Ways Kids Can Help Rescue Pets

Many bright and compassionate children love animals and are interested in helping rescued pets get the happy and safe lives they deserve. Kids, thankfully, don't have to adore animals exclusively from a distance. They, too, can make major differences in rescue pets' lives -- whether through volunteering or simply exchanging valuable information.

  1. Adoption

    • Kids can help rescue pets by encouraging their parents to adopt from rescue organizations and animal shelters instead of going to pet retailers and similar sources. If a child hears his parents discuss bringing a new pet into the home, he can suggest looking into the many homeless pets that reside in the area. Once a precious rescue pet enters his life, he can be in charge of a lot of key responsibilities -- think feeding and teaching basic commands.

    Strays

    • Kids can also help rescue pets by notifying adults of stray animals they see roaming around their neighborhoods. They can also ask adults to find out if any local rescue organizations have enough space to take in the strays. Life on the streets is hard and extremely dangerous for pets, and if they can get adopted out, those numerous risks become things of the past. From reliable meals to being away from the hazards of speeding cars and infectious diseases, indoor life is a big relief for many stressed-out strays.

    Donations and Fundraisers

    • Children can help rescue pets by setting up collections for homeless animals who reside in area shelters, too, whether by gathering wet and dry food or bedding and fun, interactive pet toys. A little bit can go a long way in enhancing the lives of rescue animals. Fundraisers can also be helpful. A child can, for instance, team up with a parent to make yummy brownies, sell them at the school fair and donate the proceeds to a shelter.

    Talk About It

    • Word of mouth is an irreplaceable tool for getting others interested in the cause. If one child tells his best bud that he should get a pet from a shelter rather than from a pet store, he might just succeed in persuading him. Actions often produce chain reactions. Ideas aren't exchanged solely by casual discussion, either. A child can write a detailed book report on the trials of rescue animals -- and then read it aloud to everyone in the class as part of an oral presentation.

    Tidy Up

    • Children can also help rescue pets by tidying things up a little in the area. If an elementary school teacher, for instance, suggests projects that involve doing positive things for the community, a day cleaning up at the park can be a smart idea. Parks are often home to stray cats, and lingering trash on the ground can be hazardous. From a toxic leftover piece of chocolate on a bench to potentially suffocating trash bags scattered on the ground, garbage doesn't mix well with homeless animals in need.

    Lend a Helping Hand

    • Many pet shelters could benefit greatly from a helping hand. Kids can speak to their parents about volunteering at nearby animal shelters, whether by sweeping the floors, keeping the living environments immaculate or handling other duties. Shelters often have organized youth programs, so this option is worth exploring.