Dog Community

Helping the Humane Society (or insert shelter name here)

Posted : 3/5/2007 4:13:43 PM

I just post this in a thread about donating food, but I thought I would just start a new thread for ideas and ways to help.

I don't often have large quantities of money to give all at once, but I find this really easy to do: Everytime I go grocery shopping, I buy just one or two things for our local Humane Society. I keep the items in a cardboard box in my basement and once it's full (doesn't take long, we shop a lot), I truck it down there to the HS. For people like me who can't afford to just go out and hand $200 all at once, it's an easy way to help that you hardly even notice.

I usually buy stuff like:

- Paper towels, sponges, rubber gloves
- Garbage bags, ziplock bags
- Non clumping kitty litter
- Kitty litter spoons
- Manual can openers (they go through these alot I guess!)
- Stainless food dishes
- Glade plug-ins

Anyway just some ideas.... if anyone else has ideas on simple ways to help, please post them! Or if the shelter people can tell us more about stuff you are always needing?

marynh

Posted : 3/5/2007 4:24:05 PM

copy paper
laundry detergent
I also make snugglies for the shelter kitties with leftover yarn (greatly appreciated)
or if I find a comforter/bedspread really cheap I make blankets for the dogs

C K

Posted : 3/5/2007 5:00:21 PM

We usually can use old towels that are in fairly good condition, you have to be able to fold them, so the ones that get all crumpled up at the ends aren't really used.
Pet friendly cleaners
We use plastic silverware for wet food, I'm not sure about other shelters
Dish soap
Dog and cat collars
Leashes
Old wash cloths

That's all I can think of right now.

NicoleS

Posted : 3/5/2007 5:07:40 PM

I was thinking about crocheting a few blankets to donate.... would they be useful? I already have some old yarn and I'm in between projects..... it's easier for me than doing things that cost money since I have so little of it, but I would like to do something for all the poor critters out there. At least to have something that is "theirs" and something to lay on......

jenhuedepohl

Posted : 3/5/2007 5:11:24 PM

I just got an email about our company's matching gift program. They will match my contributions to any 501(3)c charity 100%. There's just a $50 minimum & $10,000 max. All I have to do is fill out the online form. That makes the $50 I saved out of several paychecks into $100 for the shelter!

labcrab

Posted : 3/5/2007 5:19:28 PM

ORIGINAL: NicoleS

I was thinking about crocheting a few blankets to donate.... would they be useful? I already have some old yarn and I'm in between projects..... it's easier for me than doing things that cost money since I have so little of it, but I would like to do something for all the poor critters out there. At least to have something that is "theirs" and something to lay on......

Nicole, I think that's a fantastic idea. You don't need to spend any money if you are using yarn that you already have on hand. Great donation!!!

NicoleS

Posted : 3/5/2007 5:48:03 PM

ORIGINAL: labcrab

ORIGINAL: NicoleS

I was thinking about crocheting a few blankets to donate.... would they be useful? I already have some old yarn and I'm in between projects..... it's easier for me than doing things that cost money since I have so little of it, but I would like to do something for all the poor critters out there. At least to have something that is "theirs" and something to lay on......

Nicole, I think that's a fantastic idea. You don't need to spend any money if you are using yarn that you already have on hand. Great donation!!!

Thanks! A long-lost relative several times removed passed away a while ago and had a ton of old stuff..... and somehow it came to me. The colors aren't anything I would want to use for my own projects, so it's been laying around and now I think I will put it to use. Once I get thru the garbage bag full of this stuff, I can then decide if it's worth it to purchase more yarn for future blankets or do something else. I'll take a picture once I get one done.

Completely OT, but in college I helped out with "Warm Up America" a project where one crochets or knits squares from scraps and can either combine them into blankets or send in just squares and then can then be made into blankets for people in need. I just never got to see where anything went, so at least this way I can go to a shelter myself and actually see my things being put to use, which makes it all the more meaningful for me.

Amy

Posted : 3/5/2007 6:43:01 PM

Bleach, Kongs, Nylabones.
Handtowels for cat cage beds.
Treats for the staff! A plate of brownies is always welcome!

For blankets, I think non-absorbent materials like polarfleece work best- they are easy to wash, don't make a lot of lint, and dry fast (for shelters trying to save on utility bills).

Once in awhile I will spend $80 and buy cat treats and dog bones (real ones- the big knuckles) and then go personally deliver them to the kennels right before closing. The animals start chewing/playing immediately and it just makes me happy to see. If your shelter allows this, it's fun to do.

kpwlee

Posted : 3/5/2007 8:06:15 PM

our spca has a wishlist - scroll down
[linkhttp://www.spcawake.org/wishlist.html]http://www.spcawake.org/wishlist.html[/link]

micksmom

Posted : 3/5/2007 8:12:04 PM

I have an "in" with a local pet supply store. He lets me know when he has stuff returned that he can't re-sell, etc, and I pick it up for the place we adopted Mick from. Most of our dog owning friends know to call me when they have stuff they're getting rid of, too. And my vet- you wouldn't believe how many people leave crates/carriers there and either don't come back for them, or say to do whatever with them. I also check out yard sales for toys, crates, etc. And when I buy new collars and leashes, the old ones go in the donation box/bag, too.

marynh

Posted : 3/6/2007 9:15:57 AM

the crochet, or knitted blankets, for shelters are called snugglies. There is s site online that gives patterns for these.
I have patterns too if anyone is interested. Normally used for cats. I'd be afraid a dog might chew them up

NicoleS

Posted : 3/6/2007 9:22:15 AM

Mary,

I would surely like to see these! The pattern I am doing right now is a simple crocheted pattern with a heart design into it - I thought it was adorable. I guess I would leave it up to the shelter to decide which animals to give them to so they wouldn't eat/chew them..... I just know that when we adopted Sammy they gave us a blanket for the car, etc even though he hadn't had one in his crate. The lady I emailed seemed to think it was a terrific idea for the animals, but you are right about chewing and I hadn't put a lot of thought into that. Maybe just for a take-home present then for the doggies?

Vita Wright

Posted : 3/6/2007 10:26:22 AM

I drop off food and such when I can. Our Humane Society has a thrift store so I donate by shopping there ALOT!! They sell pet supplies there and some are used so I hesitate to donate too many pet supplies to the shelter. I am afraid they will be sold at the store. You can get a list though from the shelter and it tells you exactly what they need. I have done this before.