Below are some great ideas for helping dogs and cats in your community. Show the world how much of a difference one kid can make!

• Do you know an elderly person or someone sick who has a pet? Volunteer to help feed, walk or bathe the person's dog, or change kitty litter. Your help may enable someone to keep a cat or dog they might otherwise have to send to a shelter.

• Call your local shelter. Ask what you can do to help. Offer to collect blankets and other supplies. Create a bulletin board for your school or library with pictures of adoptable animals.

• Animal rescue groups always need money. Hold a bake sale, collect money from recycling aluminum cans, or hold a yard sale. The money could be given to sponsor spay/neuter programs or to help feed shelter animals.

• Make posters for the neighborhood about taking care of animals, spaying and neutering, adopting older animals, and everything that is involved in taking care of a pet. Ask permission to put these up in stores, veterinarians' offices, or on community bulletin boards.

• Volunteer at your local animal welfare organization.

"Donate" can mean many different things! And chances are your local animal shelter can benefit from your generosity in a variety of ways.
Start by calling them directly and asking what they need. Keep in mind that all shelters appreciate monetary donations, and in fact, some shelters absolutely depend on them to continue serving their communities. But, many shelters also need supplies and other assistance that you wouldn't necessarily think of right away. There are many things you can do to make a difference for them:

• Donate laundry detergent or bleach for the dozens of loads of laundry that have to be washed each day.

• Know that animal shelters have administrative duties just like other businesses. Often, they'll appreciate donated items like copy paper, computer supplies, camera film, or even postage stamps. Call first and see what's on their "wish list."

• Donate your time! Volunteering at a shelter doesn't always mean having direct contact with animals or cleaning kennels. Many shelters also need help with data entry, filing, and other clerical duties. They also may need help with community outreach or off-site adoptions.

• Help make your local shelter a happy place to visit. When people think of animal shelters, they often don't picture warm, friendly environments where adoptions and family reunions happen every day. Call your local shelter and ask what you can do to let the public how great the shelter is. You could initiate a project for school kids to draw pictures of animals being adopted or reunited with their loved ones. Then, work with the shelter to allow the children to hang their drawings on cages in the dog and cat rooms. Or, you could help the shelter decorate for a special holiday. Simply give them a call and let them know you're ready to make a difference. It could lead to more animals being adopted into loving homes.

• Report animal abuse. You may be the only one who can save an animal from abuse or neglect. If you witness animal abuse, report it immediately to your local humane agency.

• Teach children how to be kind to animals. Children of all ages love to learn about animals. Teach them not only how to care for their own pets, but also how to treat wildlife. Take a group of kids on a nature hike or a tour of a local animal shelter. The lessons they learn while they're young will stay with them for a lifetime.

• Encourage others to adopt their next pet from a shelter. Animal shelters nationwide are filled with companion animals just waiting to be adopted. Under one roof, you'll find wonderful dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, and even small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters -- all in need of good homes. If someone you know is looking for a new pet, refer them to a local shelter.