As the weather gets cooler, and more particularly, after the foot or more of snow that’s come to the area, I start to pay attention to animals that I see on the sides of the roads. I see cats by my home at the Cumberland/ Farmville border, and I see animals in Lunenburg County.

Because there is a sizable population of outdoor pets, it does not appear that all of the animals by my home or around the area are strays.

For those who are strays, however, efforts to keep animals sheltered and warm during the winter, and promote spaying and neutering should be that much more encouraged.

The Lunenburg County Animal Shelter and Animal Control Office do a good job in keeping abreast of stray animal situations and sheltering animals when needed.

To keep them and the Southside Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals able to continue to provide services to stray, abandoned or abused animals, they require our support in the form of donated funds, supplies or time.

Ray Elliott with the Lunenburg County Animal Shelter recently promoted the third annual Ruffin’ It campaign. During the campaign, he spent Thanksgiving night at the animal shelter to raise funds for spaying and neutering services. The campaign this year raised more than $8,500.

Though the event received an enormous amount of support, there is plenty you can do to support both the animal shelter and the Southside SPCA.

This includes, for the SPCA, donating a used vehicle that has a clean title and is located within a 50-mile radius of Richmond. The SPCA also accepts financial donations and has monthly giving opportunities. The SPCA also accepts volunteers who can do anything from fostering pets, to working in shelter maintenance to organizing fundraisers.

The Lunenburg County Animal Shelter accepts volunteers who take care of the animals, donate toys, treats and food and help to wash linen used by the animals.

Donating time or finances to any organization that helps those in need is worthwhile. For those who may be unsure which organizations to help, consider this one way to spread holiday cheer.

Emily Hollingsworth is a staff reporter for The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch and Farmville Newsmedia LLC. Her email address is Emily.Hollingsworth@ KVDispatchcom.