When most of us think of spring, we think warmer weather, blooming flowers, picnicking, and taking off our heavy winter attire. But for those in the animal sheltering world, we know this is one of our busiest times of the year. For us, spring marks the start of kitten and puppy season which often goes well into the late fall. While puppies and kittens are born year-round, springtime is a very popular time for cats and dogs to begin producing offspring. This season is especially hard on animal shelters as we see a high influx of kittens and puppies at our facilities waiting to find their fur-ever homes.
Here are a 5 ways you can help these kittens and puppies during this busy time of year:
Volunteer. We are always needing extra hands to help out at our facilities. The more animals we have, the more people it takes to care for them. From playing with cats and kittens to walking dogs to assisting our veterinarian, we have volunteer needs that anyone can meet. Volunteering is a great way to help your local animal shelter and give back to your community. Plus, you’ll get to spend time with cute, furry friends!
Foster. Many of these kittens and puppies need a little extra TLC before they are available for adoption. Signing up to foster is a rewarding experience. We are always needing fosters when kitten and puppy season is underway. Fosters can help with anything from pregnant animals to neonatal bottle babies to kittens and pups ready for adoptions. If you’re not sure you’re ready for a litter of tykes, we always need fosters for our older pets too! Plus, you’ll get all of the supplies you need to give these pets a safe and happy foster home until they are adopted.
Donate. We understand that not everyone has enough hours in the day to do it all and volunteer or foster, but that doesn’t mean you can’t help. Donations are a huge part of what makes animal shelters so successful. Financial donations as well as anything from food and litter to toys and bedding are always needed and used to keep our furry friends happy and healthy. You can also donate through your everyday activities. When you order from Amazon, make sure to use Amazon Smile and select Roice-Hurst Humane Society as your designated charity. We also have a Wish List on Amazon and supplies can be sent directly to the shelter. You can link your City Market card to donate when you shop. Even walking your dog while using the Wooftrax(c) app will help earn money for us!
Spay and Neuter. Did you know that cats and dogs can have multiple litters over the course of a year? If you take them and their offspring into account, this can add up to tens of thousands of puppies and kittens over a very short period of time, many of them ending up homeless or in danger. Spaying and neutering your pets can literally save thousands of animal lives. Make sure your pets and your friends’ and family members’ pets are all spayed and neutered. If you reside in the 81501 zip code and have cats – feral or owned – please contact the Grand Valley Cat Project for free spay/neuter. If financial constraints are preventing you from fixing your pet, contact our Community Health Liaison, Ashley for information about assistance programs. For additional resources please visit, https://rhhumanesociety.org/2021/02/23/world-spay-day/
Spread the Word. Education goes a long way. Keep your friends and family informed about the ways they can help during kitten and puppy season. The more people know, the more we can help these animals and prevent unwanted kitten and puppy births in the future. Working together, we can help all of the animals in our community have safer, healthier, and happier lives.