Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media

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As COVID-19 continues, tips on helping homeless animals

People at home due to the coronavirus pandemic can still make a difference in the lives of shelter pets and the people who care for them. Petfinder.com offers these suggestions for specific ways to help during the crisis.

Give to Animal Shelters in Need

One of the fastest and simplest ways to help is by making a donation. Fundraisers and events for pet shelters have been canceled and traffic from potential adopters has slowed, but there are still pets coming in with costs for their care as well as animals already in the shelters.

Visit your local animal shelter’s website to see if you can make a donation online. If your local organization cannot directly take a donation, The Petfinder Foundation can help. People can donate to the foundation directly as it works to identify and distribute funds to adoption organizations most in need at this time.

If you can’t donate funds directly, you can also donate pet food or supplies to animal rescues—and there’s no need to go directly into the shelter to do it. Just reach out to your local shelter and see if they have a wish list online. Pick a few items and follow their directions for dropping off.

Adopt a Pet

It’s as true today as it always has been; adopting a new dog or cat is the best way to help homeless pets. Search for available pets near near you; if you find one you’d like, fill out a pet adoption application online and then reach out to the shelter directly to see what their current protocols are, given COVID-19. And with more time spent at home, there’s more time for pet training and acclimation to your home and family.

Foster a Dog or Cat

Some celebrities are making news by fostering dogs and cats during the pandemic; you can do it too and make a difference. Fostering a dog or cat is a way to know if you’re ready to adopt, or can be a way to help a pet in need for a little while without a permanent commitment. And it’s obvious that loving pets can make social distancing and sheltering at home more manageable.

If you’re struggling to care for a pet due to COVID-19, try to avoid taking them to a shelter that may already be overwhelmed. Consider pet re-homing as a better option. Friends can be found on social media who may be able to take on your pet.

If you're a shelter In need of help The Petfinder Foundation has grants up to $1,000 available to qualifying groups and organizations. Go to https://petfinderfoundation.com/ for more information.

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Southern Ocean County Animal Facility

Happy is a 7-year-old male beagle in the care of the Southern Ocean County Animal Facility in Manahawkin. For more information, call 609-978-0127, email socaf@@ochd.org or go to https://www.ochd.org.

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Animal Welfare Association

Buzus is a 3-year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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Eleventh Hour Rescue

Dillon Spalding is an 8-year-old male bulldog/Labrador retriever mix in the care of Eleventh Hour Rescue in Rockaway. For more information call 973-664-0865 or go to https://www.ehrdogs.org/.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Haze is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Pebbles is a 4-year-old female pit bull terrier mix at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Grapefruit is a 5-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-725-0308 or go to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/sras.html.

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Edison Animal Shelter

Jake and Elwood are 5-year-old male shepherd/husky mix dogs that should be adopted together in the care of the Edison Animal Shelter. For more information, call 732-248-7278, email eas@edisonnj.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=NJ593.

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Jersey Shore Animal Center

Clover is a 9-month-old female tortoiseshell cat at the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick. For more information, call 732-920-1600 or email info@jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

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Animal Alliance

Leah is a 9-year-old female Chihuahua mix in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to https://www.animalalliancenj.org/.

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Franklin Township Animal Shelter

Hamper Kitty is an 9-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in Somerset County. For more information, call 732-748-7232 or go to secondchanceforanimals.org.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Honor is an adult female American Bulldog/American Staffordshire terrier mix at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Liberty Humane Society

Crazy Harry is an adult male domestic shorthair in the care of the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. Call 201-547-4147, email lhs@libertyhumane.org or go to https://www.libertyhumane.org/.

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Salem County Humane Society

Chica is a 5-year-old female Chihuahua/terrier mix at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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Associated Humane Society in Forked River

Ambrose is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Associated Humane Society in Forked River. For more information, call 609-693-1900 or go to https://www.ahscares.org/Contentpage/169.

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Home for Good Dog Rescue

Maxine is a 2-year-old female shepherd/Labrador retriever mix in the care of Home for Good Dog Rescue in Berkeley Heights. For more information, call 908-598-8212 or go to https://homeforgooddogs.org.

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Humane Society of Ocean City

Friend is a 9-year-old male domestic longhair at the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 or email info@hsocnj.org.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter

Jada is a 4-year-old female mixed breed in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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Chance at Life Cat Rescue

Puma is a 3- to 5-year-old male brown tabby in the care of Chance at Life Cat Rescue in Bergen County. For more information, call 201-982-2219, email chanceatliferescue@gmail.com or go to https://chanceatlifecatrescue.com/.

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Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls

Gordo is a 2-year-old male miniature schnauzer/terrier mix at the Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls. For more information, call 732-922-0100 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ02&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Dixie is an adult female domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Liberty Humane Society

Komanda is a 1-year-old female shar pei mix in the care of the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. Call 201-547-4147, email lhs@libertyhumane.org or go to https://www.libertyhumane.org/.

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Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption

Dallas is a 2-year-old male domestic shorthair in the care of Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption in Cranford. For more information, call 908-425-0008 or email bfdaaa@gmail.com.

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Jersey Shore Animal Center

Libby is a 3-year-old female beagle at the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick. For more information, call 732-920-1600 or email info@jerseyshoreanimalcenter.org.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Dottie is an adult female domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Burlington County Animal Shelter

Louie is a 4-year-old male pit bull terrier mix at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-265-5073 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mount-holly/burlington-county-animal-shelter-nj148/.

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Salem County Humane Society

Libby is a 7-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Magnolia is an adult female shepherd/pointer mix at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-725-0308 or go to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/sras.html.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Nod is a young male domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Associated Humane Society in Forked River

Li'l Buddy is a 2-year-old male American Staffordshire terrier/English bulldog mix at the Associated Humane Society in Forked River. For more information, call 609-693-1900 or go to https://www.ahscares.org/Contentpage/169.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter

Rosalee is a 2 year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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Humane Society of Ocean City

Rocky is a 1 1/2-year-old male shepherd/border collie mix at the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 or email info@hsocnj.org.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Mr. Bananas is a young male domestic shorthair at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Animal Welfare Association

Tex Mex is a 1 1/2-year-old male shepherd/retriever mix in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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Animal Alliance

Orange Blossom is a 2-year-old female longhair torbie cat in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to https://www.animalalliancenj.org/.

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Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption

Sadie is a 4-year-old female Staffordshire terrier mix in the care of Best Friend Dog and Animal Adoption in Cranford. For more information, call 908-425-0008, email bfdaaa@gmail.com or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/cranford/best-friend-dog-and-animal-adoption-inc-nj70/.

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Summit Animal Rescue Association

Vanna is an adult female domestic longhair/medium hair mix in the care of the Summit Animal Rescue Association. For more information, call 908-578-4354, email saracats.julia@gmail.com or go to sararescue.petfinder.com.

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Franklin Township Animal Shelter

Viper is a 5-year-old male pit bull terrier mix at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in Somerset County. For more information, call 732-748-7232 or go to secondchanceforanimals.org.

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Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls

.Smokey is a 7-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Associated Humane Society in Tinton Falls. For more information, call 732-922-0100 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ02&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added

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Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media