by Nancy Hassel, American Pet Professionals
Are you feeling helpless watching the coverage of the LA Fires? Perhaps you made a donation to a rescue, or collected items to send to a relief shelter – but you still want to do more. Maybe you’re far away watching, and just feel like you want to contribute or help in some way, but just don’t know what to do.
We see natural disasters and horrible events happen across our country and world, and if you’re not in the area – it can seem so far away that there is nothing you can do.
We all have the simple power to share via social media – that is one simple way you can help – spreading the proper information from a trusted source of where donations can be made, who needs volunteers, and so forth.
The devastation we have seen in Hawaii, North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and California due to hurricanes or fires – can feel paralyzing when watching it from afar. (To name a few areas.) I remember when Hurricane Sandy devastated over 650,000 homes in New York and New Jersey – and rebuilding and raising homes was going on for at least a decade. (Sandy for reference was 12 years ago).
I wrote articles where pet parents could go with pets, or what emergency shelter could house their pets, I volunteered on the holidays where owned pets were being housed to give the regular volunteers a break, helped friends, family members whose houses were flooded. It was surreal to see the destruction in our area. What I did was little in comparison to people volunteering day in and day out, but every little bit helps, and that is where you come in.
Can’t get to California to help, or your not sure where to start:
“What can you do locally?”
Even if your area has not been affected by a natural disaster – there are often many organizations or shelters that could use help. Below is a hefty list of ideas for you, and even if you tackle just one of the ideas, you are helping in making a difference, whether you’re in an affected area, or helping in your community.
- Foster a pet: Temporarily opening your home to an animal in need can help reduce overcrowding in shelters. And helps so much, for shelters taking in pets from a disaster – makes a big difference in saving animals lives.
- Volunteer at an animal shelter: Offer your time to assist with daily tasks, animal care, or adoption events. Many pets in shelters do not have much interaction daily if they don’t have enough staff or volunteers.
- Host pets at your boarding facility: If you own a boarding facility, consider offering space for rescue animals to keep them out of the shelter system.
- Organize a donation drive: After the holidays, donations to shelters often slow down. Contact local rescues or shelters to learn what supplies they need, and rally your community to contribute.
- Offer free or low-cost dog training: Help people fostering pets or those who have recently adopted with training to ease the transition. This helps pet parents understand behavior, and keeps them from relinquishing pets back to the shelter.
- Support victims of domestic violence with pets: Research what resources your local area offers to victims of domestic violence fleeing with pets, and see if you can provide assistance or raise awareness.
- Share emergency information on social media: Use your platform or blog to keep your community informed about where people can go in emergencies if they need to evacuate with pets. Keep this list up-to-date regularly.
- Teach disaster preparedness for pets: Organize a class or webinar to teach pet parents how to create emergency kits and plans for their pets.
- Teach pet first aid and CPR? Host workshops for pet parents and professionals so they know what to do in case of an emergency for their pets.
- Fundraise for pet oxygen masks: Contact your local fire department to find out if they are equipped with pet oxygen masks. If they are not equipped find out how many each station would need and host a fundraiser to supply them with these life-saving tools.
- Host a first-aid kit and go-bag event: Invite pet parents to create their own first-aid kits and go-bags for their pets, ensuring they’re prepared for emergencies. What paperwork they should have for their pets in the go bag, their cars, pictures of it on your phone, etc.
- Partner with local schools or youth groups: Educate young people about animal welfare and how they can get involved in helping animals during disasters or emergencies, or every day volunteering within animal rescues.
- Offer transportation assistance: Volunteer to help transport pets to safer areas or foster homes, especially for people who might not have the means to move their animals during a disaster.
- Collaborate with veterinarians: Work with local vets to provide free or discounted check-ups and vaccinations for pets in foster care or recently adopted. Provide this information on your social media platforms or in an article on your website.
- Assist with temporary housing for displaced pet owners: Connect with local hotels or short-term rental providers to encourage pet-friendly policies for evacuees. Putting together a list of which hotels, or rental properties and keep it updated for your community.
- Offer free microchipping events: Partner with shelters or rescues to host events where pet parents can have their animals microchipped, ensuring better chances of reuniting them in emergencies. And inform pet parents to keep their microchips up to date.
- Develop a resource directory: Compile a list of local pet-friendly shelters, boarding facilities, and rescues, along with their contact information, to distribute in your community. Keeping this up-to-date is important in case an emergency does arise. This way it can be shared quickly for those that need it.
- Advocate for pet-friendly emergency plans: Work with local government officials to ensure that emergency shelters include provisions for pets. You may be surprised to learn of shelters for humans that are still not pet-friendly. While it has gotten better over the years, advocating for this is so important.
As you can see there are many areas you can help in, whether it is in your local community to be proactive ahead of any potential natural disaster or if you are boots on the ground in an area affected.
To our family, friends, members, and colleagues – my heart goes out to you all.
For a list of places that can use help, click here:
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/heres-how-you-can-help-animals-affected-by-the-los-angeles-wildfires/