Learn About Animals
Write a school report about a certain breed or species of animal.  Your library or the internet can give you lots of information about every animal under the sun or sea.  You can also learn about animals on your own this summer.  If you have a pet dog, study the history of his or her breed.  You might even discover new ways to play with your dog after you learn what traits it was bred to inherit. 

Spay and Neuter Your Pets
Each year, millions of dogs and cats wind up homeless on the street or in shelters. Spaying and neutering eases the overpopulation problem and prolongs the life of your dog or cat.  Talk to your family and friends about the importance of spaying and neutering.  If you can talk just a few people into spaying or neutering their pets you will personally be making a huge difference in the lives of animals!

Volunteer
Kids of all ages can volunteer to help the animals!  At The SPCA, children volunteer with their parents to help socialize and train dogs and cats, groom and care for barn animals, feed orphaned baby birds, do laundry, and help with a wide variety of projects.  High school students who meet special criteria can volunteer in The SPCA’s Junior Apprentice Program to work side by side with SPCA staff rescuing and caring for thousands of animals every year.

Donate to Local Shelters
Every cent makes a difference.  Some creative ways we’ve seen kids raise money to help animals include holding bake sales, setting up lemonade stands, and selling homemade dog treats.  Some kids even ask for donations for animals instead of birthday presents!  But donations that make a difference don’t need to be monetary. 

Lots of clubs and classrooms make the world better for animals by collecting blankets, towels, treats, and toys for shelter animals.   The SPCA helps severely injured animals get a second chance by collecting and recycling aluminum cans and cell phones.  Consider setting up a collection at your school or in your neighborhood!

Report Abuse
The SPCA responds to acts of cruelty and neglect to animals every day in Monterey County.  If you see an animal being abused or treated cruelly, call The SPCA or tell your teacher, parent, or a police officer.  Your help might save an animal’s life!

Attend A Dog Training Course With Your Pooch
Learn to communicate with your dog.  Dogs love to please but an untrained dog doesn’t know what you want.  Training is a great way to teach your dog to be an integral and happy part of your family.  If your dog is already trained, consider teaching him a new trick or two this summer and show off his talents to your friends! 

Talk To Your Teacher About A School Presentation
The SPCA for Monterey County offers free school presentations to classes of all sizes.  The SPCA’s Humane Officers can talk to students about humane treatment of animals in our community, future careers with animals, or dog bite prevention.  The SPCA also offers tours of our shelter to school, community, or club groups to show you more about the animals we care for each and every day.

Don't Feed Wildlife
Good-intentioned as it may be, feeding geese, deer, and other wildlife weakens their natural and necessary fear of humans and can lead to lots of problems. 

Contact Your Representatives
It’s important that the people who make laws know how you feel about the treatment of animals and this is a great way to learn about politics and get involved in your city, state, or national government.  Talk to your parents about current animal-related bills, research them, and voice your opinion. 

 

Can you think of other ways to help animals?  We would love to hear from you if you have any more ideas about how kids can help animals!  And thank you for doing your part to help all the animals in Monterey County.  We can’t do it without you!