The joy of giving is one of the best parts of the holiday season, and animal shelters across the country can always use a helping paw. But what do animal shelters need, and what are items they can or cannot put to good use?
The best way to get animal shelters the items they need (and take the guesswork out) is by checking out their website to see if they have a wish list of items that can either be found around your home, purchased locally or purchased through their online wish list from sites like Amazon and Chewy. Some of the most commonly needed supplies include cat litter, canned and dry food, treats, toys, paper towels and fleece blankets, but many shelters can also take gently used towels or pet supplies. Every shelter has different needs that may also change depending on the season (especially kitten season!), so it’s always a good idea to check for any updated lists.
Another fun part of the holiday season is that you may have gifted your pets (or yourself) lots of new goodies and now need to find a new home for items no longer needed. A good rule of thumb for donating previously used items is that if it can’t be sanitized, then a shelter likely won’t be able to use it. Items that unfortunately cannot be safely sanitized include used cat scratchers, litter pans, pillows and oversized bedding that won’t fit into a washing machine.
Shelters often have a limited amount of space, so before donating large items such as wire crates or bird cages, it’s best to contact the shelter to see if they have an immediate use for them. If they don’t, you can often find a home for these kinds of items on local “Buy Nothing” groups.
Thanks for thinking of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and animals across your community this holiday season. If you are looking for the purr-fect gift for an animal in your neighborhood, check out some of our wish lists for animals of all types:
