Friday, February 24, 2012

Spring Cleaning With Meaning!

Many of my blog friends love animals as much as I do.  Seriously love. My house would be an empty shell without the love and affection I have been blessed with.  My pets are as much a part of my family as my child and my husband!
Shelters all over the world are at full capacity.  There are ways to help if, like me, you simply cannot take in another pet.
Spring is around the corner and with it, the opportunity to clear out the clutter that may have accumulated in the past year.  Shelters are in dire need of many of the items that may be headed for the trash heap.

 FIVE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP A SHELTER PET:

IF YOU HAVE 1 MINUTEShare at least one post of a pet in need of help.


IF YOU HAVE 5 MINUTES – Open your linen closet and remove the sheets,  towels, placemats you



 no longer use. Throw them into a bag and leave them by your front door to drop off at the shelter the


next time you go out. Get in the habit of stacking newspapers in the trunk of your car.  If you find 


yourself near a shelter, merely drop them off!  Thrift stores are the perfect place to find the gift of towels


 and blankets for our furry friends!




IF YOU HAVE 20 MINUTES – Create a flier to post in local pet shops listing all free/low-cost spay 


and neuter programs in your area. Create posters to remind people to spay and neuter their pets and to


Adopt, Not Shop!



IF YOU HAVE AN ENTIRE DAY – Visit your local shelter and ask how you can help. Inquire about


 their volunteer program and meet some of the staff. Then, get to work!




IF YOU HAVE THE GIFT OF TIME THAT KEEPS ON GIVING – Volunteer regularly at your local


 shelter. Run donation drives in your area. Volunteer to transport


 cats and dogs to their new homes (transport is always needed!) 


Who's saving whom?





Other Items Shelters Need:







  1. Food and Treats

    • Every creature needs to eat. Dog food and cat food in bags or cans are usually welcome donations to animal shelters. Dog treats, catnip and cat treats are also thoughtful items that help give the animals a little extra boost between bowls.

    Household Goods

    • Animals get dirty and shelters need daily cleaning. Old towels, rags, brooms, mops, cleaning soaps, buckets, disinfectants and natural cleaners are always appreciated. Sponges and scrub brushes are also needed, as well as newspapers and trash bags.

    Toys

    • A pet that is played with is a happy pet. Balls, chew toys, Frisbees, squeaky toys, pull ropes and stuffed animals ensure that shelter residents get some healthy play breaks during long days inside a crate or cage. Toys can help young animals through painful teething and they provide exercise the young and old.

    Gear

    • Few animals arrive at a shelter with a collar and leash. Many shelters provide these items to adoptive parents. Collars, harnesses and leashes are in constant demand. Bedding and blankets also make the animals' temporary home a cozier place to live.

    Litter Boxes and Litter

    • Shelters run through cat litter quickly. Bags are always welcome.

    Flea and Tick Treatment

    • Animals often arrive infested with fleas and ticks. Medication is needed to keep a shelter from crawling with bugs.




Contact your local shelter to see what they may need.  Click on this link to Petfinders
to find a shelter near you!
Many shelters take "Memorial Donations" in honor of a beloved pet who has passed on. It is a meaningful way to remember your friend while helping others!

If you simply cannot help rescue this little guy, you can make his life in the shelter more bearable!


Beautiful Dreamer came to Pet Savers on February 24, 2012. His owner is 7 months pregnant and could no longer care for him. Unfortunately, we’re not even sure if this sweet, precious angel will survive, but we are doing everything we can to give him a chance. Beautiful Dreamer is currently at our vet in critical condition. What they’ve determined so far, is that he has a prostate infection, is severely emaciated, heavily matted, and literally on death’s door. He’s on IV fluids and being monitored around the clock, thanks to a caring vet tech who is taking him home at night.

Beautiful Dreamer is only a year and half old… but looks so much older! We see cases like him on occasion, but typically they are found as strays or come in from kill-shelters. This sweet baby came from a home!!

We, at Pet Savers, want to give this baby a fighting chance and request your assistance with his vet bills. While we don’t know the extent of his vet bills at this point, we do know that it will not be cheap. We’re starting his Chipin at $800, which will help us continue his care. 

Beautiful Dreamer - one and half year old Shih Tzu/Japanese Chin mix... on death's door! Donate now: http://pippy.chipin.com/beautiful-dreamer

I normally do not ask for this type of help but I saw this little man and my heart wedged in my throat.  It doesn't hurt to ask!  One dollar at a time adds up!

xoxo
Andie

14 comments:

  1. You are a dear. The pet world is so much better because of you. we have no animal shelter in our town. There is a groomer, she is dear, she will take what we bring her and keep, clean and protect till we can find a home. usually doesn't take long. I found my Sissy on the street. And she is the bestest of the best. I wish I could adopt them all. I have limits, but I can help and donate and I try. I love you for doing what you do. Your dear pet lover friend, Richard from My Old Historic House and Sissy Dog who came from the streets to the mansion. I am the lucky one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Already cleaned out my linen closet a few weeks ago and took all our old towels to the shelter. The closest shelter we have is seventy miles away and mainly kitties almost never dogs since they get adopted right away. I think the most important thing to remind people is to get their pet spayed or neutered so there aren't so many animals left without homes. Don't forget people can donate to the Humane Society right online as well. I think it's wonderful of you Andie for getting the word out to people.

    Enjoy your Weekend!
    XX
    Debra~

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  3. Breaks my heart. I always donate food to the shelters.
    My next kitty will be a homeless one that's for sure.
    Pamela xo

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a great post! Also, I would add that you should support no kill shelters versus kill shelters.

    It's very à propos for me: I am fostering a Mama cat for our local Humane Society and she just gave birth this morning to two cute kittens! I have done this several times already. This is my sixth mom! Our shelter prefers that our pregnant cats be fostered in a quiet home environment so that the kittens can be socialized and get used to home noises, while being protected from the diseases that can commonly occur in shelters in spite of our best efforts to contain them.

    Fostering is another way to help and if you're willing to do a bit of work (although Mom does a lot of it), it is very fun and rewarding. It's hard to see them go when they're old enough, but it makes me happy to think that they're going to good homes where they are going to make other people happy. See if your local shelter has a website: they will often post a wish list.

    A few suggestions: when you donate toys, make sure they can be washed or sanitized. If you're donating bowls, shelters usually prefer metal or ceramic ones over plastic.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Andie ... such a beautiful post... you are so thoughtful. The first little white cat looked just like our Sugar. take care and best wishes
    Frances

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh those photos......
    melt my heart. We have two of
    four babies here who came from
    shelters and we support them annually.

    Thanks for reminding all of us to do so.
    xox
    A

    P.S. That was so incredibly sweet of you and Gracie
    to send Richard the wee things for his pink dollhouse!
    He is so thrilled. Love that guy!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, Andie, such a touching post! You have such a wonderful heart for these little darlings and these are some great tips for us to help. I hope little Beautiful Dreamer gets well and some loving family takes him in.
    I saw the sweet little miniatures you send to Richard...you are just a darling.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia )

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Andie,
    Thank you so much for your sweet and loving comments on the passing of my dear Caramel. It is the loss of a family member just as your fur friends are to you. She is so missed. On to happier things. I am amazed at the finds you capture on Craigslist. In this area your treasures would sell for much more. If you end up with too many be sure to remember your blog friends;>)
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

    ReplyDelete
  9. Andie you are such a dear, it is such an important cause. I support Animal Haven here in Kansas City.
    Wish I could take in more precious pets.

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

    ReplyDelete
  10. Andi, this is a magnificent post! I do a lot of animal rescue work and everything you said is so very important. I hope little Beautiful Dreamer gets well and life turns around and he finds a wonderful home with lots of love. Right now I am trying to find a home for a 4 year old little dog who's owner is not well and spends more and more time in the hospital. The problem is that the little dog "Phil" has seizures and does fine on his medicine but he needs a loving home without stress and someone who will be sure he has his meds every day to keep his seizures under control.
    Like you, I hope more and more people are able donate to shelters or the Humane Society. These little critters need all the help they can get.
    Thank you again for your wonderful post and your very kind heart. You have reminded us all of how important it is to think of these wonderful little critters who have been abandoned in life.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Andy, you are such a compassionate soul. Head over to Polonica: Home Again for some recognition from me to you :-).

    ReplyDelete
  12. We have the same home.

    Animals the thread.

    Love.

    XO T

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hello Sweet Andie~ ~ ~Been looking for you and hoping all is well. Love your heart and this post. Love your blog too. We just adopted a kitten. He is a sweetie. Can't wait for you to meet him. Will be doing a post soon. Make it a wonderful day!
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

    ReplyDelete
  14. Andie, dropping off some things at the shelter today.............S

    ReplyDelete

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