This post is sponsored by Rachael Ray™ Nutrish®. All opinions are my own.
Animal shelters are always in need. The greatest need is, of course, forever homes for the many homeless pets that find themselves at shelters feeling scared and confused. If you’re not in a position to adopt or become a foster, there are still many ways you can help dogs and cats in need. Volunteering at a local animal shelter is a great way to help. Many shelters need volunteers to do things like walking dogs or play with the cats. In addition to donating your time or skills, you can also make a monetary donation or donate specific items. Items donations make a big difference for the lives of the animals at the shelters.
Over summer break my family was able to make a donation to the SPCA Florida Adoption Center which is headquartered in my town. Rachael Ray Nutrish graciously provided me with discretionary funds to make a donation to shelter of my choice. Doing this service project with my little girl was a great experience and something we won’t soon forget.
The first thing I did was call my local shelter to find out what they need. After speaking to a shelter representative, I learned they had some very specific needs. Some of those items included: cat litter, Martingale dog collars, KONG incline cat scratchers, and toys for larger dogs. They even have a need for bubbles which are blown for the cats during playtime.
I ordered more than 400 pounds of cat litter to pick up at my local Sam’s Club, and I clearly wasn’t thinking about just how much cat litter that was when I placed the order. Luckily, my Dad has a big truck and was willing to help.
For time’s sake, much of what we donated was ordered online. I opened my garage door one afternoon to find ten large boxes from Chewy.com sitting on my driveway. T helped me get rid of some of the packing paper and we were able to fit it all into six boxes. With a little creative packing, I was able to fit it all into my car.
While at the shelter we spent a little time visiting the dogs and cats. T wanted to bring every single dog home with us. If I’m being honest, I did too. The timing isn’t right for us to adopt another dog, but at least we can still make a difference for the animals at the shelter through donations and volunteering.
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month (October) is just around the corner and making a donation to your local shelter is a great way to help. if you’re not in a position to adopt a pet. Not sure what to donate? Contact your local shelter or rescue group to see if it has a wish list of items it needs. I’ve put together a list of items shelters can often use.
20 Things to Donate to Your Local Animal Shelter
1. Cat litter and boxes
2. Water and food bowls
3. Leashes and collars
4. Pet food
5. Treats
6. Grooming supplies
7. Towels and blankets
8. Pet beds
9. Toys
10. Shredded office paper
11. Cleaning supplies
12. Crates and carriers
13. Hand wash and hand sanitizer
14. Paper towels
15. Heating pads
16. Cat scratchers
17. Paper towel and toilet paper rolls
18. Zip-lock bags and garbage bags
19. Flea and tick preventative in original packaging (I would call ahead about this.)
20. Office supplies
I know everything we donated will be put to good use, and am so glad we could help in our own little way. Many thanks to my friends at Rachael Ray Nutrish for making this donation possible.
Rachael’s Rescue® is another reason I LOVE Rachael Ray Nutrish!
Rachael’s Rescue® was created for all of the forgotten pets – the ones who might not have someone who loves them as much as they deserve. A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need through Rachael’s Rescue. Through December 2016, Rachael’s Rescue has donated more than $17.5 million dollars to pet charities and other organizations that do good for animals. The funds are used for food, medical supplies, treatments, and more for animals in need. Many more animals around the country need help, and through Rachael’s Rescue, together we can make a difference in the lives of many four-legged friends.
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Thanks for the info,I am going to drop some things off at my local shelter this weekend.
We have 2 dogs and 2 cats and we’re all huge animal lovers at home. It’s always nice to be able to give back to shelters, it would really help them a lot. This is a pretty good list!
I think this is a wonderful idea. I used to volunteer at a shelter and is always appreciated when donations are made. So nice of you and your family!
This is a super awesome list! I have a good friend who has worked in rescue for years and these are all the things she lists they need. Great tip on calling ahead with the flea meds. They will need different brands and levels depending on age, weight, etc. Also, any old shirts, pants, etc, that are made out of cotton are super useful as well.
I just love this. I can’t donate as much time as I used to at the shelters to walk the dogs or play with the cats, but there are ways to help. Little is probably the number one thing for cats and blankets/towels for the dogs at the shelter here.
Thanks for raising awareness about the local animal shelters’ need for community support. It would not hurt if we get an extra bag of pet food and donate it to the shelter. If I had more room in the house, I would go ahead and adopt another dog.
This is a great list of things to donate to a local animal shelter! It’s a wonderful thing to do as well!
I love this. It’s really such a great idea especially since shelters run out of supplies often and there are times wherein they need more than they have. I think it’s such a good initiative to donate supplies!
That is a lot of car litter, lol. But I know the shelter will probably go through it in no time. These are good ideas about what to donate.
What a great inspiring list. I always link food, litter, treats but never even thought about cleaning supplies and paper products. So helpful!