The spirit of the Thanksgiving season is all about expressing gratitude for all that you are thankful for and giving back to those who are less fortunate. So, as you begin to reflect on what you are thankful for this year, take a moment to consider ways in which you can pay your good fortune forward. There are many ways to give back, from volunteering and making donations, to simply doing good deeds and spreading kindness.
However you choose to help, you can feel good knowing that you are making a positive impact on your community. Not only will you be helping others, but you’ll be making your own life a more positive one as well.
Adopt or Foster a Pet in Need
According to the ASPCA, approximately 6.5 million dogs and cats enter shelters every year. That’s a staggering number of animals that are in need of finding homes. By adopting or fostering a shelter pet you can help alleviate overcrowding in that shelter and provide a temporary or permanent home to an animal in need. If you are unsure if now is the right time to adopt, fostering can help you decide if you are ready or not. Also, fostering an animal allows the shelter to learn more about a dog’s personality, and helps them get adopted faster. If you’re interested in fostering or adopting a pet, reach out to your local shelter to learn more about their process.
Donate to Local Shelters, Rescues and Food Banks
To make a direct impact on animals in your own backyard, find a local shelter, rescue, or food bank in your community and donate or volunteer your time. Many shelters and rescues feature a list of needed supplies and volunteer opportunities on their websites. Before you drop off any donated items, it’s a good idea to call ahead to see what is needed most.
Typically, items on this list are almost always needed:
- Towels, Blankets and Sheets
- Unopened Treats and Food
- Stainless Steel Bowls
- New and Sturdy Toys
- Leashes, Collars and Harnesses
- Raised Cot Beds, Crates and Carriers
- Office Supplies
- Cleaning Supplies
- Grooming Supplies
- Paper Towels and Baby Wipes
- Potty-Training Pads
- Heating Pads
Donate to Charities and Non-Profits
Charitable donations make great gifts for all the animal lovers on your list. You can easily make tribute gifts in honor, in memory, and in celebration of people who are important to you. Many charities and non-profits will even match donations made during the month of November in observance of Giving Tuesday. Donating locally is always the best option, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t donate to organizations that operate nationally. It’s always a good idea to do your research beforehand, but here are some national non-profits who are doing good work for canine causes:
Best Friends Animal Society is a non-profit that operates the nations largest sanctuary for homeless animals and works to promote pet adoption, no-kill animal rescue, and spay-and-neuter practices.
The ASPCA is a non-profit that works to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with shelters nationwide.
Feeding Pets of the Homeless is the first and one of the few national non-profits providing pet food and emergency veterinary care to pets that belong to homeless people.
Canine Companions is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs at no charge to the recipient.
Purchase a Zippy Charity Toy
While ZippyPaws regularly donates products and monies to shelters and organizations across the Los Angeles area, including Priceless Pet Rescue and the Kings Care Foundation, the Zippy Charity program gives you an opportunity to donate by simply purchasing a Zippy Charity toy. For each toy you purchase, online or in-stores, ZippyPaws will donate $1 to the hand-picked partner organization whose values and philanthropic efforts align with those of ZippyPaws.
Camron the Camo Gator raises money and awareness for the work of Mission K9 Rescue, a non-profit organization that works tirelessly to rescue, reunite, re-home and rehabilitate retired military working dogs and contract working dogs around the world. Over 1000 retired working dogs from worldwide locations have been brought home by Mission K9 Rescue since 2013.
Drake the Dragon raises money and awareness for the work of Paws With a Cause, a national non-profit organization that custom-trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities. Since 1979, Paws With a Cause has placed more than 2800 Assistance Dogs in 41 states. Your donation would specifically go to help train service dogs for children with autism.
Hamilton the Hammerhead Shark raises money and awareness for the work of Earth’s Ocean Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to reducing plastic found in the ocean and preserving the health of the world’s oceans.
RopeTugz® Bear raises money and awareness for the work of Golden Bond Rescue, a volunteer-run non-profit dedicated to improving the lives of Golden Retrievers through rescue, rehoming, and rehabilitation.
Momo & Andrew Yellow Van Burrow raises money and awareness for the work of Central Westcoast Forest Society, a charity on Vancouver Island in Canada. CWFS works with a variety of partners to rebuild wild salmonid populations by restoring watersheds destroyed by industry.
