There are so many ways that you can help, won't you please consider
helping rescue?  It makes you feel so good and helps the dogs too!

Did you know that many rescue organizations can give you a receipt for
your gift so you can take a tax deduction for helping?  ARPH is one of them!

Here are a few ideas of what you can do.

Foster Home
This is probably the most needed of all!  And, in my opinion, the most rewarding.
Taking a dog into your home to help it find a new and a forever home and saving its
life is a great feeling.  There may be some challenges a long with all the rewards, and
it may be difficult to say good-bye, but knowing that you spent your time, effort and
love to make this happen gives you a sense of true accomplishment.  Sometimes the dog
that you take in ends up being your forever dog...and it doesn't get any better than that.

Monetary Donations
Rescue organizations have many costs.  They frequently need to pay "bail" on dogs
to get them into the rescue program.   Most animals will need some type of vet care
such as spay/neuter, heart worm treatment, heart worm preventative, flea treatment,
flea preventative, updated shots, treatment for an injury, treatment for an illness and
much more.  And those are just some of the "vet" costs, there is so much more.

Phone cards
The representatives of Rescue organizations make many long distance phone calls,
arranging transport, securing foster homes, recruiting help for a large rescue, checking
on the placement of a rescue dog, interviewing a prospective adoptive home, and the list
goes one...and all those toll calls are usually paid for by the rescue representative.

Food
The rescue representative or the foster home usually pays for the food for the animals
they are caring for and very frequently they have more than one rescue dog as well as
their own dog(s).  Give them a call, find out what kind of food they use and drop off a
bag of it for them.

Gift Certificates
There are many needs for rescue dogs, such as crates, leashes, collars, dog toys, dog
chews or bones, name tags...this is another one of those lists that can go on and on.

Transport
Frequently dogs that are accepted into rescue are not in the area where a foster home
has been found for them.  Sometimes, depending on the distance, there is a relay of
transporters to get the dog to the required destination.  Sometimes, the trip can be
much shorter and only one transport volunteer is needed.  It's a great way to spend
an afternoon or a day.

Evaluations
Occasionally there is dog in a pound or shelter that needs to be evaluated to determine
a number of things, like is it really an Australian Shepherd and does it have a sound
temperament to qualify him/her to be taken into the rescue program.  If you can make the
above determinations, won't you consider contacting a rescue representative and volunteer
to do evaluations?  Contact a ARPH to find out what you need to learn to do this.

Home Inspections
Before placing a dog in it's new home, most of the time a home inspection is required.
You can volunteer to do home inspections in your area and the Rescue Representative
can train you in how to do it.

Your time for socialization
Locate a rescue representative in your area, give them a call and let them know that you
are available to spend some time with the dogs they are fostering.  Most rescue dogs need
to be socialized and it helps to have folks that are willing to go and spend time with the dogs.

Items you no longer need
Do you have any old blankets, towels, leashes, collars, crates, dog houses, a kennel?
Well, you get the idea.  Anything that a dog might need, that you are no longer using
or have need of.  Call a rescue rep and see if they can put it to good use.

For more ideas on how you can help rescue contact:

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