Not every child is lucky enough to have a pet, for those who still want to care for pets and animals, even if they can't have any at home, there are many ways to do so.

Sometimes, what you want most is a pet, you wish for it on your birthday, Christmas, for good grades, in between, you just wish for it all the time, but you can’t have it.

There are many reasons for parents not to get what you want most. It could be that someone in the family is allergic, which is happening very often, or nobody has enough time to take care of the animal. Money can also be an issue, to have a pet does cost money.

Cats and Dogs as well as Ferrets need to see a veterinarian on a rather regular basis, to get their shots, which are very important, to keep them healthy, just as important and to heal them when they are sick or hurt, most important.

Those visits to the vet are not free, they do cost a lot of money. Also there is the food, toys, brushes, leashes or cages, all this will take up more money than you might imagine.

However, if the main reason for your wish for this pet is the fact that you love animals and maybe you really, really want to help animals in need, then you can still do that!

Yes, even if you can not own an animal, you can still help those animals who don’t have anyone to care for them.

One way is to volunteer at a shelter. You can even organize a group of friends to help a shelter.

Of course, some parents are not happy about the idea. For one, it can be dangerous to deal with animals, most with stray ones. Nobody knows where they came from and what they went through. However, most of them are indeed very friendly and loving creatures who would never hurt anyone, but parents are concerned and they have the right to protect you, it is even their duty. So don’t be discouraged if your parents don’t want you to volunteer.

Sometimes a parent would need to drive you to the shelter where you want to volunteer and then pick you up when your work is done, they might not have the time to do that.

The next step would be to see if there is an animal clinic or hospital in your neighborhood and to see if they need any volunteers.

If this does not work out, or if you don’t want to do this, you can check your neighborhood for people who need help taking care of their pets, someone to walk the dog, baby-sit the cat or their bird when they are on vacation.

Just remember: Even if you know someone, don’t go inside their house without a parent or a trusted adult! It can be dangerous!

You can pick up the dog at the door to walk it. If they go on vacation, they can bring their pet to you, you never have to enter their house!

If this does not work for you, then there is one more option to take care of animals and help: Donations.

Even $1.00 or $2.00 whenever you can spare it can help. You can even organize events to raise money for a shelter or an organization: a car wash, a yard sale, cutting grass or pull out weeds for a neighbor. You even can get with your library and invite an author to read from one of his or her books there and collect donations for a shelter during the event, just make sure the author and the library staff agree to it. Many authors love animals and are willing to help a good cause. The same goes for musicians and actors, comedians.

Just remember, a trusted adult has to be with you! Don’t meet anyone alone, ever!

And never, never follow a stranger who claims his puppy got lost!                                      

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(c) R&B Pratcher 2007