Volunteer at the ASPCA or a local animal shelter

The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was founded in 1866 as the first humane organization in the U.S. to fight the injustices and cruelty that animals face. Whether it’s saving a pet that has been accidentally poisoned, fighting to pass humane laws, rescuing animals from abuse or sharing resources with shelters across the country, the ASPCA works to protect animals every day. Don't have an ASPCA in your area? Don't quit now!

Find a shelter near you

Start by searching Petfinder, enter you zip code to find where there are homeless pets near you. Get the phone number of the shelter and find out who works there.

Contact 'em

You have the number, the address, and hopefully who works at the shelter, but do you know what you are going to say?

1. Introduce yourself (Name, age, and say that you live nearby but don’t give your full address)
2. Ask them if they could use a volunteer or if there is any way you can help the shelter
3. Find out how a shelter works by asking more questions (it will help you figure out better ways to help)

What if they say you're too young?

Okay, so you called your local shelter and they didn’t have something for you to do. This is not true! Shelters can always use help, you just have to give them the idea...

Here is a list of just some other things you can do for the shelter if they don’t want you handling animals:

• Clean cages, the backyard or even the shelter’s office
• Help make phone calls or do other general shelter office stuff
• Computer Stuff
• Make or maintain an Excel database (it is really easy) to keep track of pets and owners
• Good with web sites? Create a Facebook or other site page for the shelter and help advertise it
• Take pictures of new pets and learn how to put them up for adoption on Petfinder, Pets911, or even advertise them around your neighborhood or school
• Organize an adoption day to get people to see all the great rescue pets there are to adopt
• Become a foster home for animals the shelter doesn’t have room for (Warning: this one definitely requires talking to the parents :O)

What if you can't get to the shelter?

The next step is coming up with ways to fundraise materials the shelter needs (ask them first) or money for operating the shelter. Check out Do Something’s ideas for fundraising. Also, check out Do Something’s list of ways to help your local shelter.

Find more awesome ways to get involved with action guides, volunteer opportunities, and causes at DoSomething.org