12 Ways to Help Homeless Animals This Holiday Season

Here are 12 ways to help our animal friends this holiday season and all through out the year:

1. Santa Paws Drive

Now in it's third year, Santa Paws Drive is the first "virtual toy drive" for pets! Donate either cash or gifts and the goodies will go to six shelters across the world! Bring some good cheer to homeless animals this holiday.

2. Ask your local animal shelter what is on their wish list 
Shelters are always in need of cat and dog food, collars, leashes, dish detergent, laundry detergent, paper towels, cotton towels, scratching posts, kitty litter, cat and dog toys, cat beds, postage stamps, hand sanitizer and garbage bags

3. Volunteer your time
 You can socialize and play with the kitties, walk dogs, help with social media, assist with fundraising or marketing

4.  Satisfy your sweet tooth with Rescue Chocolate
100% of the net profits of Rescue Chocolate go to help animal rescue organizations around the country. The chocolate is vegan. You can support the non-profit animal rescue PAWS in Norwalk, CT. For every bar of chocolate you purchase from Rescue Chocolate, they will donate $1 to PAWS. Enjoy such flavors as:

• Foster-iffic Peppermint (dark chocolate with peppermint, highlighting the need for people to provide foster care for shelter animals as they await their forever homes)
• Mission Feral Fig (fig, cranberry, almond, and spices, highlighting the humane solution for feral cats, TNR)

MEOW calendar 2012

5. Buy an Animal Rescue calendar

You can purchase the 15th Anniversary Issue MEOW Cat Rescue and Adoption calendar 2012. It features gorgeous kitties from MEOW cat rescue in Kirkland, WA.

6. Make a donation to a shelter in memory of a loved one
Honor a pet companion or a loved one who was a pet person. Make a donation to the non-profit, no-kill, volunteer-driven Orphan Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Neenah, WI, and the shelter will post your pet or person's photo on their webpage.

7. Purchase a cookbook
Want to make some pet treats? Chef Jack the cat will show you how in his new book, Operation Cookin' with Jack . The cookbook proceeds will go to support the nonprofit Feline Rescue and Rehome in Little, Rock, Arkansas.

The Feline Rescue and Rehome Cookbook

The cookbook features:

• Great Recipes from Friends of FuRR
• Pet Treat Recipes
• Wonderful Cat Stories
• Special Feline Tips
• Cookbook Stand
• Room to Add Your Own Recipes

8. Foster a cat or dog
Petfinder has a number of articles and questions to ask about fostering animals before you begin.

9. A click of your mouse--it's so easy!

• Visit the Animal Rescue site and Click on the purple "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button on the home page. You'll help feed and care for rescued animals. Bowls of food are paid for by The Animal Rescue Site's sponsors. And you can even shop their store to give more.
• Help feed hungry cats and dogs. Go to the freekibble site and answer the trivia questions. The organization will send 10 pieces of kibble to animal shelters.

And you can go to these sites every day!

10. Sponsor a cat or dog
Many animal shelters have programs where you can sponsor a rescue cat or dog, some with special needs. You can make a big difference in their lives. Anjellicle Cats  a non-profit, no kill, all volunteer organization in New York City offers 4 levels of sponsorship for kitties including: Feline Friendly, Cat Lady, Lion Tamer and Guardian Angel. The rescue will send you photos and updates of your chosen kitty.

11. Donate your used vehicle
You can support a shelter by donating your used car and receive a tax deduction. You can help the non-profit Baltimore Animal Rescue Care Shelter through your used vehicle donation. In addition to cars, you can donate trucks, vans, boats, motorcycles, jet skis, snowmobiles, RVs, and even airplanes!  

12. Write a check or purchase a gift card
Animal shelters can always use money to continue their valuable work. A check for any amount or a gift card to a PetSmart or Petco is appreciated.

photo credit: wwarby