Help Pets
What You Can Do
Volunteer at a shelter
- Rescue groups always need help socializing animals, working with adopters – even writing for Petfinder! Sign up in our volunteer database.
Foster a pet
- Foster homes prepare pets for life in their forever homes and make room in shelters to save more pets. Read our article about fostering pets to learn more.
Make a donation
- Shelters often need blankets, food and toys, and cash is always welcome! You can also help by giving to the Petfinder.com Foundation.
How to Start a Rescue Group
Want to start your own non-profit organization to help animals? Here are some key steps:
- Study up. If you don’t have a business background, read some books on non-profit management.
- Be informed about issues. What is the scope of the problem in your own community? How can you best address it?
- Write a mission statement. It will help you with future decision-making and help get your message across to the public.
- Do the paperwork. Call your Attorney General’s office for information on incorporating a non-profit.
- Define policies. Include things like the services you will routinely provide for the public and veterinary care protocol.
- Alert the media. Send a news release to the local newspapers and a public service announcement to local radio stations.
Find more information on starting a non-profit.
Spread the Word
Pet List Scroller
You can show off your organization or organizations' adoptable pets by adding our pet list scroller to your Web site. And check out our banners and widgets page for more free graphics.
