Holiday Spirit: Ways to Give Back to Local Animal Shelters
Make this the merriest of pet holidays for animals still awaiting their furever families by showing your support for local pet shelters. Many cat shelters and dog shelters welcome donations of basic supplies as well as the kindness of your time and TLC. Here are some suggestions from our team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital on how to help shelters during the holiday season and beyond.
Foster a Furry Friend for the Holidays
With most dog shelters and cat shelters filled to the rafters, they welcome foster pet parents who can provide these precious animals with a nurturing home environment while they await their forever homes.
Expand Your Family in Time for the Holidays
Ready to bring home a new pet permanently? When you adopt a shelter pet, you save two lives: the ball of fur and fun that you welcome into your home and another deserving pet in need of shelter space.
Play Santa Paws for Pet Shelters
Load up your sleigh (or sedan!) with supplies that are on your local pet shelter’s wish list. Contact local pet shelters (or visit their websites) to find out what they need this holiday season. Then, let the shopping begin! You’ll make holidays for cats and holidays for dogs in shelters merrier with your generous donations. Popular requests from pet shelters include:
- New pet toys
- Pet beds, cozy blankets, or soft towels
- Pet carriers
- Cat trees
- Grooming supplies
- Unopened pet food and/or treats
- Cleaning supplies like disinfecting wipes and paper towels
Contribute to the Bottom Lines of Local Pet Shelters
Many cat shelters, dog shelters, and rescue organizations rely solely on financial support from local communities. Visit their websites for convenient “donate” buttons, or get creative with a family fundraiser or holiday pet food drive.
Share the Gift of Your Time
Break free the holiday hustle and bustle and spend time volunteering at cat shelters or dog shelters. Many pet shelters welcome volunteers to help with dog walking and other day-to-day duties, and to show these sweet animals the true meaning of the holiday spirit.
Spread Good Tidings on Social Media
Let your followers know how to help. Retweet or share posts from pet shelters on your own socials, or upload pix of the pets you’re fostering or the shelter pets you adopt to inspire others to help their local pet shelters.
Making Pet Holidays Sparkle
Our team wants to help make the holidays for dogs and holidays for cats extra merry this year. If you’re wondering how to help shelters, please contact local pet shelters or rescue organizations to find out what’s on their holiday wish lists. When you give the gift of time and support to area shelters, you make pet holidays sparkle for the deserving animals in our community.