10 things you can donate to your local animal shelter
Animal Shelters depend on donations to save lives. You can use your spring cleaning to get rid of old things you’re not using any more and donate these items to animal shelters to help them not only save lives, but make the lives of those animals a little softer, warmer and more comfortable.
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Used pet toys or new eco ones
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Used dog and cat sweaters and clothes or new eco ones
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Used bedding or new eco bedding
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Used towels or new, eco towels
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Recycled paper and plastic bags
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Newspaper
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Office supplies
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Dog & cat beds (used or new and eco)
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Kennels & crates (used or new and eco)
If you’re not sure where your closest shelter is, here is a full list of shelters by state.
What are some other things that you donate to your local animal shelter?
Let us know so that we can all make a contribution.
Photo Source: PETA.org
Category
Animal Love
24 comments
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Along with the items you have listed, I also donate laundry soap. Our shelter says they go thru laundry soap like crazy, so when I buy for myself, I also buy for them. -
I love how you recommend West Paw Design's product. They're so durable they're great to donate. They're made in the USA, too!
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I'm donating time and expertise. I've been helping out with regularly socializing and walking the dogs at the shelter. As I spent time there, I realized I could do much more. Most shelters are very short staffed and strapped for $ and I have a background in marketing. I offered free marketing help in addition to my regular "hands on" volunteering. We now are able to publicize our animals via Facebook (and have over 2,000 views of our adoptable pet of the week). We just launched a classified ad section of adoptable pets with the local paper. Through some fundraising efforts, I have been able to purchase "adopt me" vests for the dogs so when we are out walking the public know this four-legged friend needs a home. We are also getting much more involved in local community events just to help publicize the shelter in the community. The list goes on... It doesn't always have to be tangible things that you give to the local shelter. It could just be giving them the benefit of your skill set.
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Wow! GOOD for you, Eva -- and thanks so much for the inspired thinking. You're right -- there are so many things that can be done and spreading the word is a huge one. Major kudos and applause coming your way.
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Whenever I go to the grocery store I buy one item to take by my local shelter. It isn't much but every little bit helps and the cost is so small when it's spread out over the month.
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As a shelter worker this is a great list, I'd like people to keep in mind that the shelter doesn't even have to be open, we have many items left at our door after hours-and you don't have to 'go big', even if you grab a bag of treats when you're shopping and swing by after the store and drop it off-the smallest gestures go a long way.
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I agree with Rhonda. Volunteering is one of THE best ways of helping. Shelter animals need to be touched... petted, walked, played-with. They endure a lot of stress in that environment and many shurt down... which means they will be euthanized if no rescue steps in.
As a long-time rescuer, I'd also like to add that money helps. Many people want to donate new treats or toys to us. but the truth is that we get things at a very good discount, so donated dollars go farther with us than in a pet store. Ask your shelter what kind of treats the animals can have... be proactive, and know that you are making a difference. Even the smallest of gestures makes a positive difference. <3 -
And volunteering is one of the most valuable ways to help the animals. I started helping our local Claws shelter with once a month adoptions at Petco. I am amazed at how many people I meet that want to help, but just did not know how. There are so many ways! So many shelters operate on a string with volunteers. So make a donation of your time once or twice a month and you will be helping the animals. -
I always keep a big box in my truck and durning my stops here and there I look for items on sale for pets...not just my Dog Bella but close out's and clearance sales ...this way I put all the surplus in the box and on the first of each month I drop it by the shelters....Thanks again for caring Alicia !!
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