How to Help Homeless Dogs and Cats This Holiday Season

January 28, 2022

Happy December! It’s still hard for us to wrap our heads (and tails) around the fact that it’s already December, but we hope that after this difficult year you have a truly wonderful holiday season celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, or whatever else you may celebrate with your loved ones, including your four-legged family members of course!

Since we could all use some holiday cheer and a sense of community right now, we thought we would share some easy ways you can help homeless dogs and cats this holiday season and all year long.

Donate New and Used Items.

Shelters and rescue groups are always in need of supplies for their residents and operations. You can purchase something new from a local pet store, or even donate one of your own pet’s used items, just make sure to adequately clean it before doing so. If you’re not sure what to donate, check in with your local shelter or rescue group as most organizations have a wish list ready of items they need right away. A few items that animal organizations typically need include:

Dog & Cat Food, Treats, Beds, and Toys
Towels and Blankets
Bleach, Trash Bags, Paper Towels, Kitty Litter
Rubber Gloves, Cotton Balls, Gauze Wrap
You can make the donation yourself by scheduling a drop-off time with your shelter or rescue group of choice, but we’ve also made it super easy for you to make a donation with our Annual Holiday Donation Drive. Simply drop off your donation to any of Barkefellers’ four locations and place them around the Christmas tree. We will match your donations and distribute them to organizations the second week of January.

Give a Monetary Donation.

Not sure what items to donate? No worries! Monetary donations are appreciated just as much and can be used as the individual shelter or rescue group sees fit. Most animal organizations make it as easy as possible to make a donation with a form on their website, but you can also reach out to them directly for the easiest way to make a monetary donation.

Donate Your Time.

If donations aren’t an option that’s available to you, there are tons of other ways to make a difference in the lives of homeless animals, primarily through volunteering. Shelters and rescue groups are almost always in need of volunteers so they make it as easy as possible to sign up with a form on their website, or you can reach out to them directly for how to sign up. The type of work varies from cleaning the facility and spending time with animals to administrative and visitor focused work. If you’re an animal lover, chances are the work will be rewarding and enjoyable because you’re working with and for animals and trust us, we know that makes work a whole lot more fun.

Foster a Pet.

If you want to take your volunteer work a step further, consider becoming a foster parent! Animal organizations agree this is one of the most beneficial things you can do for a homeless dog or cat as time away from the shelter and in a home setting has numerous benefits for the animal’s health and well-being. Most organizations have a thorough screening process before letting people become foster parents and this isn’t a decision to be made lightly. Therefore, make sure that you have the space and time to dedicate to your foster pet while they are looking for their forever home. However, we can personally attest that it is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have so if you think you and your family could be a good fit, reach out to your local rescue or shelter group today!

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