I Would Love to Help...but I Already Have a Dog...

  As many of you know, I serve on the advisory board for a local rescue group called  Saving Death Row Dogs, we even adopted our latest dog from them (Ziva). I offer behavioral advice, training assessments, and monthly  training seminars for foster owners, adopters, and volunteers because I strongly believe that many dogs are homeless because of behavioral issues. I also volunteer as often as I can at their booths and events and try to spread the "Don't shop, adopt" mantra. However, invariably the answer I usually get from most of my clients is, "I would love to help but I already have a dog." (Makes sense, most people employing a dog trainer already have a dog, right?) So I decided to dedicate this week's entry to shed some light on other ways to help out local rescues. Most of my clients are not in a position to adopt a new member of the family but would love to help out pets not as fortunate as their own.

FOSTER

Lori fosters with Saving Death Row Dogs, she has helped save many lives!

 Okay, Okay I know, if you cannot adopt a dog you CERTAINLY can't foster one right? Well, I had to include this section for those of you who might be considering adding a new family member. Why not foster? Every rescue is ALWAYS  in desperate need for qualified fosters as much as qualified adopters. Especially groups like Saving Death Row Dogs who rely completely on their foster network. What does this mean? They do not take dogs in unless they have a foster home for them. Yes,it takes a special kind of person to open up their home to an animal and then a few weeks or months later hand it over to its new owner. However, fosters make it possible to help many, many more animals than adopters alone. If you adopt a dog every 10-15 years, you can probably save 5 or 6 lives in your lifetime (which is certainly a wonderful contribution!). However, a foster home that is willing to temporarily house a homeless dog and get it ready for adoption  will save hundreds of lives!

VOLUNTEER

C.A.A.R.T. always needs volunteers for their Pet Food Pantry!

  Another great way to help out pets in need is to simply volunteer. CAART (Capital Area Animal Response Team) does many wonderful things for the pet community including disaster relief but they also provide a service called Pet Food Pantry that can always use volunteers. Their mission is to provide a temporary pet food supply to owners who might otherwise be forced to surrender their pets due to financial hardship. In 2012 alone, the organization distributed 43,046 pounds of pet food and supplies. For more information on volunteering with Pet Food Pantry email caart999@live.com, or call (785) 925-3678.

SPREAD THE WORD

Hitting the "Share" button only takes a second and could save a life!

  Don't have much spare time? You can still help local rescue groups! Social media has changed the rescue game, in a good way! It only takes a second to hit the share button and send a picture to hundreds more computer screens and cell phones. You never know when your simple "share" can make the difference between life and death for an animal needing a forever home! Also consider simply talking to friends in person about adoptable dogs you have seen. Do you have any mass media ties? (Newspaper, Television, Magazine?) suggesting they do a story on one of these organizations can really help them get more donations as well!

DONATE

P.A.N.T. is a great local animal group worthy of your donations!

If you are looking for a great cause to donate to, there are plenty of local pet organizations that can always use your help! P.A.N.T. (Pet Assistance Network of Topeka, inc.) is definitely a group worth supporting! Topeka is fortunate to have compassionate homeless shelters for individuals and families facing homelessness. But these shelters cannot accept pets, forcing owners to make difficult choices. Concerned volunteers formed Pet Assistance Network of Topeka, Inc. (PANT) to place these pets in licensed animal shelters until the owners’ lives improve and they can be reunited with their pets. To Donate to P.A.N.T, visit their website: http://www.topekapant.org/donations/

SUPPORT FUNDRAISERS

2013 Calendars now available!

  Another great way to support groups financially is to purchase their fundraising items. Not only are you supporting a local animal welfare group, you will get some great merchandise at the same time so it's a win win! Saving Death Row Dogs created a calendar for fundraising purposes, each month displays lucky puppies that have been adopted through the rescue. If you are interested in purchasing a Calendar you can pick them up at Saving Death Row Dogs adoption booths at Petsmart every Saturday or contact me, I will have them available at my training classes.

Great way to shop for gifts AND help local animals!

  Another option for you is a company called Pics Saving Pets. This is truly a wonderful idea! There is a company based in Oklahoma that makes photo gifts and donates 50% of the proceeds to the animal charity YOU choose! Helping Hands Humane Society is one of the listed charities on their website .   http://www.picssavingpets.com/how_it_works.html

ORGANIZE A FUNDRAISER

Kiara and Sydney sold home made toys and blankets at a booth at Fairlawn plaza and gave the profits to SDRD!

   This is wonderful for anyone who is creative or likes to plan and organize events.  Organize a fundraiser and donate the proceeds to a local animal charity! We have had several kids get in on the action! Whether it is something as simple as a Lemonade stand or bake sale or takes a lot of time like the two girls who sold home made toys and blankets at a booth at Fairlawn Plaza, every little bit helps more animals get the vet care they need and find the homes they have always dreamed about!

TRANSPORT

Offer to Transport an animal from one rescue to another!

  Rescue groups are constantly networking with other rescue groups across the country to get homeless pets into foster homes or forever homes. This means many dogs need to be transported from one part of the country to another. Are you planning a family road trip? Consider contacting your local animal rescue groups to see if they might need a dog transported somewhere that is on your route already! Or if you are a real animal lover, maybe plan the vacation you were going to take anyways around a dog who needs a ride to his new forever home!

SPAY AND NEUTER

Please Spay and Neuter your pets

  Overpopulation is certainly not the ONLY issue in the topic of homeless pets but it is a big one. There are many reasons not to spay or neuter your pet, but not any good ones! It is better for their health, they will be a more enjoyable pet, you will not "accidentally" incur extra mouths to feed, the list goes on. Stepping off my soapbox, I know this procedure can be expensive. If you or someone you know is postponing spaying or neutering their animal because they cannot afford it. There is a wonderful organization in Topeka called  Critter Care that helps owners who want to do the right thing but do not have the funds. They would be a great organization to donate to as well! 

  EDUCATE OTHERS ON THE NEED FOR TRAINING

  Finally, please spread the word to other pet owners that if they are having behavioral issues with their dogs, there are resources out there to help! Many dogs get surrendered to shelters  and the owners never attempted to address the issues for their surrender. Some don't have the time or patience, others truly don't realize that many behavioral issues can be altered, changed, or at the very least managed.I offer monthly training seminars on various training topics, 100% of the proceeds donated to Saving Death Row Dogs. I am also offering
 FREE POTTY TRAINING SEMINARS EVERY SATURDAY IN JANUARY!
So if you know someone who has recently acquired  new puppy, please tell them about this free service. Also, there are several options in Topeka for Training Classes including myself, Happy Training, Petsmart, Petco and Helping Hands Humane Society, surely one of us has a class that fits your scheduling needs!

  So just because you already own a dog, don't have very much time, don't have very much money, or perhaps all of the above, don't  tell yourself you cannot help! There are many many ways to help local animal charities that most people do not realize or simply overlook. These groups do a wonderful service to the community. It is exhaustive, hard work that many times ends in heartbreak so please support these LOCAL groups!

Here are some helpful links to the organizations that I mentioned this week:

SDRD- http://savingdeathrowdogs.com/

CAART -http://shawneecaart.org/

PANT- http://www.topekapant.org/

HHHS- http://www.hhhstopeka.org/home0.aspx

Critter Care- http://www.crittercareoftopeka.com/