Holiday Giving: Reach Out to the Animal Community, Too

We love the holidays—we're reminded daily, of how many wonderful things there are in our lives, and we're also reminded to reach out to those who are less fortunate. It's the season for giving, and there's an often looked-over community that's especially in need right now: Don't forget about the animals!

While Americans may be spending more money on their beloved pets, many families are having to let go of their pets due to economic stresses. Here are a few ways you can help these animals (and in turn, do a solid for the planet):

• Donate food and bedding to a shelter. If you can afford to, donate all-natural foods and sustainably produced bedding.
• Recycle old sweatshirts, towels, and blankets at the animal shelters. They can be used in myriad ways at the shelter.
• Donate time. Spend time at the shelters giving lonely animals some much-needed attention.
• If you are in the position to, adopt a homeless animal and commit to giving it as green a home as possible.
• If you're not ready to adopt but want to help in a big way, foster a dog or cat in your home until they can find a forever home.
• Don't stop there: collect donations of food, bedding, and even money from colleagues or friends.

In any case, remember that giving an animal a loving home (or the chance at one) is a great way to make this world a better place.

(Image: Amber Byfield for Re-Nest)

Comments (8)

I agree. They are very important as well.

How do you possibly say "no" to that face???

We are adopting a dog tomorrow. Still looking for her original owner for a bit (we're the ones who found her), but if we can't find him or her, we'll keep the dog.

Thank you for posting this. I immediately logged on and donated money to my local shelter and signed up to be a volunteer. I will also FINALLY drop off some old blankets and towels that I've been "meaning to" forever.

I foster rabbits with the House Rabbit Society and my sister runs a pug rescue in Austin.

There are so many ways to help animals in need! You have a great list up there. I love fostering and haven't had any trouble when my foster rabbits go to their forever home. Some people will be tempted to keep them all, so for them, donating time at a shelter or rescue organization may be a better idea. There is always something to do, but please remember that many rescue groups are run by volunteers who are very busy. If you have emailed or called and haven't heard back, then I recommend just trying again. Sometimes prospective volunteers get frustrated if they don't get an immediate reply.

Our local vets often have "giving trees" for local shelter and rescue animals. If your vet doesn't have such a thing, I'm sure that you could contact a local group about making up a gift basket for them. Many groups have wish lists posted on their websites.

Staying in town this month? Maybe you can try fostering a lonely pet just for the holidays. See if there are local groups participating in this program here - http://www.petfinder.com/foster-a-lonely-pet

I signed up to make a regular monthly donation for the next year to a local pug rescue a few days ago, mapr.

And another thing to mention is NEVER GIVE AN ANIMAL AS A GIFT! Living things are not to be gifted. That is one of the very many reasons that animals end up in shelters. Of course, if you or your family is adopting one as a gift to yourselves, that's different, but don't give one to your friend, brother, sister, mother, etc., and risk the possibility of that person not being prepared to care for a pet.

@rebeldress - that is such a good point! We get a ton of rabbits every year a few weeks after Easter. People think it is cute to give their child a baby bunny for Easter and neglect to think through all the care and time that animal will require. Rabbits can easily live to be 12 years old! There is a campaign called Make Mine Chocolate (http://www.makeminechocolate.org/) to educate people and discourage that practice.

On a similar vein, I would hope that everyone reading here knows enough to realize that domesticated animals should never be "released into the wild". Our rescue and local shelters often find domesticated rabbits running loose. They are usually filthy and starving because they don't have the necessary skills to live in the wild. I grew up in the country, and we regularly found dogs and cats that were likely driven out there and dumped by neglectful owners. My mom would take them in, clean them up, and find them homes. I am pretty sure this started both my sister and I on the path of rescuing animals ourselves :-)