Many young people ask how they can help the homeless animals at the Durham County Animal Shelter.
Due to liability concerns, volunteers working with the animals at the shelter (feeding, socializing, etc.) must be at least 18 years old. (We do allow minors aged 13-17 to assist a parent or legal guardian who is performing volunteer animal care activities.)
We occasionally have opportunities for minors aged 13-17 to assist the front desk staff with clerical work and welcoming visitors to the shelter which can be done without parental supervision. For more information the parent or guardian should contact volunteer@apsofdurham.org
If you’re not able to qualify as an animal care volunteer at the animal shelter right now, here are some great ways you can help the animals:
Become a fan of APS of Durham on Facebook!
Tell People About the Shelter
If your family (or someone you know) is considering getting a pet, encourage them to come to the animal shelter. We not only have dogs, cats, puppies and kittens, we also often have rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and sometimes birds! Check out our adoption page link to adoptable animals to see the currently available animals.
Form a Club
Organize a pet club that meets regularly. Discuss animal-related topics, go on field trips to local animal shelters and develop community service projects that benefit shelter animals. If you would like help forming your club and need ideas, contact the APS of Durham’s education department at education@apsofdurham.org
Spread the Word About Important Animal Issues
Add a tagline to your e-mail signature that gets out an important message about spay/neuter, adopting a shelter pet, chaining animals, etc.
Organize an Animal Awareness Week
An animal awareness week in a school, or with the entire community, will encourage animal lovers to spread the word about the importance of being kind to all living things. Be Kind to Animals Week starts on the first Monday of each May, but feel free to choose your own week! This is a great time to get your school involved in animal awareness.
Organize a Drive
Organize a drive in your community to collect items needed at the APS of Durham. Toys, towels, blankets and animal food are just a few of the items needed. Put a marked container in a busy area for people to see. Give the collected items to the APS of Durham! Check out our wish list link to find out what we need most.
Make Gifts for the Shelter Pets
Shelter animals love to receive homemade gifts of toys, biscuits, etc. Have a classroom or neighborhood project to make items especially for shelter animals.
Give out information
Set up a table at school or in front of the local supermarket.
Have an adoption bulletin board showing adoptable animals at the shelter.
Hand out information about pet care, spay/neuter, animal issues, and the APS of Durham.
Be Creative
Design a poster about pet overpopulation or pet safety, create an animal bulletin board for your school, write a song or poem about animals, perform an animal-themed play, or make a movie about an issue you care about. See the following websites for more ideas:
Kind News
Humane Teen
Learn
Learn more about humane issues, such as puppy mills, circuses, animal experimentation and/or factory farming. Give a presentation or invite a speaker to talk about these issues with your group/class. Read lots of books about animals. It will keep you knowledgeable and accurate.
Create
A newsletter, blog, or website about animals.
