VOLUNTEER

 
1. Be a foster parent!

This is one of the quickest ways you can make a difference - you will truly be saving a life. Many people hesitate because they are convinced they will become too attached. This is not necessarily true - being a foster parent is like being a grandparent. Finding a loving home for your foster pet is incredibly rewarding, and also sometimes nice when your house quiets down for a while until you decide you are ready to foster again. For more information, click here to visit Shelter Pet Partners website.

2. Volunteer at your local shelter.
This is another way to make a huge impact in the lives of many wonderful animals. Volunteer at your local shelter by visiting with the cats or walking the dogs once or twice a week. And you will get your exercise at the same time! Most shelters have a volunteer orientation that you need to attend before you can officially volunteer. The San Diego Department of Animal Services with several shelters across San Diego County is in great need of volunteers. Click here to visit their website.
3. Distribute informational flyers.
This is a convenient but very important volunteer activity. Adopt Me! San Diego together with Senior Mutt Match produces small informational flyers. Helping distribute them is as easy as keeping a stash in your car, and grabbing a few on your way into your local coffee shop. The more we distribute, the more this important information gets to San Diego County residents. If you are interested, just email us with your address and a little bit about yourself, and we will happily mail you a stack of flyers..
4. Volunteer at adoption events or adoption centers.
There are a variety of adoption events happening around San Diego on a regular basis. The more volunteers we have at these events, the more animals we can bring to them, as most rescue groups require one volunteer to each pet on a leash. This time commitment is flexible and there is very little training required. Shelter Pet Partners has an adoption event the first Saturday of every month at the Petsmart in Encinitas. Adopt Me! San Diego along with Senior Mutt Match organizes large adoption events at various locations once or twice a year. If you are interested in volunteering, click here. Cat AdopTion Service is also looking for volunteers to help in their La Jolla adoption center. For more information, click here.
5. Forward this website to a friend, write a letter to the editor or call your local radio station.
Every little bit of awareness helps. There are still many people who are unsure of the importance of adopting rather than buying, and the crisis of the pet overpopulation situation in the United States. You can help by simply forwarding this website to someone you know looking for a pet, or take that extra step and send a heartfelt letter to the editor advocating the adoption of homeless pets.
6. Assist in the transportation of animals near and far.
Unfortunately, sometimes emergency situations arise where animals need to be transported from the shelter to a foster home or from one foster home to another during a small window of time. Shelter Pet Partners has a need for volunteers to assist with transportation within San Diego County. For more information, click here. If you are in a position where you can assist with the transportation of animals even greater distances than across San Diego County, visit Best Friends website. Best Friends Animal Society supports many smaller animal rescue groups across the country, and are a fantastic organization to volunteer for.
7. Take photos of foster pets.
Sometimes even the most simple thing makes a world of difference. Some foster parents don't have access to technology such as digital cameras or scanners, and getting photos of their foster pets on the internet is a challenge. If you have a digital camera or a scanner, Shelter Pet Partners can use your help taking photos of their adoptable foster pets. Click here for more information.
8. Stop by the shelter and say hello to the animals.
If you happen to live or work near a shelter, or drive by a shelter on you way home from work, consider stopping by and saying hello to the animals. Just talking to a dog or a cat for a few minutes makes a world of difference. And the best part is you can do this on your own time and you don't have to worry about attending an orientation or coordinating with anyone else. There will always be homeless animals who need your attention.
9. Volunteer opportunities in Los Angeles.
If you are a Los Angeles resident, Best Friends Animal Society has many volunteer opportunities for you. Click here for more information.