How You Can Help

The scale of the problem is massive - help is urgently needed to shelter, treat and rehabilitate rescued animals and also to help bring an end to the cruel, and sometimes, barbaric treatment of all animals.  These organisations are all heroes and are a testament that together we can make a difference.

If you would like to become involved, you can help in one of the following ways:

:: ADOPT     :: DONATE     :: PARTICIPATE

  :: ADOPT - Save a Life, Adopt a Rescue

This is the first and most important way we can help the rescue shelters.  Remember, that when you adopt an animal, you will be saving two lives: you’ll save the life of the animal you’re adopting and the life of the next animal they will rescue.
 
Before you decide to adopt, consider the following:
Do you travel a lot?
Does the complex/neighbourhood you live in allow pets?
Do you have a safe and secure home for the new addition?
Do you have the time and the money to look after a new pet (Food, vet bills etc)?
Will you love and care for this animal?
Will the animal fit in with your other pets?
Ensure that the breed is one that suits you and your family, as different breeds behave differently. 
Do you have enough space for the pet to run around?
Read more about 'Questions to ask Yourself before Adopting'.

:: DONATE

All of the organisations listed on this site can only exist and continue their amazing work through the generous donations of the public.  Please support them and help them help the animals.

You can visit our Rescue page and click on the name of the organisation you would like to support.  This will take you directly to their site and you can decide from there how you would like to help.  Also visit our Wishlist page to see what can be donated and what is needed. 

Although 'Cash is King', donations of food and various goods are also most welcome.  Many other items are needed for the day to day running of the shelters and some groups accept good, secondhand clothing and household items which they sell to raise funds.  Consider donating your old pet's things to your nearest shelter.

So time to start spring cleaning and donating your unused items to a great cause!  

• Materials

You can donate much needed materials for the projects we are working on.  An example would be our Fisantekraal Project - we need paving bricks, roofing and a solar system to heat the water in their bathing room.

• Cash

If you'd like to help and cannot afford the time or materials, a cash contribution is always a fantastic way to show your support.  You can make a donation in your personal capacity, your Company can support them or contributions can be made in remembrance of a loved one (human or animal).
Rescue organisations need money for each and every animal for the following:  Vaccinations, de-worming, de-fleaing, food, special diets, dipping, injections, medications, spaying and operations. 

• Food

All these shelters need to feed many, many hungry mouths and most rely on the generosity of the public to help with this massive expense.  They do not just feed the animals the cheapest food they can find as this has it's own implications.  

If you would like to donate, please consider one of the following brands:
Dogs:  Bobtail, Dogmor or any branded food (the no name brands tend to give the animals upset tummies)
Cats:  Whiskers, Friskies
Don't forget the puppy and kitten food!
 

:: PARTICIPATE

There is nothing more rewarding than giving of yourself and of your time, and you can do so by offering a helping hand at one of the many shelters in your area.  From building kennels, to erecting fences, to helping clear out vegetation that brings ticks...
If you would like to donate your time and become involved on the ground with a specific project, please contact your nearest rescue centre and see how you can help out. 

• Foster an Animal

The volunteer role of a fosterer is a crucial one and can make a huge difference to the rehabilitation of an animal and their chances of finding a forever home.
Some animals need one-to-one care or perhaps don't cope well in an animal centre environment and this is where the fantastic fosterers come in.
You are also contributing to a great cause.  

Your decision to foster can be lifesaving for a shelter pet - it can give them a safe place to live, and can even prevent him from being euthanized.
Fostering one pet also helps countless others - by taking one into your home, you open up space at a shelter or rescue for other animals to be taken in. 

You role will be to - 

• Provide a safe, secure and stable environment for a needy dog or cat.
• Help your dog or cat polish his or her manners and become more adoptable.
• Monitor your foster pet's health and well-being and seek advice as needed.
• Maintain proper medical and nutritional care of the foster pet.
• Provide information to the organisation about your foster pet's personality and behaviour.
• Respond promptly to inquiries from potential adopters.
• Attend regular adoption events with your foster pets.

If you would like to fulfill this very important role, please contact one of the organisations listed on our  
Rescue page.

• Volunteer

Many of the rescue organizations need unpaid volunteers to assist them with various jobs from doing home-checks,  fundraising, money tin collections, fostering, walking dogs and spending time with their cats.    

• Report Stray Dogs and Report Abuse and/or Neglect

This is a huge one - if you see an animal being abused or suspect kidnapping or dogfighting, please reach out to the organisations that can put a stop to it.
Please go to our Report Abuse page to make contact with a shelter in your area.  Don't take the chance that someone else might do it.  Don't walk away and hope that you never have to think about such a thing again.  

It happens every day and it is their entire existence.  It's nothing to pick up the phone or to write a quick mail.  You can report abuse/neglect anonymously.  You have nothing to lose and only everything to gain to know that you may just have saved a life or ended the suffering of a poor animal.

You can also email us and we will ensure the correct organisations are informed.

• Bid in an Auction

Auctions4Animals raise funds for different animal welfare organisations and wildlife initiatives in South Africa and Namibia - 100% of the proceeds go to the animal welfare organisation.


Volunteers and donors who wish to share their time, talents, or resources to support foster programmes, adoption events, fund raising events, transporting animals and feral trapping are encouraged to contact their closest rescue organisations.

Remember, every little bit helps and even if you help one organisation or one animal, it will make an enormous difference in their lives.