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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!