BlogPaws

Being in the pet travel business has taught us that pet lovers tend to be an altruistic bunch, a fact made obvious by the wide array of animal-related charities, fundraising events and volunteer opportunities out there. Whether you're interested in giving time, money or moral support, there are plenty of ways to make the world a better place for our furry friends in need.

Ready to get started? Check out these fun and worthwhile causes that we've recently run across. At the very least, they should remind us of what's possible and serve as great motivators to stay active and involved in the animal community.


Never Shock a Puppy
Training your dog should be a pain-free process that inflicts no fear or emotional harm. This is the guiding principle behind the "Never Shock a Puppy" campaign, a fundraising activity to prepare for the No-Choke Challenge, which will officially kick off in November. Launched by the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Colorado, this project (which launches Sept. 1) aims to educate pet owners about effective training techniques and will raise money to replace choke and shock collars with gentler alternatives.

I Love Rescue Animals
This website is all about supporting the plight of rescue animals, and it's also a great resource for finding out about various ways to help the potential pets that may need us the  most. For example, the 365 Days of Animal Advocacy project spotlights a diffferent cause each day. In just a few steps, you could be in touch with dozens of great organizations thanks to the kind-hearted efforts of the I Love Rescue Animals bloggers.

Best Friends Animal Society
Driven by social media and donations from people like you, Best Friends Animal Society operates with the lofty goal of ending animal homelessness. Education, animal care, fundraising and exhibiting endless compassion are a few ways they go about accomplishing this task, and a visit to their site will certainly turn up more than a few ideas for how each of us can lend a hand.

Ally Cat Allies
This one's for you, cat lovers. This organization has affected the lives of millions of cats by mobilizing individuals, instituting feral cat programs and bringing spay and neuter programs to communities in need of them. Though this is animal advocacy at its most organized, there's always more work to do. Connect with this group to find out how to help the lives of cats.


R.O.A.R. – Rescue Owners are Rockin’
Inspired by the energy and ideas generated by last April's BlogPaws conference, the blogger behind Fido & Wino has devoted herself to the cause of animal rescue. Her plan is to feature an adoption success story from every U.S. state and Canadian province over the course of the year with the hopes of helping to promote rescue pet adoption and discourage the business of puppy mills. Follow her blog, submit your stories and show your support for rescue animals.