Small animal rescues

louise_1981

I would just like to say that rescues are not just places for big animals like cats and dogs there are hundreds of small animal rescues, like my own who help and rescue anything as small as a mouse up to rabbits guinea pigs and chinchillas.

Small animal rescues are often self funded and run at a loss.

Please support your local rescues, even if it is just going for the day to help muck out.

Froglet

Well done Louise,every little life saved is precious and if only there were more caring people like you the world would be a better place.I have done my bit by taking on unwanted fish in the past as i had the room back then to house them.I still have 2 tropical catfish that are almost 20 years old that would be dead long ago now had i not seen the appalling conditions they were kept in and offered them a home.Ditto many pond fish.Unfortunately they breed too easily and so i have had to stop being so generous,though i have taken on the odd one every now and then.

I also help my friend who takes in injured,sick and orphaned hedgehogs,gets them better and fattens them up over winter then releases them.Always short of funds we fund raise as best we can and promote the plight of these wonderful little mammals who are becoming endangered.

So yes,there are other creatures in need as well as cats and dogs.If only all breeding could be stopped for a long time till all unwanted animals found a loving home.But it will never happen while there is money to be made out of breeding and selling them.

autumngirl

Well done for spreading the word about small animal rescues and of course for the work which you obviously put into your own rescue! I have nothing but admiration for people who run rescues, especially those self-funded

You mentioned mucking out but I wanted to add that there are also loads of other ways people can help rescues, which they may not have really thought about before...

Some look for people to volunteer just an hour or two a week, to give cuddles to the small furries, as the owners are often too busy to handle all the animals as much as they'd like. You can also often help from home, as many rescues need people to help with advertising and fundraising etc, lots of which could be done from your home PC.

You don't necessarily need to commit to regular hours either, you could just help as a one off, at a fundraising event perhaps. Many desperately need donations of supplies, like newspapers and old towels, blankets etc, if you can spare something like that (usually their website will mention any items they particularly need). Or if you're handy with woodwork/DIY, many rescues would really appreciate a hand building/maintaining runs and hutches etc.

Such rewarding work and doesn't necessarily need to be a big commitment/effort on your part to really make a big difference to them

louise_1981

autumngirl wrote: »

Some look for people to volunteer just an hour or two a week, to give cuddles to the small furries, as the owners are often too busy to handle all the animals as much as they'd like. You can also often help from home, as many rescues need people to help with advertising and fundraising etc, lots of which could be done from your home PC.

You don't necessarily need to commit to regular hours either, you could just help as a one off, at a fundraising event perhaps. Many desperately need donations of supplies, like newspapers and old towels, blankets etc, if you can spare something like that (usually their website will mention any items they particularly need). Or if you're handy with woodwork/DIY, many rescues would really appreciate a hand building/maintaining runs and hutches etc.

Such rewarding work and doesn't necessarily need to be a big commitment/effort on your part to really make a big difference to them

Great points there! I know lots of rabbit rescues that need handimen, and women, and need a constant supply of newspaper towels and blankets for sick and disabled rabbits.

I started off by posting rabbits that needed home, in as many places as I could think of, starting specialised on animal forums, then free ads etc.

In the area I used to live, lots of hamsters were posted free to good home, which concerned me, as many would go to be snake food or live toys for other pets.

I have since moved and found less of a demand for this 'service', but I am still running, just with fewer hammies, and lots of empty cages