The winter holiday season spurs many to give back to their local community. Whether it be through a soup kitchen or angel trees, donating our time or money is one of the biggest gifts we can give during the holidays. Lucky for all the pet-lovers out there: there are plenty of ways to support dogs in need, too. Here’s how you can help man’s best friend this holiday season.
Volunteer in the Shelters
In the US, there are 14,479 shelters and rescues. Across those fourteen thousand shelters, 6.5 million animals are admitted into their care, with only 4.1 million being adopted. Each year, our animal shelters receive more intakes than adoptions. Many of those shelters are non-profit and have few full-time workers.
From socialization and adoption fairs to laundry and animal care, volunteers play a vital role in the maintenance of animal shelters. Shelters rely heavily on volunteers to bridge that gap between overwhelming intakes and their limited resources. Whether you have a few hours to spare, or can commit to a regular schedule, your time and skills can improve the well-being and chances of adoption for these animals.
Donate!
If time is tight this holiday season, there is still a meaningful way to make a difference for the animals in need–through donating! Animal shelters operate on tight budgets, often relying on donations to keep their doors open, and their animals cared for. Financial contributions directly fund essential care like medical treatments, vaccinations, food, and shelter operations. For a more personal touch, consider sponsoring an animal’s adoption by covering their fees, making it easier for a family to bring them home.
In addition to monetary donations, shelters rely on supply contributions to meet their daily needs. Items like pet food, bedding, toys, and cleaning products can ease the financial strain on shelters. Every shelter will need different things, so always be sure to check their wishlist on their website before purchasing.
Foster Over the Holidays
Shelters are stressful. While they are amazing institutions that offer homes and possibilities to many animals, the constant stimulation can be too much for some pets. Some animals become fearful and withdrawn in shelters, sometimes going as far as being reactive to different stimuli, making them harder to adopt. Fostering is one solution that can help these animals.
By providing a temporary home, fosters create a calm and loving environment where pets can decompress from the overwhelming stimuli of a shelter. They can build trust and showcase their true personalities in a way that isn’t possible when they’re surrounded by dozens of other animals. This one-on-one attention not only helps animals overcome fear and anxiety, but also makes it easier for potential adopters to see their potential as loving companions.
Fostering doesn’t just benefit the dogs–it can be a deeply rewarding experience for families as well. It’s an opportunity to bring a pet into your home temporarily, allowing families to see how a dog fits into their lifestyle without the long-term commitment of adoption. For families with children, fostering can teach important lessons in compassion, patience, and responsibility, as they learn to care for another being.
WagWell’s Commitment to Our Pups
At WagWell, our commitment to improving the lives of dogs goes beyond our products–it’s about supporting the larger community of organizations dedicated to making a difference. This year, we proudly donated to several incredible charities that work tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome pups in need. These organizations are changing lives every day, and we’re honored to contribute to their missions.
Wags + Walks, based in Los Angeles, is a non-profit organization with the mission of a destigmatizing wrongfully stereotyped breeds that are typically overlooked in the adoption process. From bully breeds to medical dogs to mamas with their pups, Wags + Walks have saved well over thirteen thousand dogs since 2011.
Mutt Dog’s mission is simple: to create a community for dog lovers to support rescues. Their vision is grand: a world where all dogs have a home to wag their tails in. Their purpose is inspiring: to connect dog lovers with resources that help dogs find their forever homes. Created by dog lovers, for dog lovers, Mutt Dog seeks to find homes for all the overlooked mutts out there.
Matt Nelson, creator of the WeRateDogs social media account, has been raising funds to help dogs in need since 2016, with his community contributing over $2 million to cover the medical bills for dogs. After adopting Doug, a senior German shepherd with severe ear infections, arthritis, and behavioral challenges, Matt saw firsthand how medical and behavioral issues reduce a dog’s chances of being adopted. Inspired by Doug, Matt launched the 15/10 Foundation in 2020, named for the highest rating ever given on WeRateDogs. The Foundation focuses on supporting shelter dogs with complex medical or behavioral needs.
