Year End Charitable Giving
This is the time of year a lot of people make their charitable donations to meet the December 31st deadline. Money is tight for so many including groups doing good work for animals. If you have some to share, consider these ideas.
One of our favorites is the Morris Animal Foundation. They fund research on curing companion animal diseases, including the Canine Cancer Campaign.
You might consider:
- pet food banks in your community (check for them at animal rescue groups, human food banks, meal-on-wheels)
- local private shelters
- municipal or county shelters–special funds for new buildings, spay/neuter clinics, etc.
- pet clinics for people in need
- off-leash dog parks (you’d be surprised how much at off-leash parks is provided by donations—fencing, water, trashcans)
We hope 2010 is a wonderful year for you and yours!
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Best wishes to you and the furred, feathered, scaled, or finned ones with whom you share your life. May 2010 bring your families health, harmony, and much joy. We’re looking forward to the coming year and hope you are too!
News Bites: Glued Cat, Puppy Mill Act, Girl Detectives, Pets Not Property, Starving Sled Dogs
- A cat was rescued after being glued to highway in Minnesota. Timothy lost some claws & tissue from his pads and had to have glue removed from his nose, but he’s expected to be alright.
- There’s a signature campaign in Missouri for a very important piece of animal welfare legislation called the “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act” to get it on the November 2010 ballot. There are 5,000 licensed puppy mills in the U.S.. The Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation estimates Missouri alone has 3,000 puppy mills, only 1,802 of which are licensed. That is a mind blowing number. Check out this map to see how your state compares.
- In Spokane, 5 super-cute girl pet detectives are working to protect lost pets. How cool!
- Vermont High Court is trying a case that could change pets’ valuation from the “property” to something closer to “family member”, allowing people to sue for emotional damage for the loss of a pet.
- 100 dogs have been found starving & 8 were found dead at a sled dog breeding kennel in Colorado operated by Sam and Diane Walker who live in Florissant, CO. (Information is provided at the end of the article on the multiple shelters caring for the dogs, if you want to make a donation.)
DIY: 3 Easy Cat Toys To Sew
If you’re not totally swamped by holiday preparations, you might have time to crank out some of these cuties for gifts. Here are 3 easy, inexpensive, and fun cat toys to sew.
A mouse tutorial from atinyhouse. You could skip the ears if you wanted.
A fish from Martha. She made a wand type toy with them by attaching them to a pole.
A crackly wrestle sausage from Green Little Cat. A plastic grocery bag provides the crackle.