Millions of animals are killed every year in shelters because someone did not value the animals' friendship and love. Your family needs time, money, and a proper environment to give pets the care they need.

Kids can make a big difference in the No More Homeless Pets campaign. Not sure what to do? Here are some ways you and your friends can help homeless animals:

Helping in the Classroom

• Prepare a report or speech for your class about the pet overpopulation problem or about responsible pet care.

• Ask your teacher if you can do a letter-writing project. Talk to people at your local animal shelter to find out why animals are being turned over to the shelter. Write letters to your local and state government officials and the newspapers. Make a bulletin board and display responses so other students can see them.

• Create a puppet show for your school about responsible pet care. Ask your principal if you can present it for an assembly.

• Volunteer to help younger students with their reading, and read a story about people helping animals. Best Friends' Education Department has some book suggestions.

Helping Your Community

• 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 pet 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.

Educational Opportunities
at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Family Visits

Ask your family to come to our facility for a visit. You can enjoy the company of our animals while learning about them.

Internships

Students age 16 and 17  may participate as a youth group project. People 18 and over may participate individually.

• Complete the service aspect of a classroom project.

• Learn about animal behavior.

• Design a project for college credit.

Field Trips

Youth Groups of all ages are welcome for field trips at your local animal control facility to show them what happens when they act irresponsibly.