According to a survey done in 2021, there are around 470 million pet dogs and 370 pet cats in the world. While this may seem like a staggering number, there are still hundreds of millions of dogs and cats that are homeless and in need of our help. That’s where animal shelters come in. Their main purpose is to keep these animals protected and give them a home and a chance to find a loving family. Giving them shelter can save them from a lot of harmful situations they might have to encounter on the streets.
If you’re one of those people who have a lot of love and sympathy for animals in your heart, then helping an animal charity might be a great option for you. If you don’t know where to start, we’re here to help.
How to support animal shelters
The best way to support an animal shelter would be through donations. There are a number of animal charity gift donations that are considered essential. Here are a few of them:
Pet food
This is a great idea for a gift and will always be appreciated in an animal shelter. If you’re unaware of what to get, you can search online for good pet food brands. Or you could even call up the animal shelter and ask them what they’d like. Either way, our friends in the animal shelter would greatly appreciate it!
Bedding
These can include blankets and towels which can be useful for a good night’s sleep for our four legged friends.They also deserve a warm cosy bed and a good night’s sleep and you can help them get it. Whether you donate some old towels or blankets you no longer use or buy new ones, it’s a great gift and will surely be utilised well.
Cleaning supplies
Taking care of a pet requires a lot of hard work and care. It’s no less than a full time commitment and every pet owner will tell you that same thing. It’s no easy feat. Make a call to the shelter you plan on donating to and ask them what cleaning supplies they’re low on and then purchase the products accordingly. They’re sure to come in handy!
Toys and collars
Puppies and kittens and even older pets love to play with toys and can even form attachments with toys they really like. If you have toys around your house that you no longer have any need for, pack them up and drop them off at the shelter. They’re bound to make their day! Moreover, you can even buy gentle collars and leashes as shelters always have a need for them.
Medicine and prevention supplies for fleas and ticks
You might need to consult someone at the shelter you plan on donating to for this one but it’s an essential gift and could be really helpful. Shelters try their best to keep their animals in healthy conditions and gifting them these would be appreciated. You could even be saving someone’s life with your donation!
These are just some of the donation gifts to consider for animal charities. However, the greatest gift you could give them is to adopt a pet and give it a forever home. And if you can’t afford that, then you should definitely try to help by donating something. However little the effort, it makes a huge difference!
