Maybe your current lifestyle is not suitable for owning or fostering a pet, but animal advocacy is still important to you. Dog rescue organizations require an enormous amount of help, and largely rely on volunteers to function. If you are interested in assisting one of these organizations, you can help in one of the following ways:

• Donate - Rescue organizations require capital to operate. Funds are needed to provide veterinary services to dogs in need, and to pay for food, medicines, and other supplies that a dog might need until he finds his forever home.

• Fundraisers - Rescue organizations frequently hold fundraisers to help raise money to care for the animals. You can assist with a fundraiser to help generate revenue.

• Foster "parenting" - Rescue organizations get their dogs several different ways. Sometimes people directly turn over their pets because they can no longer keep them. Other times dogs are rescued from animal shelters where they face euthanasia. Rescue organizations usually do not have any dedicated facilities, but volunteers keep the pets in their homes until a permanent home is found. You can volunteer to temporarily care for a dog until a long-term family is identified. Find out more about what it takes to foster a dog in need.

• Transport - Rescue organizations need people to help pick up the animals from shelters and homes, or to bring them to meet potential new families. Also, help may be needed in transporting the dog to the vet for medical services. You can assist by providing transportation for these dogs.

• Checking shelters - Some purebreed rescues routinely survey local animal shelters to find breeds in need. You can help out by being part of the survey team.

There are many other ways that you can volunteer with a dog rescue group. If you are interested in helping out, be sure and contact the organization and let them know that your helping hands are waiting!

See also:

• Volunteering at a Shelter
• Where to Volunteer
• Fostering a Dog
• Simple Ways to Help a Dog