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Many people are animal lovers and want to help, but they don’t have the space to adopt or the extra funds to sponsor an animal, so what do you do?
Surprisingly there are a variety of different ways that you can help animals and charities without that extra commitment. It’s a great way to feel warm and fuzzy inside because you can help one of the many thousands of animals in need, but in a way that suits you too! It’s a win, win and charities are always looking for people to help.
For me, animals are a huge part of my life and if I had all the money in the world I would probably have my own shelter and take in all the abandoned and unwanted. Unfortunately, I have neither the funds or the space to do it so I have to settle for other ways to do my part. So here are some ways you can help animals without spending money, regardless of your time commitment that isn’t as much effort as you think!
Educate Yourself on Brands
Volunteering
Another option is volunteering your unique services, for example, if you are a photographer you could spend a couple of hours per week or month, photographing the animals and getting their best side for the website or publications to make them look more adoption-worthy! As an IT or marketing expert, you could offer free services to help with online advocacy and improve website navigation and usability making it easier to search for adopted animals online. Don’t feel like you have to do the traditional volunteering if you aren’t able, there is always something for everyone!
Volunteering also doesn’t have to be a permanent thing, many charities run family or corporate days so a large group of you go in and perform a variety of tasks to help with a backlog or merely pitch in for the day to take some of the pressure off and these can be excellent team building or family bonding exercises.
Petitions
It may seem silly but petitions and getting involved can make a powerful impact and cause pressure to make changes! Unity is important when it comes to changing large industries and it is something quick and easy you can do from your desk or phone at work or during your lunch break! If you think that signing a petition isn’t worth it, look at the 14-year-old Lucy Gavaghan who fought Tesco and won using petitions to stop them selling eggs from caged hens due to their unethical treatment. Your signature matters!
Advocacy
What part of animal care are you passionate about? I advocate for owners to neuter their pets (here’s why) and I use the platforms that I have to speak about them and try to be informative. You can do the same, whether it is about animal testing, food production, animal adoption, dog fighting or the number of other issues that need to be discussed and identified, become an advocate, educate yourself and start discussions with others.
Social Shares
Plus, you never know who you might reach, your next door neighbour could be looking for a new cat or dog but haven’t found one yet and voila you could be the catalyst to a new animal finding its forever home!
Fostering
Fundraising
It’s not always about the money and you can fundraise other items that can be just as helpful;
- Leftover animal food
- Blankets for the winter
- Cleaning products
- and even silly things like newspapers and plastic bags that can be used for smaller animal hutches and lining cages helps.
Anything that you can donate can be helpful because it saves a shelter or charity from needing to buy them itself!
Get Creative
For the knitters – Here is the knitting pattern for “Captain Cat Battler, The Catnip Mouse”
Ultimately, it is all about doing what you can and using your own skills and expertise to help others! Even if you aren’t a cat lover or are allergic, these can also be adapted to other charities you are more passionate about.
If you’re a cat lover you might want to visit Cat Corner for all of the cute cat and cat care related posts on The Mummy Toolbox
32 comments on “Ways To Help Animals Without Spending or Adopting”
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Back when I used to do a lot of crocheting, I made animal blankets and catnip toys. There was also a group I belonged to crafters for a cause that served a variety of charities, namely, GreyHounds.
I love these ideas. We have resued several animals and are getting a new rescue cat on Saturday. I always have a soft spot for animals.
aww good luck on the new addition! can’t wait to see pics!
I have a friend who is passionate about animal rescue, so I found this post very interesting. I especially liked your unique tip to volunteer a specific skill. Why I’ve never thought of that, I have no idea! And that picture of that bunny…so cute!
Yes!! Love all these ideas! I’ve been trying to only buy skincare, makeup, and beauty brands that strictly do not test on animals.
It is such a great idea to volunteer if you love animals – especially good for youngsters who are considering a career with them
Fantastic post, crammed with fab ideas. Little things really count and could make an animal’s life happier
I love this post so much. I am a big advocate of animal welfare. There are tons of ways to get involved that don’t require money. Thanks for sharing a few!
What a fab resource of helpful ways to help animals. Every little helps no matter how small 🙂
I believe that volunteering not only helps the animals but it helps with your personal growth as well. Thank you for reminding everyone of these simple things to promote pet caring! 🙂
These are such interesting ideas. I would have never thought of these myself. Whatever little you can do is great and things like petitions and volunteering or fund raising go a long way in helping the animals.
I love volunteering at this shelter in Brooklyn that lets you walk two dogs (30 minutes each) and it’s such a great bonding time and the dogs are just so happy to be out and playing. They also have a program where you can play with cats or clean their cages. Love volunteering!
We have not ventured into owning an animal yet as my hands are full with kids, but I loved all these ideas. My kids would love to have a dog in the family, but until things settle down I think we will help animals these different ways. Thanks!
These are some great tips! Especially the first one because it might seem small, but that’s a big way to put brands that hurt animals out of business!
This is all great advice, with some things I hadn’t even thought of! My daughter is a huge animal lover. She loves animals of all kinds, and constantly wants to adopt the stray whatever, but we simply can’t adopt them all. So great ideas!!
I am so glad that you are cruelty free. I went cruelty free not too long ago after finding out how many brands tested on animals and I felt so much happier! x
The animal photos in this post are so adorable. I love the push for free range chicken – caged is disgusting. All of these ideas have merit and kindness to animals is utmost.
Lots of lovely ideas here – hopefully you’ll have helped get some more pets adopted with this posts. And I never thought about the non-traditional ways of volunteering, good shout! x
What a great post, and so good of you to raise awareness of how to help animals in these ways!
Excellent and very fitting read for someone like me. I recently put my dog down, not ready for another yet but want to stay involved somehow. Thank you, great tips!
Aww, this post is so sweet. I think fostering is such a great idea for those who can’t keep a pet long term. I wish we had a bigger house so I could adopt a bunch of dogs! 🙁
This is a great list of suggestions! However, I must warn you: volunteering can lead to adoption!! It happened to me! I fell in love with a cavashon at the Humane Shelter and within a month, he was living with me, and still is!
haha I know the feeling :p we “fostered” two kittens, for about 5 seconds before I decided they were staying!
Aww some great advice and my daughter wants a dog but i just dont have the space so we will look through this together to see what else we can do.
it’s a great way to give them the responsibility without you taking on the responsibility! And many charities cater for 14-year old volunteers and above or days that are chaperoned.
Most of what you’ve suggested sounds more useful than owning a pet. I care about where my meat comes from, good farming rather than atrocious conditions, and I need to look more at where my toiletries/makeup come from.
Love this post! I think many people aren’t really away of the ways you can indirectly help animals so this is a must read to anyone who wants to do so.
I agree, I recently checked my makeup brands and was horrified to see I had some that tested in China, so in the bin they went! I now am more aware of what I buy
I’d love to be able to volunteer in a nearby pet shelter, but I don’t drive you see and we live in the middle of nowhere. Hoping to finally get my licence this year, and then I can find a place to volunteer 🙂
as I say in the post there are a variety of ways to volunteer from home 🙂 That’s what I do 🙂
I’d never heard of animal fostering before – what an awesome idea!
We’re not quite sure what our pet policy is going to be – we don’t have any at the moment and our 4 year old is definitely wanting us to take the plunge. I’m slightly hesitant but I like these ideas for dipping toes in the water.
Great advice. There are so many ways people can help animals, and it is of course our duty to do so. Sharing…