Help Animals in the Miami-Dade Area This Winter
Miami is a city known for its lively culture, stunning beaches and diverse communities, but it is also home to an incredible variety of animals. From beloved pets to wildlife found only in South Florida, there are so many animals that call this area home. Animals face similar challenges to humans - urban growth and extreme weather conditions can make it difficult for animals to thrive. One way to help your children grow into big-hearted adults? Help take care of animals! The good news is even small actions can make a big difference. According to Zoo Miami, “Everyday choices within our homes and local communities can help save wildlife and wild places. Even small actions taken by many lead to big impacts.”
Help Animals From Home
There are ways to help Miami’s diverse wildlife from your own home. Pelican Harbor Seabird Sanctuary will help you create a bird-friendly environment in your own backyard. Not all plants are created equal when it comes to attracting birds, butterflies, and other native wildlife. Plants that are native to South Florida are the best choice to create a wildlife sanctuary, beautify your landscape, and reduce the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides. (Interested in learning more about Pelican Harbor? They offer family-friendly tours each Saturday! Find information here.)
Another fun way to help animals? Make pet toys! Dogs, cats, and even guinea pigs and bunnies will benefit from your efforts. Donate them to the Humane Society of Greater Miami or use them to entertain pets in your neighborhood.
Baking dog biscuits at home is a surefire hit for all ages. It’s an easy project, and you can make it extra fun by finding dog-bone shaped cookie cutters. These biscuits can be donated to local shelters or given as gifts to your dog-owning neighbors.
Help Animals in Person
Looking to get out of the house and interact with animals in person? The Cat Network gives children of all ages a chance to help homeless cats. They offer a number of in-home projects, but also have adoption events throughout Miami-Dade and they need volunteers.
Local animal shelters also need volunteers. Find one near you and see how you can help.
Do you have space in your life to take care of an animal at home? Fostering an animal can provide a cat or dog with a temporary place to call home before finding its forever home. Typically, your family’s main responsibility will be to handle and cuddle the animals frequently — along with providing food, water, and clean living space — so they can become well-socialized pets for the families that adopt them. There are many organizations that help foster animals. To start, check out petfinder.com or call your local branch of the Humane Society.
Whether you volunteer once, foster a pet, donate dog biscuits, or simply share awareness online, your efforts make a difference. And, best of all, you will be teaching your children that helping animals is an important thing to do.
Doing Good Together’s Miami Kindness Project content is FREE thanks to the generous support of the Al and Jane Nahmad Foundation.