While most New Year’s resolutions tend to focus on personal betterment, there’s always room to improve your own life by bettering the life of another. While many charities need South Africa’s support this year (our charity lists are on their way!), there are a few common ways to support one specific group of locals—the animals that need us.
South Africa (08 January 2025) — As a group who have the least say over their lives for the entirety of their existence, animals can’t do a whole lot when they find themselves in tough circumstances.
This year, the Animal Welfare Society of South Africa have shared simple ways to help them make a difference for the animals that need us all; a cheat sheet well worth incorporating into any resolution plans.
“In my opinion, bettering the lives of animals should be a compulsory New Year’s resolution”, shared AWS SA spokesman Allan Perrins.
Adopt, adopt, adopt
What better way to make a change in your life in 2025 than by welcoming a new pet into your home, especially one who may never have had a loving household before? If you’re sure you have what it takes to be the best pet parent and are already imagining your lounge with a dog bed in it, close the pet store browsing tabs and head over to the AWS’s adoption page or a shelter near you!
Virtual adoption
Not everyone can commit to adopting a pet. If you don’t think you’re able to make a fully-fledged commitment, then it’s better to wait until you’re absolutely certain. However, you can still enjoy the best of both worlds (helping an animal without all the responsibility) via virtual adoptions or sponsoring a specific animal!
Play Foster Parent
Especially for those who still have one foot in and one foot out when it comes to pet ownership, being a foster parent can help an animal who needs a place to crash before heading to their forever home. You get the benefit of life with a four-legged friend, and the animal gets to enjoy a happy home for a while!
Share What You Can
Extra blankets for winter and kiddie pools for summer. How about household supplies you never use or picking up some pet food on the way home from work?
Sharing what you have or purchasing helpful gifts goes a very long way for the animals that need us. These small decisions are the backbone of so many good news stories and ultimately keep organisations going.
(You can donate to the AWS here).
Become a Volunteer
Donating your time is another way to make life a little better for shelter animals. Not only does it help them socialise with different humans, it also helps the organisation responsible immensely.
Take Care of Your Own Animal Family Members
You might not realise it, but acts like vaccinating, sterilising and microchipping your own animals has a big impact on animal welfare in your community as a whole.
Microchipping saves a lot of time in reuniting your animal to you, sterilisation ensures that there are less pets that can’t be cared for and vaccination keeps animals healthier and happier.
To find out more about supporting the Animal Welfare Society, contact
Allan Perrins on allanperrins@awscape.org.za
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