The Animal Rescue League reached its full capacity for cats and dogs at the shelter. Nationwide, the population of dogs and cats living in shelters is increasing significantly. Having these animals at the shelter limits the capacity to keep admitting pets that need our care and to provide emergency boarding services to families in need.

How can I be part of the solution?

Becoming a foster

Fostering is a rewarding experience and one of the most important programs at ARL. Because of our foster caregivers, we can provide individualized care and love to the population of animals that need it the most and increase our capacity beyond our walls.

Our Foster Program provides everything the foster family needs to take care of the animals: litter, food, crates, treats, and other articles to ease the process.

You can volunteer to foster the current animals living in the shelter or be an emergency boarding foster taking temporary care of animals whose families are struggling.

Learn more about the foster program here.

Adopting

Every animal deserves a forever home, and adopting is the perfect way to give second and third chances in life to animals living in the shelter.

At the ARL, we have a variety of animals available for adoption at any given time. Dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, guinea pigs, rabbits, pigs, chicken, and more.

All the animals available for adoption are available to foster and to participate in the Trial Adoption Program. If you are not sure if you’re ready to make a lifelong commitment with a pet, you can trial the pet for a maximum of two weeks. At the end of the term, you can choose to complete the adoption or return the pet.

To learn about our adoption process and view the animals available for adoption, visit www.berksarl.org.

Volunteering

Helping our animals, our staff, and our community, volunteers are an essential part of the caregiving work that we do at the ARL. Through generous contributions of time and talent, volunteers allow our animals to receive daily exercise and enrichment and assist our staff with their daily duties. So much of what we do would not be possible without the heart and commitment of our volunteer team!

Learn about our volunteer opportunities here.

Donating

At the ARL, we like to say we’re not only fueled by love but also funded by it. Since we receive no federal, state, or county support, and very little municipal support, almost all of our budget is funded by people like you. Each day, your dollars help hundreds of animals receive necessary medical care, nutritious food, a comfy and safe place to sleep, and lots of love from our attentive staff and volunteers. There are many ways to give.

Learn more about it here.

Sharing available pets on social media

This is the easiest and fastest way you can help the animals living at the shelter from the comfort of your home.

Just go to our website, choose an animal and share their information among your contacts. More exposure means more chances to find a forever home.

It takes a village to save the lives of the animals in our community. Be part and act now! The animals will greatly appreciate it.