Recently, I had the opportunity to talk to Martina Hemming, the director of the West Georgia SPCA, about all of the good work they do to help homeless and needy pets in our area.
While adopting into a loving, responsible home is the number one way to help homeless pets, I realize that is not always feasible for every family.
Hemming made me aware of many of the other ways citizens can help these dogs, cats and even rabbits through the West Georgia SPCA, so I thought I’d turn “Sarah’s Critters” over to her this week.
I asked Hemming to come up with a list of ways Patch readers can help her organization. Here is what she had to say:
A lot of people want to help homeless animals, but they have busy schedules, already have several pets of their own or they aren't sure what they can do to help. Here are five things you can do in July to help the West Georgia SPCA in their mission to give homeless animals a second chance for a wonderful life:
1. Subscribe to become a monthly donor/sponsor. Animal rescue requires tremendous expense in veterinary care, food and shelter. With local rescue organizations, a little goes a very long way. Just one person donating $10 a month is enough for the West Georgia SPCA to save one healthy, small dog or cat per year from euthanasia at a county shelter. It provides spay/neuter, microchip, heartworm test, vaccinations and treatment for parasites. Sign up to be a monthly donor here.
2. Attend the West Georgia SPCA's July 23rd fundraiser. It's a fun 'Paint Your Own Pottery' day in Douglasville [at ] with crafts, goodies and door prizes. Lorie the Bunny Lady will be there with some pet bunnies. Open to all ages. Click here for your invitation. Don't forget to RSVP so we'll have enough for everyone.
3. Become a foster home for a homeless animal. Time and space are valuable commodities to a homeless animal. Having a safe and loving foster home gives that precious time needed to get a second chance for a wonderful life.
4. Donate goods. There are a lot of new and gently used items that are needed - towels, fleece blankets, igloo dog houses for feral cats, paper towels, scrubbies, bleach and office supplies. Contact us for pickup and drop-off information. If you have sellable items, you can sell them on eBay Giving Works and designate 10-100% of the sale price to be automatically donated to the West Georgia SCPA.
5. Join the West Georgia SPCA on Facebook. Being informed and passing on information is a great way to get involved and you can do it while sitting at your computer. There's a lot of great info on recent animal cases in Georgia, low cost vaccine clinics, adoptable animals, pet education and the West Georgia SPCA's projects. You can also connect with other animal lovers on our page.
For more information, please visit our website, e-mail info@westgeorgiascpa.org or call (770)272-3178.
Thank you to Martina Hemming and the West Georgia SPCA for providing this information!
Also, don't forget to check out the picture gallery for information on some of the homeless pets the West Georgia SPCA is currently trying to help have a better life.
