Help Your Local Animal Shelter with a Second-Hand Gift

Have you ever wanted to do more to help your local animal shelter? Perhaps in the past you’ve been held back by a lack of time or money.

You’ll be happy to know that there is a great way for you to help out that doesn’t take much of either resource. Shelters often have a pressing need for second-hand items, things that you might just have lying around your house right now.

What kinds of items? Old towels, blankets, pet food coupons and toys that your pets don’t play with anymore are all high on the list of items that could make a shelter pet’s life better. Almost everyone has at least some of these items!

The full “shelter wish list” includes some items that might not be any value to you at all, like old newspapers. Here is the full list:

• Toys

• Treats

• Blankets

• Towels

• Rugs

• Beds

• Bleach

• Leashes

• Collars

• Coupons

• Newspapers

If you have an item that you think might be useful and you don’t see it on your list, just call your local shelter and ask if they might have a need for it.

This kind of gifting can often be just as helpful as a cash donation. All animal shelters run on extremely tight budgets, and every item that you donate represents one less item that they will have to purchase. Some shelters struggle just to feed their charges, so even coupon savings add up.

My company, Pet Peeps, is choosing to help shelters out by participating in the National Association of Annual Professional Pet Sitters’ Annual Presents 4 Pets drive. This means we’re ready to make it easy and convenient for you to donate your gifts. Throughout the month of November anyone living in the DC area can call or e-mail us and arrange to make a donation. We’ll pick up your items for you, which means making your donations is truly as easy as clicking “send.”

Why not set aside a special box in your home to hold special items as you find them throughout the months of September and October? Together, we can make a difference for shelter pets.