How to support local animal welfare groups during COVID-19

This year the world changed forever. Like most small businesses, rescues, shelters, and other animal welfare operations had to get creative. Many were forced to furlough and layoff staff. Among those left in the lurch was Leslie Brooks, DVM, one of our betterpet veterinary advisors. That hit close to home.

So we worked with Leslie to get a pulse on the state of animal welfare in the U.S. Over the span of several months, we reached out to hundreds of vet hospitals, rescues, and shelters. For a vast majority of them, the message is the same: Things are tougher than ever — especially for non-profits.

Volunteer support is reanimating at a glacial pace. Fatigued and overloaded animal welfare workers are struggling to keep up with their responsibilities. Public fundraising events are no longer feasible. (Some businesses can’t even accept in-person donations due to local regulation.) Adoptions are up on a macro-scale, but some shelters are caring for almost double the number of animals their facility can handle because adoptions have ground to a halt.

For those who want to help, we’ve compiled this list to make it easy for you to find and support organizations close to home.

The two best ways to support these organizations are to make a direct donation or purchase items on their Amazon wishlist. We included links for both to next to the entity name (where available). Every single entity on this list is verified by our team. This list is updated daily as we approve new requests.

👉 Request support
If your organization is at risk of laying off staff or in desperate need of supplies, complete this form to apply.

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If your organization is willing to help spread the word, consider becoming a sponsor.

• Lost Our Home Pet Rescue
  Rescue and re-homing services
  Wishlist | Donation Page

• The Animal Pad
  Non-profit San Diego Dog Rescue
  Amazon Wishlist
• Family Dog Rescue
  San Francisco shelter and foster program
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page
• Fat Kitty City
  Northern California rescue & shelter for abandoned animals
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page
• Feline Network of the Central Coast
  All volunteer, non-profit kitten & cat rescue
  Donation Page

• Faithful Friends Animal Society
  Non-profit animal welfare organization
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page

• Furry Friends Adoption
  Rescue, rehabilitation, and re-homing services
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page
• Florida Dachshund Rescue
  Non-profit Dachshund rescue
  Donation Page
• F.U.R. – Florida Urgent Rescue
  Rescues animals from kill shelters
  Amazon Wishlist
• Crazy Rescue Ladies Inc.
  [Cooper City] A group of passionate animal saviors who support shelters across the US with volunteers and training services. Dedicated to saving and re-homing abandoned, found, and surrendered animals
  Amazon Smile Program | Donation Page

• The Dolly Goodpuppy Society
  A Department of Agriculture-licensed, non-profit, all-breed canine rescue organization
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page
• Dana’s Doghouse Inc
  [Smyrna] A one-woman show focused on rescuing small dogs and puppies
  Amazon Smile Program

• Cober’s Canine Rescue
  [Muskegon] A non-discriminatory rescue specialized in foster placements
  Donation Page

• Animal Humane Society
  Adoption, re-homing, and training services
  Donation Page

• Crazy Rescue Ladies Inc.
  [Brick] A group of passionate animal saviors who support shelters across the US with volunteers and training services. Dedicated to saving and re-homing abandoned, found, and surrendered animals
  Amazon Smile Program | Donation Page
• Cold Nose Warm Heart Dog Rescue
  [Succasunna] Rescuing homeless and abandoned dogs from high-kill shelters.
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page

• Animal Farm Foundation
  Bringing dogs and people together to end discrimination
  Donation Page
• Central New York Cat Coalition, Inc.
  Ending cat homelessness through education, affordable spay/neuter, adoption, and TNR
  Donation Page

• Angels Rest Animal Society
  Non-profit shelter and care facility for animals that are left alone and helpless due to illness, disease, old age or basic neglect
  Donation Page

• Family Dogs New Life
  Portland-based, no-kill shelter rescuing dogs of all breeds, ages, and backgrounds
  Amazon Smile Program  | Donation Page

• Finding Shelter Animal Rescue
  Non-profit, no-kill, volunteer supported animal rescue organization
  Donation Page

• Lucky Pup Pet Adventures
  In-home pet care and training
  Donation Page

• FLUFF
  Foster-based animal rescue specializing in cats
  Donation Page

• Operation Kindness
  No-kill animal shelter
  Amazon Smile Program | Donation Page
• Corridor Rescue
  A street dog rescue and rehabilitation center that provides free spay/neuter
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page
• Drowzydawg Rescue
  [Covington] Saving the lives of homeless dogs, cat, pigs, and other companion animals
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page

• Dewey Animals
  Primarily a feral cat trap-neuter-return operation to help reduce the birth of unwanted kittens and the euthanasia rate at the shelters
  Amazon Wishlist | Donation Page

• Fond du Lac Humane Society
  Cat & dog adoption group
  Donation Page