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Animal Rescue
I've been involved in rescue now for about two years. I've met all sorts of wonderful people and you know what? There's not one person I can say is "just like me." And that's one of the amazing things about rescue - there's a place for everyone, no matter who you are, what you do, how old you are or how much time you have. But if you've never been involved before it can be intimidating to think about. It's hard to know where you would fit (and trust me, you would fit in beautifully!) So I'm going to list just a few of the hundreds of ways you can help. I'll focus on the ones I've done myself since those are the ones I know the most about. And occasionally I'll introduce you to a rescuer.
You Can Help
Transport - If you're on the road some weekend, look around.
Most of the people you see with animals are enjoying the company of
their own pets, but some of them are going to be transporters
getting a dog or cat across the state or even across the country.
Transport is easy and a whole lot of fun. It's the doggy underground
railroad and it is responsible for thousands of dogs going from a place
of uncertainty to a loving home. If you like to drive and can
spare a few hours of your time, this is a great job. Most legs of a
transport last 1 - 2 hours; you meet at a predetermined location and
pick up your rider (or riders), the paperwork and their belongings, then
head off for the next stop where the pattern repeats itself. And these
dogs are among the best back seat drivers you'll ever meet.
Sew - I have yet to meet a rescue group that didn't get excited at the thought of someone with a sewing machine joining their ranks. If you're looking for something you can do on your own time and can sew a more or less strait seam, this is a great way to help out. Bandanas, belly bands, collars, blankets . . . the list goes on and on. These items can be sold during fund raisers or put in auctions. And on adoption days, the difference between a dog getting a second glance and being overlooked can be as simple as a colorful bandana around their neck.
Foster - Without a doubt one of the single most important things you can do. A foster home means a second chance at life for a dog that otherwise would be put to sleep. The problem is fostering sounds overwhelming to most people. I know because I was one of those that thought it was oh so noble but something I could never do. That was I can't remember how many foster dogs ago (enough that I lost count.) What I found out is that while fostering is noble from the dog's perspective, for you and me it's just as simple as doing the same things you already do now for your own dogs and cats - just for one more. I won't lie; the first 24 hours were a bit intimidating for me, mostly because of my worrying and nervousness, not anything they did. There was the normal jockying for position among the animals, protecting bowls at dinner time, favorite toys, etc. Yet all the horrible visions I had of dogs fighting, chaos running amuck through the house, feeding frenzies . . . well, it never happened. And a large part of the credit goes to those groups I've fostered for - they've never knowingly sent me home with a foster they thought wouldn't fit my home or my own pets' personalities. The trick is to learn your limit and you never really know what your limit is until you try. We can do more than we give ourselves credit for.
I guess what I'm saying is never underestimate the difference you can make. There are rescues and shelters desperate for whatever help you can give. Don't let nervousness or uncertainty stop you from becoming involved. Take what you know and offer to help. Try it out. Start small and work your way up. If you don't enjoy it, you can always get out. But I'm betting you'll stick around.