Animal shelters and rescues rely heavily on volunteers and community support. We asked some local organizations for the best ways to help.
Adopt or Foster
Katherine Covington of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter says that adoption is the most direct way you can help. But if you’re not in the position to add another pet permanently to your household, you can foster. “A foster stay might last only a few days — giving a pet a break from the shelter — or a few weeks while they heal from an injury or surgery. … We provide food, supplies, and medical care so fosters can focus on comfort and care,” she says.
Donate Supplies, Money, or Food
“Our top needs are items that support our fosters, such as crates, dog food, cozy blankets, and other essentials,” says Tara Zurawski of Project Second Chance in Alexandria.
You can donate supplies online through sites like Amazon and Chewy,” says Mirah Horowitz of Lucky Dog Animal Rescue. And ordering and shipping pet food directly to a rescue or dropping it off locally “can make an immediate difference,” says Zurawski.
Monetary donations are always welcome, says Kerry Whitlock of King Street Cats in Leesburg. “This can be online, via mail, or through the Combined Federal Campaign for federal government workers and retirees.”
Donate Unused Pet Medications
“We especially appreciate heartworm preventatives and flea and tick preventatives, as these are extremely costly for rescues to provide. We can also accept certain pet medications — up to one year past expiration — that we use with our veterinarian’s direction. In the past, donated cardiac medication has saved our rescue hundreds, even thousands of dollars when we’ve had a dog with the same prescription,” says Zurawski.
Volunteer Your Time
“We cannot operate without volunteers. Our biggest needs are on Saturdays and Sundays, but we need help on weekdays with transporting animals or meds from one location to another, as well as with helping us get laundry and data entry done. You can volunteer from home or in person,” says Horowitz.
Spread the Word
“Sharing our adoptable dogs, fundraising posts, and rescue updates on social media is incredibly helpful,” says Zurawski. You can also help with community relations, says Whitlock. “Assist with introductions to local businesses that may be interested in sponsoring an event or that can provide discounted services.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
This story originally ran in our October issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
