There are approximately 6.5 million animals in more than 14,000 U.S. shelters nationwide every year. If you are like most of the animal-obsessed staff ZAG Interactive, you want to be able to help in any way you can. If rescuing an animal makes sense for your family, we of course encourage you to visit one of the local animal shelters to find a furry friend of your own. But if you can’t adopt, there are still plenty of ways you can give back to make a difference.
Call a local shelter
Contact a local shelter and ask them what they need. They always have a wish list and often will post this on their social media pages as well. Remember that buying items online and shipping to the shelter is easy for you - and for them – and often shelters have an online wish list to make donating effortless.
Shop Amazon for a cause
Amazon.com, through their AmazonSmile program, allows you to choose from a list of almost a million charities, including countless animal shelters. Once your charity is selected, Amazon donates .5% of the price of eligible purchases to the selected charity.
Collect commonly needed items
Whether you run a local fundraiser or donate yourselves, these are some commonly needed items that most shelters can always use:
- Bowls for food and water
- Pet beds
- Pet crates
- Leashes and collars
- Litterboxes
- Cat litter
- Grooming supplies
- Flea and tick prevention
- Towels and blankets
- Cleaning supplies
- Paper towels
- Portable fans
- Office supplies (to support office staff)
- Pet toys
- Laundry detergent
- Shredded office paper
Now that you know how easy it is to make a difference, what are you waiting for?
* Sources: ASPCA, Amazon.com