This week is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week!

This week, November 4-10 is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. I want to give a big, big thanks to the great folks at the Southside Animal Shelter for rescuing me and taking great care of me until I found my forever home.

My Gotcha Day is September 3, 2005. On that day, my Mum adopted me from the Southside Animal Shelter and took me home to spend the rest of my life with her. The rest is history....

In 1996, The Humane Society of the United States launched National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week (based on an idea from the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln, Nebraska). This campaign is designed to acknowledge and promote the invaluable role shelters play in their communities and to increase public awareness of animal welfare issues and shelter services.

During National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, the first full week of every November, the HSUS promotes and celebrates animal shelters across the country through media and public outreach. There's even an event planning guide.

This week we encourage you to 'send some love' in the direction of your local animal shelter and/or rescue. Here are some great ideas on what you can do....

• Gather up some supplies, like cleaners, newspapers, old towels, blankets, dog shampoo, pet toys, treats, and other items. Then take them down to donate to your local shelter/rescue. They always need items to help them care for the animals.
• Give of your time to help shelter pets feel more comfortable during their stay - go and walk the pups and pet the kitties. They will love you for it.
• Send a card or letter and tell the shelter workers and volunteers that you appreciate all the hard work they do.
• Donate funds to help the shelter continue their good work.
• Find your next pet and adopt from your local shelter or rescue. Great pups, kitties and other animals come from shelters - just ask me, or my kittie brother Wiggy!
• Consider being a foster parent for animals in need!
  
• Help transport pets that need to be relocated to shelters and rescues.
• Donate some office supplies, like printers, paper, old computers, phones and more to help keep them running more easily, inexpensively and smoothly.
• Sponsor an animal in need at a shelter and alleviate some of the expenses of spay/neuter and vaccinations.
• Are you good with people? Volunteer at your shelter to help run events, put out newsletters, fund raise, and help them get the word out about the animals in need.
• Or contact your local shelter/rescue and ask how you can help.

There are shelters and rescue groups all across the country that do amazing work saving all types of animals in need and helping them find good homes. These shelters/rescues are full of terrific pets. Shelter work is tireless and often thankless work. Take the time to get to know them and help them. I know they will appreciate anything you can do.