Nov 6-12 is National Animal Shelter Appreciation week and let me tell you, they deserve to be appreciated!
Looking to adopt a new pet? Check out your local shelter! Maybe life has thrown you an unexpected curve ball and you now need to find a new home for your pet-check out your local shelter! Need to have your pet vaccinated or better yet, spayed or neutered but your funds are limited? Check out your local shelter! Central Ohio has a growing list of shelters that can help with all of this. Maybe you’ve been thinking about fostering for a local shelter but don’t know where to begin; they can help you with that too! And because they work hand in hand with each other and do many of the same services, the local rescue groups needs some recognition too!
What a wonderful feeling, knowing you’ve made a difference!
Since I started here at GAH, almost 10 years ago, my knowledge about Columbus’s local shelters and rescue groups has quadrupled. First off, I never knew there were so many! Before starting here, I knew of only a couple shelters and only a few rescue groups. I have since learned that there are several shelters and countless rescue groups. The rescue groups range from purebred dogs to sugar gliders! Yes! There is a rescue group out there for just about any type of animal you could think of!! Some rescue groups focus on just one type or breed while others will take in anything with fur or feathers. GAH has the privilege to work with several local rescue groups, who in turn works with most of the local shelters. Many of the rescue groups have close ties with employees at the shelters and are notified when a pet comes into the shelter that the rescue group might be interested in taking into their care.
So many ways to help the local shelters and rescue groups
Although they perform many of the same services, one of the biggest differences between shelters and rescues is most of the rescue groups don’t have an actual building to run their rescue from, therefore, the majority of the pets in rescue are fostered in people’s homes. Shelters normally have a certain amount of cages and runs at their facility and can only take in what they have room for. Unfortunately, due to overpopulation, ignorance and failure to be a responsible pet owner, many pets are dropped off at shelters, that are already at full capacity, causing many pets to be euthanized. This is not the shelter or rescues fault, as they are the ones that are trying to educate the people and provide the means for pet owners to have their pet spayed or neutered. They don’t deserve to be ridiculed, they deserve all the support we can give.
Citizens for Humane Action helps you help them by having a list of needed items.
Most of the local shelters and rescue groups in Central Ohio have a website or social media platform of some kind or another, where they will post how you can help them. A local rescue group that GAH has worked with for years is Columbus Dog Connection. The following link came from their website and provides a thorough list of Central Ohio’s local shelters and rescue groups. Without the volunteer work, fundraisers that are held and the public offering donations, shelters and rescue groups wouldn’t be able to provide all the help that they do. If you would like to show your support, find out what they need and do what you can. Every little bit helps and is greatly appreciated.
Until the worlds pet population is under control, there will always be the need for local shelters and rescue groups. Until that day comes, we need to give them all the support they deserve.
“Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.”- Bob Barker