how to help

I call animal control. All. The. Time. Reporting things makes a difference.

I volunteer at animal control, as well. I groom the dogs, and play with them. It makes them more adoptable.

question on volunteering at the shelter. i was not allowed to while i was pregnant, how long should i wait now that baby is here. should i be concerned about zoonoses?

talk...talk and keep talking.  i talk to people about spaying/neutering, buying from pet stores and how to look for a responsible breeder.  i used to volunteer at a shelter but watching everything that goes on can be very heart wrenching and i really needed a breather.

What if you could put an ad in the paper in the pets for sale section for an animal shelter?
I'm planning to buy a button off of cafepress that says the number of animals killed in US shelters every day and wearing it everywhere.  It's bound to get people asking questions, and then you can express what's happening and how people can help.  I'm also buying a few shirts stating myths of spaying/neutering, information about puppy mills, etc. to get the word out more.
Also you can get an empty jar and fill it with change to later donate.  If you have kids going to school, you can send this as well.
If the shelter doesn't allow you to volunteer to work with the animals, maybe you could take pictures of the animals and help keep their petfinder pages updated.
If you have kids that love animals as much as you do, perhaps they may want to have a birthday party at the animal shelter.  Have them volunteer at the shelter for a day, and the presents are all for the animals.  Sometimes when this is done animals get adopted out to the families that came.  It's a different kind of party that's for sure, but if your kids and shelter are up to it, why not?

If you have kids that love animals as much as you do, perhaps they may want to have a birthday party at the animal shelter. Have them volunteer at the shelter for a day, and the presents are all for the animals.

It's SOOOO cool when kids do that!! I love it!

I don't know about zoonosis. I don't have any kids, and I don't really worry about catching stuff. The only thing I worry about is mange. It breaks my heart not to snuggle the mangey dogs, but I don't ever know if they're sarcoptic or demodex dogs.