to understand the time and energy commitment before saying yes to taking them home. Often times, people adopt a puppy and return them shortly thereafter, but they don’t realize the time commitment. If time is an issue for you, considering fostering instead!
- Can you financially provide for an animal? From veterinary care to monthly supplies to training and more, are you able to truly give that animal the long term care they need to be their happiest, healthiest self? (If not, fostering might be a good option for you!)
Obviously, that’s a very abridged version of things to consider when adopting. The point here is, do your research, ask questions, consider your lifestyle — all of that will help you make the best decision about your potential pet before bringing them home and ensure it’s a good match for all parties involved.

Santana is available for adoption through WakeGov Pets.

LEAVE YOUR FAVORITE RESCUE OR SHELTER A GLOWING REVIEW.
You’d be surprised at how many people will throw a shelter or rescue under the bus simply because they don’t like their policies or procedures.
If you’ve had a positive experience with an organization in your area, take the time to leave a good review! These reviews not only help other people when considering adoption or who to adopt from, but they boost the ranking of those specific organizations as well making them easier to find online when people are considering adding a four legged family member to the family.
GIVE A SHELTER DOG A DOGGIE DAY OUT.
Did you know that most shelters and rescue organizations allow you to give a dog a Doggie Day Out or Daycation? This is different than fostering in that you pick them up at a certain time and bring them back by a certain time.
Doggie Days Out allow you to :
- Get to know an animal better, so that you can write a more comprehensive biography
- Take videos and photos of them on their day out that will show them being a 100% good boy or girl (people love these types of stories)
- Allow the animal a break from a shelter environment
- Give the animal a chance to do something new or different
- Increase the visibility for the animal by getting them in front of more people (say if you take them to an adoption event or local park to walk around)
- Reduce strain on shelter staff, so they can focus on the other animals in their care
In fact, our local shelter has a few volunteers that volunteer in this way only! They will take long timers out to local parks, pet stores, and other pet friendly spaces to help increase their visibility and adoptability by learning more about them. This is a great option if your schedule is a bit crazy or changes constantly, but you know that you have a few hours here and there you can donate to help these animals in need!

Galena is currently available for adoption through WakeGov Pets!

DONATE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE.
Are you a graphic designer? Lawyer? Professional Fundraiser? Social Media Marketer? Grant Writer? Copy Editor? Website Designer? Bookkeeper? Event Planner? Fundraiser? I know we’ve already talked about volunteering, but if you have a specific skill that you can offer to rescues to help them out, they are always needed. More often than not, rescues begin to help animals in need, but they don’t consider all the other aspects of running a non-profit, such as graphic design, fundraising, bookkeeping, social media marketing, administrative tasks, and the list goes on and on.
If you have a reputable skill that you could offer to help, then consider doing so! Many rescue organizations will be willing to take what time, energy, and expertise you have available while being understanding your time constraints.
For example, a friend of mine is a retired publicist. She donates her services to write press releases for a local rescue when they have something going on that needs media attention. Another friend specializes in grant writing and will take on the task of applying to various grants for a local rescue to help them get more funding.
So, even though you may not be able to go to a shelter and walk dogs or be a volunteer at adoption events, you can use your skillset to help, which will in turn impact more animals in need.
USE YOUR BUSINESS FOR GOOD.
As a business owner, I often get asked to donate to raffles, silent auctions, or other fundraisers to help raise money for rescue! But, obviously, that’s not the only way that a business can get involved to help animals!
You could:
- Sponsor a dog’s adoption, medical fees, training, boarding, or Heartworm treatment
- Host a volunteer day with you and your employees
- Feature a local organization on your social media channels to help them get seen
- Host a supply drive
- Spotlight a Pet Of The Month or Pet Of The Week on our social channels / website
- Gift a percentage of sales or a small fee from your product or service back to a shelter / rescue
- Create a wishlist of items that you share with your audience of things an organization needs and have everything sent directly to the rescue / shelter
Those are just a few ideas to get you started! Feel free to get creative as anything you can do will definitely help.
To hit this point home further, here are some examples:
- Ricci Law Firm highlights adoptable / long timer dogs on their social channels each Thursday and partners with different organizations across North Carolina
- Underbite Pet Boutique encourages people when shopping for items for their pet to buy something extra to gift to a shelter dog
- MOSA Pet Spa + Resort offers complimentary grooming options for foster and rescue dogs.
- Bond Brothers allows Wake County Animal Center to host a once a month adoption event called Barks & Bond
- Di Fara Pizza puts adoptable dog flyers on their pizza boxes in the hopes to help long timers find forever homes
- Douglas Realty hosts a Giving Tree each holiday season to sponsor foster and shelter dogs

Charlie is available for adoption through Arcadia Animal Rescue!

SUPPORT SPAY + NEUTER INITIATIVES.
I know there are a lot of varying opinions about whether or not to spay and neuter, but what you cannot deny is the fact the spaying and neutering helps to reduce animal overpopulation and homelessness, which also means:
- Less animals finding their way into the shelter
- Fewer animals being picked up as strays
- More resources available for the animals that do end up in shelters and rescues
- Eases the strain on shelter staff and crowded shelters
- Less taxpayer money going to support these animals in need
- Due to less animals ending up in the shelter, fewer animals will be euthanized
- Spaying and neutering homeless animals is a proactive solution to the overpopulation issue
WORK TO CHANGE THE LAWS AND ORDINANCES GOVERNING ANIMAL CRUELTY LEGISLATION AND BREED RESTRICTION LEGISLATION.
Unfortunately, this option is easier said than done! It’s something that I’ve been a small part of here in the Raleigh, Wake County area. In the past few years, advocates here have not only been fighting to change the ordinances against tethering in extreme temperatures (which thankfully is now a felony), but also outlaw Breed Restriction Legislation and the sale of puppies in pet stores. Recently, we were able to get a puppy mill puppy store closed and are working on fighting against the others that exist.
My point in sharing all of that is that meaningful change cannot exist without stricter penalties for animal neglect, abuse, and cruelty. This is where the community has to work together to drive impactful change that will continue to exist and protect animals long after we are gone.
I will say that this certainly isn’t my area of expertise, but if it is yours, you can lead the charge to make change in your community, you just have to get started!

In case this blog post inspired you to get involved, here are some of our favorite shelter and rescue partners to support in the Raleigh Durham area (but is by no means a comprehensive list):

Wake County Animal Center
Friends Of Wake County Animal Center
Second Chance Pet Adoptions
Perfectly Imperfect Pups
Canine Community Outreach Of North Carolina
Animal Aid Alliance Of NC
Freedom Ride Rescue
Hope Animal Rescue
Neshama Animal Rescue
Charley’s K9 Rescue
Dega Mobile Veterinary Care
Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue
TriBeagles Rescue
Cause For Paws NC

Was there something on this list that I missed? Is there another way in which you support animal rescue in your area you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments!