You Can Actually Use Your Phone To Make A Difference For Dogs & Cats In Local Shelters

At this moment, adopting a rescue cat or dog is not an option for me for a variety of reasons, including dog sitting duty for a certain high energy, 80+ pound Golden Doodle and his Husky bro. My schedule is also pretty crazy. So, too many dogs and too many hours motoring around the OS. If you're in a similar situation, but still want to do something, here are a few ways you can use your smart phone or tablet (or laptop) to help out our four legged friends who sadly have been surrendered or abandoned.

1. Follow And Share: This may seem small or inconsequential, but it can have an enormous impact on the life of a shelter dog or cat. Follow one or more of the RI-based shelter or rescue pages* on social media and repost some (or all) of their updates about animals in need of second chances at loving, fur-ever homes to your Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. by doing this, you're increasing the number of eyes on these pleas, and the odds of a connection and match with a wonderful new family or pet parent being made.

*I've included a list of some of the pages I follow and repost from at the bottom of this post.

2. Essentials: Yea, I'd been sharing quite a few posts over the last year or two, and that left me wanting to do more. Since I'm already volunteering with another organization on a regular basis, donating was my next logical step. The hubs and I had already donated some laundry detergent (which the person at the shelter told us is considered GOLD in their world) last year. Then I spied a friend updating FB about having gifted a NEW pet bed to a local shelter.

Light bulb moment: After clicking the link, I decided to do the same. The best part, in addition to the discounted price and FREE shippping, is that all I had to do was give my cc and some basic info. They (Kuranda Dog & Cat Beds) did the rest, including shipping the item directly to the facility (There's an extensive list of area animal shelters to choose from.), and sending me updates and delivery confirmation. Click here for more info about their "Donate A Bed" program. 

**These organizations are also in need of your old towels and blankets. One of my sister-in-laws actually goes out of her way to buy discounted bedding and bath towels at places like Home Goods or Target to donate. 

3. Get Creative: Shelters are usually always on the lookout for people to volunteer to do things like walk dogs (You'll probably have to fill out an application and go thru some sort of training and screening process of course.), but there are other non-traditional ways to have an impact too. One such example is an artist I used to know who would illustrate cards and stationary, then donate all the proceeds from sellling them online to her fav PVD based animal shelter. 

A Few Facebook Pages To Follow

This is not a comprehensive list by any means, but it is a starting point if you're looking for somewhere to start:

• The Abandoned Dogs Of RI

• The East Greenwich Animal Protection League (EGAPL)

• Cranston Animal Shelter

• RI Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA)

• Providence Animal Control Center

• Potter League for Animals (Middletown, RI)

• PARL (Providence Animal Rescue League)

^ Edited and updated from the original post that appeared on the site during the Summer of 2017.