If the holiday spirit has inspired you to do something nice for animals this season, there are lots of lonely shelter pets that could use any help they can get.
Adoption is one option, of course, but make sure you?re prepared for a new pet. Also, keep in mind that many experts advise against giving someone a live animal as a holiday gift.
Volunteering is a great way to help, and most shelters can always use more foster caregivers. If you?re busy but still want to help, you can donate money, food or other items on your favorite shelter?s wish list.
Whatever species you prefer, there is surely a homeless animal that could benefit from your benevolence. Area animal shelters have shared with us what they need the most help with right now.
Birds: Exotic Bird Rescue of Oregon urgently seeks financial donations in order to provide food and veterinary care for the ever-growing flock of exotic birds seeking homes.
The organization is taking more birds under its wing as owners lose homes, expect a new baby or adopt a bird without understanding what caring for one entails.
The rescue doesn?t have a facility, so it relies strictly on foster caregivers to help feed and house the birds they take in. Additional foster homes that can provide adequate seed, pellets and produce are needed, says Christine Pulsinelli, a volunteer, board member and foster care provider.
Exotic Bird Rescue also seeks volunteer grant writers and donations of large, macaw-sized cages.
Cats: At Cat Adoption Team in Sherwood, ?Our biggest priority is to get people trained as adoption counselors,? says volunteer manager Nancy Puro, ?because the more adoption counselors we have, the more kitties we can send home.?
Adoption counselors play matchmaker by familiarizing themselves with shelter cats and then placing them with the right people, so ideally counselors will work well with both cats and humans.
If you want to focus on felines, you can play with them, clean their cages or provide foster care.
Folks who don?t live near the shelter can still help by volunteering at one of the shelter?s eight offsite locations, donating to CAT?s food bank or helping with donation drives and special events.
Foster homes are also needed for cats at Southwest Portland-based Animal Aid, especially special-needs cats or those ?overwhelmed by the shelter environment.
Dogs: If you dig dogs, Clackamas County Dog Services could use your help.
?One of our greatest needs right now is canned food,? says manager Diana Hallmark.
Wet food is used in a number of ways, including aiding medication administration, stuffing Kong toys, or feeding to dogs with dental issues.
Drop off canned food at the shelter between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday at the shelter, 13141 S.E. Highway 212 in Clackamas.
You can also donate from the comfort of your living room. Search for the shelter?s wish list, listed under ?Clackamas Dogs,? on Amazon.com, and select whichever items your budget allows.
Ferrets: Ferret fanciers can help the Oregon Ferret Shelter by donating high-quality ferret or kitten food (Costco cat food works just fine) and fleece fabric to make sleep sacks and hammocks. Gift cards to PetSmart and Petco are also welcome, as are laundry soap, paper towels and bleach.
The shelter, which has struggled to provide care for a flood of ferrets this year, also needs money for microchips, vaccinations and veterinary care. You can make a deposit at one of the shelter?s veterinary clinics: Milner Veterinary Hospital, Full Circle Veterinary Care, Northwest Exotic Pet Vet and Southwest Animal Hospital.
Horses: Horse lovers can help by donating money, stable blankets, saddles, or other horse tack to Sound Equine Options, which provides food, veterinary care and training for neglected horses.
The organization has also launched a Global Giving campaign, which matches donations to help pay for hay and medical care.
You can also help by providing foster care or adopting a horse.
Rabbits: Rabbit Advocates needs bunny buffs who can foster - or permanently adopt - a rabbit. Foster caregivers should have adequate time and space in their home, be willing to work with a mentor and read up on the organization?s adoption guidelines, says Mary Huey, a co-founder of the group.
The nonprofit may be able to provide some support with supplies and medical care, and it offers a mentoring program for new foster volunteers.
Oregon Humane Society: Donations of high-quality dry and canned food for dogs and cats top the Northeast Portland shelter?s wish list. Shelter pets can also use dog treats; enrichment toys such as rubber chew toys, rawhide chews, Nylabones, rodent chew toys and cat toys (but no loose catnip).
Washington County's Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter: People can offer help to homeless pets at the Washington County shelter in three ways, says Deborah Wood, animal services manager for Washington County: ?time, talent or treasure.?
The shelter relies on an army of about 160 active volunteers who walk dogs, clean kennels, provide adoption counseling, help in the surgical room or assist with administrative tasks. Training is provided at regularly offered volunteer orientations.
Those with special skills such as photography and writing can advertise shelter pets on Petfinder.com, while there?s always a place for folks with a background in veterinary medicine or professional dog training.
The shelter also welcomes donations of money or high-quality pet food.
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Volunteer information and applications are usually available online (as are wish lists), so the easiest way to get started is to click on the ?volunteer? tab on the website of the shelter of your choice.
Where you can help:
Animal Aid:?animalaidpdx.org; 503-292-6628
Cat Adoption Team: catadoptionteam.org; 503-925-8903
Exotic Bird Rescue of Oregon: rescuebird.com; 541-461-4333
Clackamas County Dog Services: clackamas.us/dogs; 503-655-8628
Oregon Ferret Shelter: oregonferretshelter.org; 503- 557-8369
Oregon Humane Society: oregonhumane.org; 503-285-7722
Rabbit Advocates: adoptarabbit.org; 503-617-1625
Sound Equine Options: soundequineoptions.org; 503-328-9053
Washington County Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter: co.washington.or.us/pets; 503-846-7041
--Monique Balas
Source: http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index.ssf/2012/12/pet_talk_how_to_help_animals_o.html
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