PETS
BY JUNO DEMELO
Your presence is one of the greatest, well, presents you can offer shelter animals, says Eileen Hanavan, director of volunteer and foster engagement at the ASPCA Adoption Center in New York City. “Shelters need volunteers throughout the year,” Hanavan says. If you’re able to put in the face time, you can dish out meals, hold cuddle sessions, clean out cages, or even foster at home. Can’t show up IRL? You can still offer a virtual hand. Someone needs to write those animal bios, MELANIE DEFAZIO/STOCKSY answer emails, and help plan events.
Chances are, you’re sitting on stuff your local shelter needs, like extra sheets and towels. Woo-hoo to cleaning out your linen closet and making a difference! Cozy towels are always useful for warming up kennels, Hanavan says. She adds that shelters across the country tend to have different needs. Yours may be desperate for food, toys, or kitty litter. So it’s best to call and ask what you can gather up.
Animals need our love and affection, but let’s keep it real—they rely on money just like humans do. Or rather, shelters rely on it. They have bills to pay and supplies to buy! Instead of sending a lump sum once a year, consider giving a smaller amount every month or so, suggests Noah Horton, chief operating officer at Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit that supports a variety of causes. “Making small monetary gifts monthly or quarterly, versus a onetime donation, helps organizations predict if they can continue to operate,” he says. And check with your employer to see if they match charitable donations. “This way, you can double your gift without taking an extra dime out of your pocket,” Horton says. Someone in HR will be able to tell you how to get that match.
You might be able to pay it forward by doing things like shopping at your favorite stores and buying the items you already buy, Horton points out. For example, if you head to walmart.com/sparkgood, you can round up your online purchase to benefit your favorite charity. Kroger shoppers can link their rewards cards to a nonprofit of their choice. (The grocer donates money based on total spending.) A bunch of other companies work with or have their own animal charities, including Chewy, Tito’s, and Bissell. And some (Grounds & Hounds Coffee Co. comes to mind) donate a portion of proceeds when you shop online.
“Making small monetary gifts monthly or quarterly helps organizations predict if they can continue to operate.”
The average cost of being a dog or cat parent is nearly $1,300 a year, according to the ASPCA. That may be a challenge for a pet owner who’s struggling financially. Help them out by donating canned stuff or bags of kibble to your local food pantry (yes, some accept pet goods) or to pet owners experiencing homelessness. To find donation sites near you, check out findhelp.org or pets of the homeless.org. You can also help with the cost of medical care, says Vicki Stevens, director of companion animals project management at the Humane Society of the United States. A lot of vet clinics and hospitals have funds for individuals who can’t afford care, she explains. Or put a furry face and backstory to your donation through waggle.org, a crowdfunding site that connects Good Samaritans to pet parents who need help covering care. “No matter how you choose to help,” Hanavan says, “it’s an act of compassion—and the positive impact can be profound.”