National Puppy Day is March 23rd! Puppies brighten our days with their adorable antics and cute, fuzzy faces. It’s only right that we celebrate the baby dogs who make us smile and feel so much joy.
Of course, we don’t all have puppies, even though many of us have former puppies at home who have grown into our adult dog best friends. While many of us would love to adopt a puppy in need, that’s not always an option.
However, even if you can’t adopt a puppy, there are plenty of ways to help puppies in need in honor of this holiday. You may even be able to make it easier for puppies to find their own forever homes.
Here are some ways you can help puppies in need on National Puppy Day!
#1 Volunteer
Animal shelters are always in need of volunteers, and they tend to see an increase in the number of puppies they have during Spring. National Puppy Day comes at just about the time that shelters are seeing their annual puppy influx, so you should get in touch with a local shelter and see what kind of help they need. There are plenty of jobs that need to be done, even if you aren't interacting directly with the puppies. Some shelters are cutting back on volunteer hours and public admissions. But dogs and other animals still need help, and there are some ways to support them from home.
Shelters need social media posts and pictures to get the word out about their new pups, people to help with bookkeeping, legal experts, and more. Contact your shelter before you show up, as they may have an application process and schedule for volunteers. Now is the time of year that puppies need the most help.
#2 Donate
Shelters go through things like blankets, dog food, and toys pretty quickly, so they can always use a donation of supplies. If you have any spare items at home, ask your shelter if they're willing to take them. They may want your old, used blankets or that can of tennis balls you never opened. Any donations will go a long way in keeping puppies safe and comfortable. You may also want to see about working with your shelter to start a supply drive and collect items from the community that might help.
#3 Start A Fundraiser
Spaying and neutering, microchipping, veterinary care, and supplies all cost a lot. While adoption fees help shelters recover some of the money they spend on new puppies, they rely on donations to get what they need. Ask your shelter if they would appreciate a fundraiser and brainstorm some ideas with your school, workplace, team, club, or whatever social group you're a part of. Think about setting up a bake sale, car wash, or another way of raising some money. You can also use the power of social media and email to do something creative. Brainstorm ideas that encourage people to donate from home if you can't host an in-person event. Maybe your fundraiser could include dog photos or videos, virtual meetups, online shows, personalized messages, or any number of other fun solutions.
Spread the word about a National Puppy Day fundraiser, and encourage people to include their dogs, even from home. You'll have a lot of fun, meet people and dogs in your community or around the world, and raise money for a good cause.
#4 Foster
You may not be able to permanently adopt right now, but maybe you can spare a few weeks and bring home a puppy to free up space for other dogs at the shelter. Puppyhood is the most important time to learn socialization skills, housebreaking, and basic commands, and if you can teach a puppy these things, you'll greatly improve their chances of finding a forever home. It's a very rewarding experience, and you won't just be helping one puppy in need; you'll be helping any other puppies that will have room at the shelter because you decided to foster.Shelters and rescues could especially use the help right now. Many are calling for foster parents to bring home a new friend during puppy season.
#5 Promote Spay & Neuter Programs
The best way to keep puppies out of shelters is to spay and neuter sexually mature dogs so they don't have more litter. There are several programs designed to promote awareness of spaying and neutering, and you'd be helping just by sharing them on social media and getting the word out. You can also spread awareness about low-cost spay and neuter clinics that are meant to be used by low-income dog parents. The ASPCA can help you find one near you. These clinics are often dependent on donations of money, supplies, and time from volunteers, so look them up in your area and ask how you can help. Fewer unwanted puppies mean more resources at shelters for dogs in need.
What other ways can you help puppies on National Puppy Day? Do you have a puppy at home who you’re going to celebrate with? Let us know in the comments below!
