4 Ways to Help Houston’s Pet Rescues

 

Happy National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, y’all!  Want to make your holidays more meaningful this year?  Here are four ways you can help Houston’s pets who will spend their holidays in a shelter.

1. Adopt a pet.  If your lifestyle and finances allow, give yourself the gift of purrs, wags, and a lifetime of love from a rescue pet.
2. Foster. If you’d love to share your home with a new pet, but just can’t make the long-term commitment right now, how about fostering a pet for a little while? This is perfect for you if you have the love to give, but not the extra money.  Basic medical care is generally paid for by the shelter.
3. Volunteer. Even just a few hours a month.  You’ll make some pets very happy. How about organizing a fun volunteer event with co-workers, family or friends? Start a new annual tradition, and invite your friends or family. Help Houston’s pets together! (Please note: this must be coordinated with the shelter.)
4. Donate. Out of gift ideas for people on your list who have everything?  How about making a donation to a Houston rescue or shelter in their name? Maybe a brick or paver at the shelter, inscribed with their name?

A word about volunteering: find a shelter or rescue near your home or work.  Nothing dampens enthusiasm or cools commitment like sitting in Houston traffic. If you need a little help finding someplace to spread holiday cheer, here are two Houston shelters to check out:

• Citizens for Animal Protection.  If you live in West Houston, the Energy Corridor, or Westchase, check CAP out at cap4pets.org
• Friends for Life.  In the Houston Heights, close enough to Garden Oaks, Lazybrook, Timbergrove, Oak Forest, Shady Acres, Woodland Heights, Inner Loop. Visit friends4life.org

These are just a couple to get you started. Prefer cats only?  Dedicated dog lover?  Got a favorite breed? Live in a neighborhood not listed here?  There’s a rescue organization for that!  Be the person some deserving furbaby is thankful for!