Dog lovers are always looking for meaningful ways to help their furry friends. To get dog lovers engaged, Pet Friendly Services created guidance on how you can help dogs based on your skill set and available time. If you have additional suggestions, please let us know. Contact us at Rhi@PetFrienldyServices.org
Ways Community Members Can Help Dogs
People can make a significant impact in helping dogs in their communities through a variety of efforts that support shelters, rescues, and transport programs. Here are some practical ways to get involved:
Volunteer Your Time
- Shelters and Rescues: Many facilities need volunteers to help with daily tasks such as feeding, cleaning, and socializing with the animals.
- Event Support: Assist with adoption events, fundraisers, or community outreach programs that promote pet adoption and responsible pet care.
Foster or Adopt:
- Fostering: Provide temporary care for dogs in transition. This helps shelters free up space and gives dogs a chance to adjust to home life, increasing their chances of permanent adoption.
- Adoption: Consider adopting a dog if you’re ready for the long-term commitment. Adoptions help reduce overcrowding in shelters and give a dog a permanent home.
Donate Supplies or Funds:
- In-Kind Donations: Items such as dog food, bedding, toys, leashes, and cleaning supplies are always in demand. Most shelters have “wish lists” on sites such as Amazon and Chewy that can be purchased and delivered straight to the shelter.
- Monetary Donations: Financial contributions help cover the costs of veterinary care, facility maintenance, and other operational expenses for shelters and rescues.
Support Transport Programs:
- Volunteer Transport: If you have a reliable vehicle, consider volunteering to transport dogs from overcrowded shelters to other rescue organizations or to regions where there is a higher demand for adoptable pets. The first step would be to contact your local shelter and ask if they accept volunteer transporters.
- Spay/Neuter Transport: Many shelters and rescues utilize low-cost high volume spay/neuter clinics where several animals are fixed in a day. Transporting the animals to these appointments could save the partnering shelter or rescue their time, staffing and gas.
Advocacy and Community Education
- Raise Awareness: Use social media, community boards, or local events to spread the word about adoptable dogs, responsible pet ownership, and the work shelters and rescues do such as adoption events. Don’t forget to also share information you see about spay/neuter specials and promotions–tackling dog overpopulation at the source.
- Legislative Support: Advocate for policies and ordinances that improve animal welfare, such as funding for shelters, regulations that support humane treatment of animals, and funding for state-wide spay/neuter.
Skill-Based Contributions
- Pet Care and Behavior: If you have expertise in dog training, behavior, or grooming, offer your skills to help prepare dogs for adoption or to assist new owners in adjusting to life with their pets.
- Fundraising and Marketing: Assist organizations with fundraising campaigns, grant writing, or managing their online presence to increase visibility and support.
Ways Animal Welfare Professionals Can Help
Advocate for stronger ordinances that will better protect animals and promote overall community well-being.
Build Coalitions and Networks
- Collaborate with Stakeholders: Partner with local shelters, rescues, veterinary professionals, and community organizations to create a united front.
- Engage Influencers: Work with respected community leaders, media outlets, and elected officials who share your commitment to animal welfare.
Gather and Present Data
- Research and Documentation: Compile data on animal welfare issues, such as the impact of inadequate ordinances on animal health and community safety.
- Case Studies: Use real-life examples and success stories from other communities that have implemented stronger regulations to demonstrate potential benefits.
Educate and Inform Lawmakers:
- Legislative Briefings: Organize meetings or briefings with local council members and policymakers to present evidence and explain the need for stronger ordinances.
- Expert Testimony: Offer to testify at public hearings or council meetings, sharing both professional insights and community testimonials.
Engage the Community:
- Public Awareness Campaigns: Use social media, local news outlets, and community events to raise public awareness about the issues and the benefits of stronger ordinances.
- Grassroots Mobilization: Encourage community members to contact their representatives, sign petitions, or attend city council meetings to voice their support.
Draft Model Ordinances:
- Propose Clear, Evidence-Based Language: Develop draft ordinances or amendments that incorporate best practices, drawing from successful examples in other jurisdictions.
- Legal Consultation: Work with legal experts to ensure the proposed language is enforceable and aligns with local government structures.
Utilize Media and Communication:
- Op-Eds and Press Releases: Write opinion pieces for local newspapers or blogs to highlight the importance of stronger ordinances and the benefits for both animals and the community.
- Social Media Campaigns: Leverage platforms to share success stories, data, and upcoming opportunities for community involvement.
Tethering Best Practices
By integrating these best practices listed below, ordinances can help ensure that dogs are not subjected to unnecessarily harsh conditions while also addressing concerns such as public safety and nuisance behaviors. Tailoring these guidelines to local conditions– considering factors like climate, housing density, and available resources– will further enhance the effectiveness and fairness of the regulations.
Clear Definitions and Scope
- Define what tethering means, distinguishing between temporary tethering (e.g., while an owner is momentarily absent) and prolonged or permanent tethering. Specify which types of devices (chains, cables, etc.) and conditions fall under the ordinance.
Animal Welfare Standards
- Space and Movement: Ensure that the tethering setup allows the dog enough freedom to move, lie down, and turn around comfortably. Guidelines may specify a minimum tether length or require that the tethering area be large enough for the animal’s size.
- Shelter and Protection: Mandate that tethered dogs have access to weather-appropriate shelter– shade in hot weather and protection from the elements in cold or wet conditions.
- Access to Water and Food: Require that dogs have constant access to fresh water and that food is provided in a timely manner.
Time Limits and Conditions
- Establish limits on how long a dog may be tethered continuously. For example, ordinances might allow tethering only for a few hours at a time unless special circumstances apply.
- Encourage alternatives for extended confinement, such as secure enclosures or indoor housing.
Safe Tethering Practices
- Specify that the tethering device must be installed in a manner that avoids injury– for instance, ensuring that chains or cables are not abrasive and that any collars used are properly fitted.
- Require regular inspections or owner certifications that the equipment remains safe and free of hazards.
Owner Responsibilities and Education
- Clearly outline owner responsibilities, emphasizing that tethering should never be the sole method of confinement if safer alternatives (like proper kenneling or fenced areas) are available.
- Incorporate stipulations for ages of dogs and their ability to reproduce.
Include provisions for community education on humane pet care practices and the risks associated with prolonged tethering.
Enforcement and Compliance Measures
- Establish clear enforcement mechanisms, such as a tiered system of warnings, fines, or corrective actions if standards are not met.
- Consider a permit or exception process for specific cases where tethering might be temporarily necessary, ensuring that each case is reviewed under strict criteria.
Periodic Review and Stakeholder Input
- Mandate regular reviews of the ordinance to incorporate the latest animal welfare research and feedback from veterinarians, animal behavior experts, and community stakeholders.
- Encourage input from local animal control, shelters, and advocacy groups to keep the standards both humane and practical.
For an example of a City tethering ordinance check out City of South Bend: https://library.municode.com/in/south_bend/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SUHITA_CH5REANPEOWCACORE_ART3ANCARURE_S5-22FAANROCHCHCO
For an example of a County tethering ordinance check out Fulton County (section 1.007): https://www.fultoncoanimalcenter.org/_files/ugd/c67f95_99b64ff3b09a46a697310bbf352c6c5e.pdf
