Sweet Pets

Many people now prefer to sponsor an animal in addition to - or rather than - having their own pet. And this is good news! Sponsoring an animal has many benefits - both to the person who is taking out the sponsorship and the organisation - and the animal - being sponsored.

So how does it work? Basically, sponsorships of an animal, whether it be a lion or orang-utan, a donkey, rabbit or a rodent tend to be run by animal welfare organisations such as charities and other non-profit concerns.

Benefits for the sponsor

People tend to take out a sponsorship for one of three reasons:

1. As a gift for someone for Christmas or their birthday
2. Where a person would really love a pet but does not have the space or the time for them
3. Where they want to help animal charities or a cause (such as saving endangered species)

Of course, there will be the ‘feel-good’ factor thrown in on top of this well, giving people the satisfaction that they are actually making a difference to the lives of animals, whether it be an endangered species or a rescued domestic pet.

With most sponsorships, you will receive a certificate to show that you have sponsored the animal and normally a glossy photo. Some organisations will send you a newsletter to update you on your sponsored animal or maybe a small gift - these tend to vary from sponsorship to sponsorship.

Some places - such as wildlife parks - allow you to sponsor an animal and will then put a plaque on the cage with your name on it.

The cost of a sponsorship will vary too, from a small minimum donation to a set fee.

Benefits for the organisation/charity

For the organisation, running a sponsorship programme has immense benefits. It can help build a rapport with the general public as well as getting the message of the cause across.

Once a sponsorship programme is set up and all the hard work is done in arranging the photographs and certificates (or whatever their particular sponsorship features), a sponsorship programme is easy to run and manage. It also leaves the door open for further contact in the future.

Of course the main reason why sponsorship programmes are run is to bring in money to help pay for costs - but rather than asking people for a one-off donation where the person feels that they have paid out money but not got anything back, a nice sponsorship package adds value.

This means people are more likely to come back again and take out another sponsorship or buy an additional one for a friend or loved one.

It may not bring in big bucks for the organisation concerned, but the combined factors of having that ongoing almost personal communication with the sponsor (for example, in the form of a quarterly update) means that they are more likely to stay loyal to your concern and give further support in the future.

Overall, sponsorship of an animal is a win-win situation for everyone concerned - to least the small furry or the big lion who is being sponsored!

About the Author: Jason Hulott is co-founder of CavyRescue (registered charity number 1111583) which is the UK’s first and only dedicated http://www.cavyrescue.co.uk rat rescue charity. Set up in 1999, the aim of the charity is to educate individuals and organisations on small animal healthcare and welfare and they regularly run successful campaigns to this effect.

People often define themselves as either a cat lover or a dog lover, but the question remains can a cat lover ever love dogs? Or, dog lovers ever love cats? It takes a lot for a person to change even in the simplest of ways. This seems to be one of the many difficult ways because of the huge investment people put into their pets.

The Dog Lover

The dog lover often loves their dog for many reasons. Dogs are playful and attentive to their owners. They love to spend their time hiding under their owner’s chair or chasing their tail. It just seems as if they are fun loving creatures. Sure, they bark and they can be very annoying when they want your attention even when you are busy. But, they won’t fail to greet you when you come home and you are where their loyalty lies no matter what.

The Cat Lover

On the other side of the coin, we have the cat lover. Cats are more independent and more self centered. But, they can provide much affection to their owners nonetheless. They can be playful when they want to be. They can also be full of personality, good or bad. Cat lovers love this about their animals. They are themselves. Of course, they can be rather snooty to some. They are independent and they certainly won’t greet you unless it is in their best interest to do so.

The Conclusion

While it seems that many people have an overall preference for one type of animal to the next, there is nothing to say that they can not switch from being a dog lover to being a cat lover. But, it is unlikely that they will receive the same attention from their pet as they did with the other species. Dog lovers will forever value their best friend while cat lovers will always value their cat’s personality.

If you are a dog lover or a pet lover and are thinking of venturing to the other side, consider the various differences in these animals before you do. You’ll find that many times, it is the qualities that the pet offers that makes them the right, the most attractive choice to you.

About the Author: Mike Singh is a successful webmaster and publisher of pet-related websites. Please check out his pictures of all dog breeds and articles on buying a cat.