If you’ve been thinking about adding a dog to your family, why not start your research with Pet Finder? You can browse their research library, and even view adoptable animals in your area.

If you are not yet ready to bring home a new friend, you can sponsor an animal being cared for by a rescue organization, or make a contribution to your local shelter.

If your own sweetheart is an animal lover, a contribution or sponsorship in his or her name would certainly sweeten their day. Tuck a card announcing this special gift into that box of candy or bouquet of flowers.

I can’t think of a better Valentine!

It may seem silly to have your dog’s photo taken with Santa, but did you know that rescue groups or shelters often benefit from these events? Check with your local humane society, animal shelter, PetsMart, PetCo, Three Dog Bakery, or other canine specialty shop to find a Photos with Santa event in your area. A reservation is sometimes required.

Can’t make the photo sitting? Why not play Santa and put something in a shelter or rescue group’s stocking? Pull up your favorite shelter or dog rescue group’s website. Most publish their wish lists, and often you can make donations online. Below are a few examples of donation pages from several rescue groups:

• Faery Tails Corgi Rescue
• Corgi Aid
• Stray Rescue of St. Louis
• Virginia German Shepherd Rescue
• NCA Newf Rescue Fund

Donations of any size will always be gratefully accepted.

Groups around the country are knitting or crocheting mats to make life easier for shelter and rescue animals. Many shelter animals are seniors, and they welcome the cushioning provided by the mats. (If you’re not a knitter, traditional washable blankets are also welcomed by shelters.)

In my area, the Knit n’ Purl for Pets Knitting Workshop meets regularly to knit pet mats at Petropolis in suburban St. Louis. Some volunteers knit pet mats at home and drop them off at Petropolis for donation.

Petropolis’ basic guidelines are:

• Use only washable acrylic yarn
• Some shelters have specific size requirements, but others gratefully accept any size mat
• Beginners may find it easier to start with needles a size or two larger than #9
• Knit with two strands of yarn to make an extra-cushiony mat

There may be a group in your area that knits for shelter animals. How do you find one?

• Call your local animal shelter or rescue groups to inquire
• Check your local newspaper in the calendar, pet or lifestyle section for announcements
• Ask at local pet businesses
• Search Google or Google News with keywords such as your location, knit, crochet, pets, dog, shelter, blanket, rug. Try just a few words at a time. You may need to do some juggling of keywords to find a local group (I did).

If there are no established knitting groups in your area, why not start one?

• Find shelters or rescue groups that would welcome the donation of pet mats
• Start with the basic guidelines above, and adjust for your shelter’s needs
• Find volunteers to help knit or crochet mats:
• Put up flyers in local craft shops and pet-friendly shops (with permission)
• Write a short announcement and put in your town’s calendar section of the newspaper
• Contact local dog clubs and ask them to put your announcement in their newsletters

Finally, if you have washable, acrylic yarn you can spare, groups that knit for shelter animals will gratefully accept your donation.

Send an impromptu “thank you for your kindness” gift to your vet, rescue organization, or workers at a shelter. Food prepared by you would probably be welcomed by people you know. For others, you may want to include a gift certificate for a local restaurant for lunch or have bagels and cream cheese brought in for breakfast.

A box or two of treats for the veterinary clinic or an item from the shelter or rescue wish list is always welcome!

Dogs and senior citizens are a great match. A dog-loving senior can get so much from the right dog; companionship and unconditional love, a sense of purpose, confidence, and improved health. The lucky dog wins as well. He gains a loving home, a best friend, and an important job.

Do you want to help foster these relationships? Here are some ideas:

• Take your well-socialized, well-mannered, well-groomed, and vaccinated or titered dog for regular visits to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. Contact the director before visiting. Ask if they welcome canine visitors, and what their requirements are. Visit Therapy Dogs International for more information.

• Do you know a senior who would love to have a dog, but cannot easily afford one? Commit to cover all or a portion of a dog’s expenses, on your own or as a group. Be sure you can keep your financial committment. Be prepared to rehome or take the dog if the senior can no longer keep it.

• Help a senior find the right dog. Enlist the help of shelter and rescue workers, or a behaviorist. Often, the less-energetic senior dog is the best choice for a senior citizen. The Senior Dogs Project has a list of groups that specialize in matching senior citizens with senior dogs. Help the new owner and her dog through the adjustment period. Offer to help the senior teach her dog the basics, and maybe a few tricks.

• Walk a dog and clean up the yard for someone who cannot easily do so. This simple act may allow that person to keep their dog. (This is a good volunteer opportunity for responsible, dog-loving kids.)

• Big bags of dog food are economical, but heavy. Offer to get a neighboring senior’s dog food during your errands and deliver it to her.

• Help a senior bathe and groom her dog.

• Volunteer to transport dog and owner to the vet for care.

• Volunteer to dog-sit if a senior has to be away from home.

• Are you a good trainer? Volunteer to teach low-cost or free classes covering the basics of manners, obedience, dog psychology, and health care to group of seniors and their dogs. They may be the best students you’ve ever taught.