May 4 to 10 is Be Kind to Animals Week. Look to our five-part daily instalments for helpful ways to join the compassion movement and improve welfare for our furry and feathered friends. Day 2: Help out at your local animal welfare association Just about every city has an animal shelter of some kind. Your local Humane Society is a great place to start when thinking about volunteering with animal care, whether your role is administrative, cleaning cages or walking dogs. Even adopting a new pet would help alleviate the strain on these organizations. Not ready to adopt? Also consider nonprofit animal rescue organizations that may not have a shelter, like the Toronto Cat Rescue and Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue. These groups rely on foster parents to provide shelter to homeless cats and dogs, so consider becoming a pet foster parent. You can also become an adoption counsellor who helps screen potential adopters or who helps out at adopt-a-thon events. Those who already help animals find homes in one of these capacities may even want to try animal welfare outreach through groups like Mercy for Animals, Toronto Pig Save or WWF Canada. For more ideas on how you can partake in Be Kind to Animals Week, see "Lobby for animal rights." (Photo courtesy MorgueFile/Taylor Schlades)