Engage Students With Community Service

Sadly, not everyone loves animals. Any animal control officer can tell you stories about animals who were found bruised, bloodied, and emaciated; about litters of puppies and kittens who were rescued from taped-up boxes left along highways or from sealed plastic garbage bags that had been thrown into lakes and rivers; or about animals who were abandoned because they barked too much, got too old, or were left behind when their families moved. Every year in the U.S., animal shelters across the nation are forced to euthanize roughly half the 6 million to 8 million unwanted dogs and cats who pour into their overwhelmed facilities.

Since most young people are naturally fond of animals, they are likely to be interested in the many ways they can help dogs, cats, and other animals in animal shelters. Volunteering to help animals provides a perfect opportunity to empower students to influence their community in a positive, animal-friendly way. Students will have a chance to witness firsthand the positive impact that they can have on their community and on animals in need.

Volunteer at a Shelter

Most animal shelters welcome volunteers who can help walk dogs, clean cages, and give love and attention to needy animals.

Animal shelters are also in desperate need of toys and blankets for lonely animals. You can cheer aching hearts while teaching your students a valuable lesson in kindness by arranging a blanket-and-toy drive for shelter animals at your school. Contact your local animal shelters first to find out if they are willing to receive the donations, then arrange to drop off the donations with your class.

Raise Money for Cold Dogs

Every winter, countless backyard dogs struggle to survive long days and nights spent outside in the freezing cold. Some die from exposure because of a lack of basic shelter, but most somehow pull through, suffering terribly through cold and damp winter conditions. PETA builds and delivers hundreds of sturdy, warm doghouses filled with straw to lonely dogs whose guardians won't relinquish them or bring them inside.

Your students can become angels for animals by raising funds to buy doghouses for dogs in need. Students can raise money through bake sales, car washes, and donation drives to help alleviate the suffering of dogs who spend their lonely lives outside tied to the end of a chain.

Promote Adoption and Spay or Neuter

The easiest way for students to help dogs and cats is to spread the message that it is important to adopt companion animals from animal shelters and to always spay or neuter dogs, cats, and rabbits.