Animal rescue non-profits cannot run on nice comments and prayers (which are appreciated by the way – rescuers deal with some pretty sad business, so encouragement is always welcome). What they need are volunteers to help share the work, to help with transports, to help out at events. They need donations of money, time, pet food, kitty litter, toys, pet carriers, litter boxes, and supplies. Without donations, they will go belly up in no time flat, no matter how well-intended they are. Like it or not, they need money to keep running. They need folks that are willing to open their homes up as “pet foster families.” Liking posts on social media is nice. Sharing posts is a better way to help. Share the pets needing homes. Share a need for donations. Share events. If you really like what a rescue non-profit does, help them. Not everyone is capable of helping financially, but everyone on social media can help, by sharing. Do your homework. A reputable non-profit will be transparent with their activities, their rescues, their adoption rates, their “financials”….and you should be comfortable with this knowledge before you donate. Find rescues that minimize administrative overhead and really focus their dollars on the animals. Find rescues that have good screening programs in place to ensure the animals they save really do go to good homes. And, please understand that non-profit animals rescues will have adoption fees. Many of the animals coming into their care require enormous amounts of veterinary care to bring them into a state of adoption readiness. Many of these animals have suffered abuse, trauma, long term neglect, and serious injury. Untreated medical conditions require a lot of attention and care. Adoption fees help defray this a little bit, but in truth don’t even come close to what is needed. I like to put my money where my mouth is, so to speak, and help however I can, when I can, when I really believe in something. That’s why I share a lot for a few local rescues. Sometimes…well….a lot of the time, sharing is all I can do.