You probably know that animal shelters are a great place to rescue a cute and cuddly new pet for your family. What you may not know is that they can also be a good place to upcycle some of your gently used household items — instead of tossing them in the trash.
If you love animals and want to support your local shelter, consider these 5 things you shelter surely needs!
1. Toys
All animals love toys, so donate any old or new pet toys to keep those homeless dogs and cats entertained and happy. Make sure to donate clean toys or toys that can be disinfected and washed frequently.
Don’t give inappropriate toys, unsafe or toxic toys, or those that break down immediately. The best to donate are durable brands, like KONG or Nylabone. Stay away from stuffed toys and squeak toys, since strong chewers can swallow the squeaky part.
2. Pet Food and Treats
The biggest chunk of any shelter’s budget is spent on food, especially if there are many animals in the shelter. Donate pet food or treats to make a difference — just make sure that all the food has not expired or gone bad and hasn’t been recalled.
You don’t have to donate pet food specifically; you can also donate things like peanut butter, canned tuna, hot dogs, fresh vegetables, etc. Even meat-based baby food is a good choice since shelters often mix it with dry dog food.
3. Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning up after pets is not easy and requires a lot of cleaning supplies. You can donate bleach, dishwashing liquid, disinfecting wipes, laundry detergent, window cleaners, paper towels, garbage bags, mops, sponges, brooms, rubber and latex gloves, etc. Even plastic shopping bags can come in handy for cleaning up dog mess, as well as for storage purposes.
4. Towels and Blankets
Towels are a good thing to donate because they can be used both for cleaning and bedding. They are also often used to line the bottoms of the cages. Blankets are needed for bedding and to keep the animals warm when necessary.
These items don’t have to be in perfect condition, so any old blankets or towels will do just fine, as long as they are usable.
5. Adoption
While tangible goods like those listed above are great for helping shelter operations, nothing tops taking inventory off their shoulders and providing the kind of love only a human bond can provide to one of their pets.
If the house is already full, please consider making a pitbull charity donation to a Pit Bull Adoption Advocacy such as Kennel to Couch. Because advocacy groups such as ours have established relationships with shelters, trainers and veterinarians, your dollar is truly maximized towards helping the animals that need it most.