In 2015, charitable giving to benefit animals and the environment totaled 10.68 billion dollars. This was up 6.5% from the previous year and the upward trend is expected to continue.
All across America, there are fantastic animal shelters doing amazing things for the good of pets. From caring for senior dogs to housing over 1,700 companion animals in need of homes at one time, the work these four animal shelters do is sure to inspire.
Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary
Senior dogs often go unadopted at shelters. Older dogs may not have many years left and often need more veterinary care than younger dogs. As a result, they face a much higher risk of euthanasia than young pups when they are surrendered to shelters.
Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary is committed to providing older dogs with the love, food, medical care, and compassion they need to live out the remainder of their retirement in comfort – however long or short that time may end up being.
As a Forever Foster Home, Old Friends houses animals that are available for adoption but animals that are not adopted will simply live at Old Friends until their time on earth is done. They also have a program where you can foster them, but they’ll provide all medical care the dogs need.
Follow their Facebook page for updates on their dogs!
Click here to donate.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
Best Friends Animal Society is a national nonprofit organization that runs spay/neuter clinics and pet adoption centers across the country.
Founded in 1984 in Kanab, Utah, the flagship location is now the largest no-kill animal sanctuary in America. At any given time, there are over 1,600 hundred animals living at Best Friends. Dogs, cats, horses, pigs, parrots, and rabbits all have separate areas at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. There’s even a wildlife rehabilitation area!
For 30 years, Best Friends has worked towards its ultimate goal: No more homeless pets. In support of this mission, the sanctuary offers several amazing and unique opportunities to help their animals find a forever home.
- Hometown Heroes: Veterans, active military, or their families are invited to adopt any cat or dog at the sanctuary for free.
- Seniors for Seniors: Pairing senior citizens with senior animals! People over 60 can adopt a dog or cat over 8 years old at no cost.
- Two for One: Best Friends knows that kittens prefer a best friend. If you adopt a kitten younger than 6 months old, you can get it a best buddy of the same age for free.
Follow their Facebook page here and see more awesome photos on their website!
You can donate here.
The Cat House on the Kings
This no-kill, no-cage animal sanctuary was founded to help the feral and abandoned cats and kittens in California. Originally 6 acres, the property has expanded to include 12 acres that are completely enclosed with a cat-proof perimeter fence. Now home to over 700 cats, with a separate area for cats who are FIV positive, The Cat House continues to be operated by its founder, Lynea Lattanzio.
While roughly 10% of the sanctuary’s cat population is available for adoption, the vast majority of the cats on the property are not suitable for adoption and would likely face euthanasia in other animal shelters.
Cat lovers can follow their Facebook page here!
Donate to their cause here.
Ruff Tales Rescue
This dog-focused rescue organization is not a typical shelter. In fact, it’s not a shelter at all.
Ruff Tales is based out of Bellingham, Massachusetts, but it doesn’t have a facility for you to visit. It’s actually a network of animal foster homes throughout New England run completely by volunteers.
The goal of Ruff Tales is to save the lives of dogs who have been abandoned, neglected, or abused. These pups are fostered and, when needed, they are rehabilitated, until they are able to be placed for adoption in a stable and loving home environment.
The fact that Ruff Tales is able to rescue and save these dogs without a facility is a testament to the commitment of the organization and its volunteers. With zero administrative and almost no overhead cost, Ruff Tales is able to put donations directly towards the animals they are dedicated to saving.
Follow their Facebook page here!
Donate to their cause by clicking here.
Conclusion
These amazing animal shelters have one thing in common: they all started with the dream to rescue vulnerable animals from shelters or off the streets. Through the dedication of volunteers and donations from like-minded people, these organizations are able to make a difference in the lives of animals every day.
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