So some of you might know that I do volunteer hours at my local animal shelter every month.  With this and similar facilities being made possible largely by donations and volunteer labor, the economy dive has hit us particularly hard, so I just wanted to make some sort of post about some REALLY EASY THINGS people can do to help out!

Donations:

Even if you can’t spare the time to volunteer, donating is a great way to help out your local shelter. And most of the things we wind up needing a lot of are things we will happily accept used. So if you’re doing some seasonal cleaning, consider donating some of your old items!

-Towels, towels, towels.  

Towels are a huge necessity for us at the shelter. ALL sizes from wash-cloths and dish towels to giant beach towels are made use of. They’re used to keep the facilities clean, and provide bedding for cats and other animals in the smaller kennels.  White towels are particularly helpful in shelters that are outfitted with their own ER.  We will accept any towels, old or new, damaged or stained.

-Cleaning supplies!

This is another huge one. We clean and sanitize the food bowls and bedding in the kennels DAILY to prevent the spread of any illness between the animals and ensure they have a clean space to live in, so we’re in constant need of things like laundry detergent, drier sheets, dish soap, and bleach. 

-Blankets

Similar to the towels, blankets are more often used as bedding for the dogs, though smaller ones (like old baby blankets) most often wind up in the cat kennels. Once again, anything goes- baby blankets, quilts, even sleeping bags.  We will also take things like rugs and bath mats. 

-Pillows and dog/cat beds

More bedding! Again, new or used.

-Pretty much any pet-care item

Leashes, collars, harnesses, food bowls, brushes, cat carriers, etc.

-Toys! 

Shelter life is extremely stressful for the animals we house, so anything to keep them entertained helps.  Cat toys, balls, frisbees, ropes, chew toys, bones, and old stuffed animals.

-Food

To my knowledge, we will accept pretty much any unopened food regardless of brand, but most of what we use is Purina. You may also consider donating food for things other than cats and dogs. We frequently end up with animals such as guinea pigs and rats brought in as well. 

-Litter and bedding

Again, I’m fairly certain we’ll take what’s given, but when we order in ourselves we usually get Yesterday’s News paper-based cat litter.  Other shelters may use a different brand. Just as with food though, we frequently need bedding for other animals such as guinea pigs and other small rodents.

Lastly, if you have a few hours each month to spare, I would highly recommend applying to volunteer at your local shelter. It’s extremely rewarding work! Shelters usually require a minimum of 8 hours per month commitment, and while we always need people helping with things like cleaning kennels, if all you’d like to do is come in to walk/socialize dogs, or play with cats, it’s extremely beneficial to the animals in the shelter and helps to make their time there less stressful.

Thanks for reading, guys. Have an awesome day. :>