Animal shelters across the country are filled to capacity. The ongoing animal control problem is part of the problem.

The expense of caring for an animal is another. People simply cannot afford to keep their pets. Shelters require a great deal of help to continue caring for their animals.

If you’re an animal lover, you can help in a number of ways.

Donate Money

One of the simplest ways to help your local animal shelter is to donate money. Many shelters have a donation button right on their website. Click the button, choose the amount you want to donate and save your receipt for tax time. Some shelters even allow you to set up recurring payments so you can donate every month. 

Another way to donate money is to attend shelter fundraising events. For example, the Humane Society often holds races to help raise awareness and money. Sign up for a race and a portion of your race fee will go toward helping pay for the cost of animal care. 

Donate Supplies

In addition to donating money, you may be able to donate supplies to your local animal shelter. Shelters commonly need:

* Cat food

* Dog food

* Food bowls

* Bedding for cats and dogs

* bedding for rodents

* Leashes, collars, and harnesses

* Crates

* Unused dog and cat toys

Contact your local animal shelter to see what supplies they need most. If they house livestock they may also need hay, veterinary care, and other livestock supplies.

Donate Your Belongings

Some animal shelters have other means to raise funds. For example, a local Humane Society may have a thrift store. Proceeds from the thrift store go to help pay for the care of the animals. You can donate to the Humane Society by donating your gently used items to the thrift store. It’s a great way to get rid of clutter and help a charity at the same time.

Donate Your Time

Finally, almost every single animal shelter in the country could use a few more volunteers. They need people to walk dogs, play with cats, and care for the animals by cleaning out their crates. They also need people to help with press and publicity, recruit volunteers, train volunteers and much more. You can apply your specialized skills and help a local shelter. Whether you help care for the animals or help manage or promote the shelter, your time and skills are needed.

If you want to help animals and are unsure how you can give back to your community, consider donating your time, energy, or money to your local animal shelter. It can be a wonderful feeling to know you’ve helped make the life of an animal better.