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Ways to Volunteer with Your Pet
 Jul 11, 2019  Dog Training

Ways to Volunteer with Your Pet

Volunteering with your pooch is an excellent way to share the love and joy they’ve given you with others who may be in desperate need of assistance. Here are a few ways you can Fido can help others together.

Donating Blood

Just like humans, dogs need blood transfers in critical moments. You can sign your furry friend up to be a blood donor and help other canines who desperately need it. Many veterinary hospitals accept blood donations, but if yours doesn’t, you can go through a university veterinary hospital who are usually more than happy to help. The process is relatively simple, easy, and doesn’t require your dog to go under any anesthesia. Your pup will first need to pass a health screening to ensure they’re blood is usable, but after that, they should be good to go.

Sign Up for a Charity Run

There is an abundance of nonprofits that hold charity runs – many that encourage dogs, and some even centered around them. You can bond ad exercise with your canine companion by training for the upcoming event, and then when the day finally arrives, you’ll be able to run for a great cause with Fido by your side.

Help Fido Become a Therapy Dog

First, it’s essential to know that a therapy dog is very different from a service dog; one difference is a therapy dog requires way less training. Therapy dogs can help those who need it most, receive love and comfort through snuggles and just their calm adorable presence. You’ll feel proud as you watch your pup change the lives of others in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and anywhere else they’re needed. Think your furry friend has the potential and interested in becoming certified? Check out AKC’s Therapy Dog Certification requirements. 

Become a Foster Dog Home

Okay, now this way of volunteering isn’t as simple as the rest and needs deep consideration before deciding if it’s something you can take on. First, you’ll need to ensure your pup is friendly and does exceptionally well with other dogs – because, with a foster program, your dog will be meeting many new canines (and maybe even felines if you’d like) regularly. Animal Shelters and Rescues can become overrun with an excess amount of animals they don’t know what to do with. Volunteering to be a foster dog home would alleviate some of that stress they have to deal with.

Foster pets usually stay with you until they’re able to find their forever home – which will make it a bit easier to say goodbye if you start to grow too attached. Contact your local shelters and rescues to see if you qualify to be a foster animal parent, and help some furry friends who need it most. Here are a few great places to start:

Giving back and helping others in need is a great thing to do, and doing it with your pup by your side makes it even better!

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