Going to Donate to a Shelter? Consider Giving These Items….

With the way the economy is going these days many non profits are fighting budget crunches and they need donations more than ever.  However, the typical American is also tightening down the purse strings as the economy is also personally affecting them.  So what can we give to shelters that is the biggest bang for the buck or even what we have already at home to help out.  Here are some suggestions:

1. Towels– Everyone has some old faded/stained towels that are stuck in the bottom of the closet.  Consider giving them to a shelter. Us doggies don’t care what color they are or how they look. They make great beds!  The shelter staff can also use them to dry us off or clean up our messes too.
2. Old Blankets  — see towels above..also great beds!
3. Laundry Detergent  —Well all those towels and blankets need washed.  Also, if you have any fabric softener laying around donate that too..we love soft blankets!
4. Food.  — Do you have some pet food in your garage that Fido or Fluffy won’t eat..bring it down to the shelter or humane society.  Also, when cutting out coupons or looking through the sales ads if there is a great deal consider buying extra food to donate to the shelter as well.
5. Treats — Us doggies LOVE LOVE LOVE treats..so consider throwing an extra package or two in your shopping cart next time your at the grocery store to donate.
6. Place Mats — these make great mats for food dishes.  Cloth ones are a great size for cat beds too.
7. Litter — I have three cats and I see the amount of litter they go through I can’t image how many pounds a shelter needs a week?!?!?  I know around here people who own pick up trucks will buy littler to put in the bed to weigh down the truck for the winter.  When your done with that litter consider giving it to the animal shelter.
8. Leashes or Collars — This is one item that many rescues and shelters are always running low on. When a dog gets adopted and the new parents don’t bring a collar they shelter will usually let them take the collar with them.  So look through those cabinets and pull out all those out of date collars  and drop them off.
9. Food Dishes — Every dog and cat needs to eat and would love a dish of their own.   Bowls get broken over time, chewed up, or destroyed so any extra ones you have laying around will come in very handy.
10. Finally — Time! Volunteer even if it is just one hour a week or a month at your local shelter or humane society.   There are tons of things to do that are so rewarding.  You can walk dogs, pet them, make phone calls, send e-mails,  stuff fundraising letters, play with the animals, do some yard work, or if you have a special skill such as construction, electrical, etc. you may be able to help them do a much needed repair.