How to help animal Charities

As a nation of animal-lovers it is surely the case we look after our own pets well, though there are unfortunately always many bad stories in the news about neglect of, or cruelty to animals. Juliet Abrahamson explains more

However much we love our pets, though, you can be sure that there will be many animals that don’t get this level of love and care, and the charities that get to rescue these animals really do deserve our support and attention. There are tons of organisations, local and national charities, manned by dedicated staff and volunteers, who often exist on a shoestring.

And even the big charities are completely dependent upon our donations, year upon year. So this article is about how we can donate, and show that we have a big heart, not only for our own lovely pets, but also for those in the charities that need us.

First, think of the animal that tugs at your heart-strings: is it a picture on your smart phone of emaciated dogs rescued by a wonderful dog home, or perhaps an endangered species, or abused donkeys, monkeys, or cats, or even battery hens that have been rehomed by a worthy organisation? Or a local charity that really needs your help. If you are certain which charity deserves your money, do some research, and decide where you will focus your support.

I’ll talk about some of the ways you can fundraise, how you can simply donate, and how to go about leaving a legacy, and hopefully, that will inspire you to do your bit! But before you dive in with a parachute jump or shaving your head, do check with your chosen charity to see if they have their own fund-raising events that you can join in with. They may be having a sale to which you can add your items, perhaps good but unwanted pieces that are cluttering up your garage. Or, such as the Battersea Dogs and Cats home, have a fundraising pack to help you or to give you an official status.

Fundraising

Money does obviously make a difference, but there are loads of ingenious ways people have found to make their money go further, or to donate their time in support of their favourite animal charity. Whether you are good at organizing, or would prefer to find someone to organize you, there should be something here that will appeal to you.

How about a:

• Car Wash

• Dog walk with a show at the end of it

• Tea in the garden with your dogs (plus dog treats!)

• Pet Photo shoot

• Sale at your local car boot, with a big sign saying the money will go to your charity

• Challenge (think marathons, or the many organised walks throughout the country)

Perhaps you are good at sewing or knitting? How about making and selling items – perhaps tree decorations for Christmas, or stuffed animals for children or playthings for dogs or cats. Group fundraising is a good way to make fundraising more effective and fun. If you are a member of a group then perhaps encourage everyone to join in with a worthy cause: set a deadline and make a pledge or a target for an amount for you all to raise, then off you go! Set up a JustGiving crowd-funding page to make your efforts go further. It’s really easy to do this, but if you are not so handy with computers then get your children to help!

Donating

Most charities will have members, and this is often a good way to support. Your yearly sub. will go the organization, who will then keep you engaged and informed. Charities often have special yearly appeals, and you can ask to be informed about these. Donating on a whim is obviously helpful, whatever the amount, but regular amounts, perhaps on a monthly Direct Debit means that a charity can expect the amount for a year or five, which can help their accounts. A one-off gift can be given online, or with a card or cheque, or even over the phone.

Leaving a Legacy

How many of us keep putting off making a will? It seems such a hard thing to think about, but really it’s worth getting to grips

Group fundraising is a good way to make fundraising more effective and fun.