Twenty-five years after founding NoVa Rottweiler Rescue League, Judy Marion finds herself in a predicament. Every day she receives calls from owners wanting to surrender their dogs, yet she has fewer than 10 foster families. A stretch of unsuccessful fundraising and adoption events hasn’t helped either.

“We need help finding adopters, raising money and running this organization,” says Marion of Montgomery County, Md. “I am not sure what we need to do, but I know we need to do something. I am out of ideas, and the need is greater than ever.”

Like other animal rescuers, Marion got involved rescuing Rottweilers because she adores the breed. She loves their gentle disposition and protective nature. One by one, Marion adopted four Rotties as her own. She currently is fostering two Rottweilers, one more than she would like except she refused to face the alternative: letting the animal go to an uncertain future.

NoVa Rottweiler Rescue League is experiencing a lag in resources, primarily volunteers and funding, that seriously hinders its ability to take in animals and care for them. Many other rescue groups face the same dire circumstances. An increase in surrendered and homeless animals and a decrease in support mean more animals are left behind.

To beat the challenges, some rescue organizations are finding creative ways to involve volunteers. Not everyone can foster a dog or cat nor is everyone good at fund­raising. Tapping into people’s love of animals and their natural talents, these rescue groups are discovering new ways to engage volunteers.

‘100 Ways to Help’
There literally are hundreds of ways people can support rescue organizations, says Julie Jordan, director of marketing and public relations for Mutts-n-Stuff rescue in St. Louis. “We believe there is a job for everyone,” she says. “To prove our point and encourage volunteerism, we use a ‘100 Ways to Help’ list that we hand out at adoption events and post on our Web site (www.muttsandstuff.com).”

Mutts-n-Stuff has 15 foster families and does all it can to nurture them, relying on volunteers for support. Donations help fosters care for animals, and the list includes a wide range of possibilities. Dog beds, crates, food dishes, stainless water buckets, collars, leashes, flea and heartworm preventives, and toys are some of the requested items.

Besides supplies, the list is loaded with other ways volunteers can give foster families a break. Help clean the foster’s yard, bring the foster take-out food, pay a housecleaning service to spring clean a foster’s home, and take care of foster dogs for a few hours or days.

“Rescuing animals involves the efforts of many people,” Jordan says. “We could never help as many dogs as we do without their support. One of the most important listings on our hand-out asks volunteers to be available to do whatever is needed. Whether it’s making phone calls, transporting dogs, mailing applications or visiting shelters, it all goes toward our mission of helping dogs.”

Volunteerism doesn’t get any better than Penny and Larry Rodgers, a retired couple who live in Mascoutah, Ill. Long ago they fell in love with Schipperkes, although with three of their own, they do not have room at their house to adopt or foster. Still, their passion for the breed motivates them to help Midwest Schipperke Rescue, based in Bloomfield Township, Mich.

When you visit the Rodgers’ home, three lively, rambunctious Schipperkes, “Rocket,” “Poo” and “Prince,” greet you. A medium-sized breed that originated in Belgium as watchdogs on canal boats, the Schipperke is considered an excellent housedog, and Penny Rodgers will attest to that.

“I wish we could have a whole house full of Schipperkes, but it’s just not possible,” she says. “I love this breed. Though we cannot foster dogs, there are other ways for us to give back to the dogs that have given us so much.”

An avid seamstress, Penny Rodgers began making weekly trips to fabric and craft stores looking for sales. Putting her talent to work, she has made collars, toys, pillows, even Belgian flags and pendants, for the rescue. Colorful crate blankets are sent home with adopted Schipperkes.

All the items are donated to Midwest Schipperke Rescue, and the majority are sold for fundraising.

Among the most popular items Penny Rodgers makes are towels for grooming tables. She buys oversized towels and sews large pockets on the sides for holding brushes, blow dryers and other grooming supplies. In the center of the towel she embroiders a Schipperke. The rescue sells the towels at the Schipperke national specialty and several regional specialties.

“The work Penny and Larry Rodgers have done for our organization is beyond belief,” says Michele Kasten, president of Midwest Schipperke Rescue. “By doing what they love to do — sewing and creating things out of their love for Schipperkes — they have helped us raise over $3,000.”

A wood craftsman, Larry Rodgers uses inexpensive wood to make whirligigs with intricate carvings of Schipperkes for gardens. His creations have also been featured items at the rescue’s annual raffle fundraiser. A 3-foot-long boat dubbed the “Mississchippe Queen” brought nearly $500.

Kasten herself makes miniatures that are sold at dog shows to help raise funds. “I have always loved to make pint-sized items like dollhouse furniture,” she says. “I decided to try making miniature scenes using Schipperkes. They were so popular I expanded the line and began creating other breeds as well. The miniatures have generated $1,800 in profit.”

No one realizes more than Rhonda Haft, a volunteer with K9Kat2 Rescue in Lewis­ville, Texas, how great an impact a seemingly simple task can have on a rescue organization. “I would love to volunteer for hours every week, but since that’s not possible I help with laundry. It’s so easy and can be done at home while I’m going about my normal routine.”

Haft regularly collects dirty towels, blankets, rugs and crate liners from the rescue’s foster homes. She takes them home and launders them. The foster families appreciate the help.

“It’s incredible the amount of time we save by outsourcing some of our simplest tasks,” says Robbie Thomason, director of K9Kat2. “It gives us more time to focus on our animals rather than the nitty-gritty details that go into making K9Kat2 run.”

Volunteer Kendall Smith, who enjoys graphic design, designs and prints fliers, adoption applications and informational handouts. Not only does she donate her time and printing costs, she helps the organization have professional-looking printed materials.

Haft and Pat Savin, another volunteer, make dog bandanas and cat blankets. “The blankets and bandanas help to ease the transition of dogs and cats into their new homes because they are familiar to them,” Thomason says. “They are special to both animals and adopters.”

Savin has always loved to crochet. She donates crocheted cat blankets that are put in the bottom of cat crates to brighten them up at adoption events. The blankets then go home with adopted cats.

Haft turns material that she buys at discount stories into colorful, creative dog bandanas. She considers bandanas a “must” for adoption events and notes how choosing the right print for an individual dog can make a difference.

“If you have a dog that is hyper and excited in his crate, people might think he’s not well-behaved,” she says. “If you give him a bandana made of a baseball print and put a squeaky baseball toy in his crate to play with, they might think he wants to play. Someone looking for a dog to be their jogging buddy might take notice.”

Putting Professionals to Work
A professional team of experts from its own member directory helps Tri-State Collie Rescue (TSCR) of Columbus, Ohio, run like a well-oiled machine. Members perform roles that include grant writing, public relations, marketing, school outreach and long-term veterinary rehabilitation.

“Since we are a large, multi-state organization that is continuing to grow, much of our work requires logistical know-how,” says Robin Barton, an accountant and TSCR treasurer. “Our volunteers use their professional skills to help us accomplish amazing things. The outpouring of support is phenomenal.

“Many of us adopted collies from Tri-State and have kept in touch through updates and pictures of our adopted dogs. That’s how I got started. When they needed a new treasurer, I realized I could help. That’s when I became a volunteer.”

Schoolteacher and foster parent Marilyn Baumgardt of Indianapolis is helping Tri-State start a program to visit schools in Indiana and educate students about rescue. Jennifer Adams, a communications professor at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., and former grant writer for an Indiana historical association, does the majority of grant writing for the organization.

Two strategic communications experts use their skills to write articles, secure media coverage and produce a newsletter. Ellen Rice is a published author and textbook editor, and MaryFrances Kirsch serves as publicity support coordinator of the Suzuki Program at Dennison University in Granville, Ohio. Nurses Mary Leviton and Glennda Lawrence apply medical knowledge to rehabilitate dogs with long-term health problems.

At Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary in Elverta, Calif., one of three Golden Retriever rescues in the United States with a kennel facility, volunteers provide the nuts and bolts that keep things going.

Volunteer Dick Brothers turned a shed into a veterinary office for the veterinarian who comes weekly to volunteer her services. His hobby as a builder transformed the 12-by-10-foot shed into an operational space complete with windows, electricity and water. Before that, he converted an old garage on the eight-acre property into a conference room.

“Dick has made improvements on our property that are incredible,” says volunteer coordinator Barbara Mayer. “He comes twice a week to work on something new, and everything he does helps so much.”

General manpower is necessary for the large rescue. “Because we have the sanctuary, we require many volunteers,” Mayer says. “We have volunteers contributing to our effort in a variety of ways.”

Homeward Bound’s volunteers mow the lawn, do yard work, care for dogs, clean the kennel and perform maintenance. “It’s hard to believe all these people are volunteers and unpaid,” she says. “When I look at everything they do, I know we couldn’t survive without them. It’s incredibly touching to know these people come together to support pet rescue.”

Nearly 200 volunteers help put on the rescue’s Kibbles & Bids fund­raising auction held annually in the fall. More than 1,000 people attend the event. Planning involves securing nearly 200 items to be auctioned, making decorations, requesting food donations, and coordinating volunteers.

One volunteer, Lilia Hogan, makes over 800 auction paddles that reflect the event’s theme. “Lilia loves the animals and wanted to do something for the rescue,” says Mayer. “Originally she couldn’t adopt or foster because she lived in an apartment, so this was her way of giving back. We are so thankful.”

Reaching out to volunteers can be simple, especially if you tap into their talents and heartfelt love of animals. The last item on Mutts-n-Stuff’s “100 Ways to Help” list says it all: “Do something not listed above to help pet rescue.” Truly, the possibilities are endless.

‘Adopt. Help. Give.’
Purina® Pro Plan® Rally to Rescue® is beginning its fifth year urging people to adopt, help and give to rescue. Since its beginning, Rally to Rescue has helped smaller rescue groups find homes for more than 225,000 dogs and cats. The new goal is 300,000 adoptions.

By adopting a rescued pet and providing a forever loving home, by helping rescue groups as a volunteer, and by giving support through donations or purchases of Rally to Rescue T-shirts, people everywhere can make a difference.