Holiday Compassion: Ways to Support Local Animal Shelters and Rescue Pets
If you’re looking for ways to give back to your community this holiday season, consider showing your support for area pet shelters, and help make this the merriest of pet holidays for animals in need. Many area cat shelters and dog shelters are at maximum capacity and would welcome any help you can provide. Review these suggestions on how to help shelters from our team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center, and let’s make this the merriest of pet holidays for deserving animals in our community.
A Home for the Holidays
Dog shelters and cat shelters are almost always full, so they rely on help from foster pet parents to provide space and care in their loving homes. Becoming a foster pet parent is a great gift for pet shelters, and is also a wonderful way to see if pet ownership is for you before adopting a pet permanently.
The Ultimate Gift: A Forever Home
What better way to embody the spirit of giving than to open your heart and home to a new pet? Adopting a shelter pet is the ultimate gift, and when you adopt one pet, you rescue two: your furry new family member and one in need of space in a shelter.
Fulfill Their Holiday Wish Lists
Load up the sleigh (or minivan!) with much-needed pet supplies from a local pet shelter’s wish list. Contact local cat shelters and dog shelters (or check out their websites) to find out what’s on their holiday wish lists. Then, go shopping! You’ll help make these holidays for dogs and holidays for cats more joyful with your donations. Popular items that pet shelters request include:
- Pet toys
- Cat and dog beds, blankets, towels
- Pet carriers
- Cat litter
- Grooming needs
- Unopened cat and dog food and/or treats
- Disinfecting wipes, paper towels
Pay It Forward
A lot of pet shelters and animal rescue groups rely heavily (if not solely) on financial support from the local community. Look for convenient “donate” buttons on the websites of dog shelters and cat shelters, or get creative and involve your family and friends in a festive fundraiser or a pet food drive.
The Precious Gift of Time
Take a break from holiday shopping, baking, and party hosting, and carve out time to volunteer at cat shelters or dog shelters. Most pet shelters welcome volunteers to help with day-to-day tasks like dog walking, and to show these deserving pets the true meaning of giving.
Help Make These Pet Holidays the Merriest Yet
If you’re wondering how to help shelters, contact area pet shelters and ask them what’s on their holiday wish lists this year. Together, we can show our support for local pet shelters and help make holidays for dogs and holidays for cats extra special this year.