It has been a while since I’ve done a Be the Change for Animals post, so I am long overdue. And this time around, I thought I would list some small things you can do that can add up to a lot when it comes to helping shelter pets. Why small things? All humans who love animals would love to donate bushels of money to their favorite shelters and rescue and spend hours volunteering for them, but sometimes it’s not possible. The holidays are coming soon, and everybody’s going to be busy with family events and buying gifts, so both time and money are at a premium. But that does not mean you can’t help. Here are some little things you can do to Be the Change:
- Play Meow Trivia at FreekibbleKat.com — it’s fun, takes just a couple of seconds, and nets 10 pieces of kibble for a shelter kitty! Do it every day — either bookmark the page in your favorite browser or you can sign up for email reminders.
- Sign up for rewards programs, and donate the rewards to your favorite rescue or shelter. I got this idea from Connie at the Tails from the Foster Kittens blog — she is a member of Swagbucks, and you can earn gift certificates from Amazon. Amazon gift certificates are easy to donate and the shelter can buy food or items off their wishlist!
- Give coupons to a rescue for cat food, cat litter or cleaning supplies. We all get these on occasion, so why not pass them along, especially if it is a brand you don’t use?
- Enter blog giveaways, and if you win, donate the item to your local shelter. I used to not enter most of these, especially the ones with the big prizes, because I already have so much and felt like there was someone out there who needed the prize more than me. Well, there is someone out there who really needs the big prizes some of the cat blog giveaways offer — a rescue or shelter! So I have decided to enter every big giveaway from now on — and donate the prize to a rescue or shelter if I win! I hope a lot of you do the same.
There are also some things you can do if you do have a bit of time and some creativity. I have seen some humans do awesome things in their spare time. The human from Fuzzy Tales can knit and she resolved to make one kitty blanket a week for a year to donate to the local humane society where she found Derry and Nicki. She did not quite hit her goal, though — she wound up making “only” 27! I think that’s fantastic! The human from Celestial Kitties really wanted to give back to Winnie’s Wish, the rescue that saved Leo, who now is part of her family. So she got the idea to make fun, simple cat toys and have a FUNdraiser… and she wound up making over a thousand dollars to donate! You don’t even need a lot of talent to make things to sell or donate — it is ridiculously easy to make nip knots and sell them at a bazaar for a buck apiece, then donate the money to a rescue — and give them any that are left over for the kitties to play with.
So never think you don’t have enough time or money to be the change for rescue animals — there is lots you can do! If you have more suggestions, please share below!
See all of Summer’s merch at her Designercat Shop, available on Zazzle.
We do play freekibble every day, but donating the coupons and prizes for giveaways are things I hadn’t thought of doing. Both are good ideas!
What a fantastic post Sparkle. Those are all very good ways to help your local shelter. We hope to be able to do some of them soon.
Those are some excellent suggestions, Sparkle! We didn’t know some of those ways to help!! Thanks!!
Great post, Sparkle. Though our human’s embarrassed at the mention, especially since she was FAR off her goal.
But the point is, yes, even small things make a difference.
Shelters always need things like bleach and paper towel, old towels, etc. And here in Canada, we think a lot of shelters (or all?) will take Canadian Tire “money,” which they can use to purchase supplies.
That was a REALLY ambitious goal – and I think 27 blankets is still above and beyond what most other humans would be capable of achieving. You should never be embarrassed about your accomplishment.
This is such a great post Sparkle and some great suggestions. There are lots of things you can do to help the shelters and the animals. Take care.
Mum takes any packets of food that we won’t eat to the local shelter or gives them to a lady in our village who fosters cats until they can find new homes.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
great suggestions….mom is gonna look at that nip knot link and maybe make some to sell at the next adoption event she has…. every little bit helps
Purrfect examples Sparkle of how the little things can really make a difference!
Just a few small ideas can make something really big! These are great ideas that we can all do. xo
no sew shelter blankets R a grate idea two sparkle; R mom iz werkin on number 32 outta 40 and trust uz, if it sayz NOE SEW…its a good thing for R mom =^..^=
Some great ideas there, Sparkle. Nothing too big and nothing too small 🙂 xx
Those are some really good ideas.
Thank you for these great ideas to help shelters! I never thought of donating coupons but that’s a great idea!
Great ideas Sparkle! If everybody did just a little something it’d add up to a big something for animals in need!
Great ideas! The more you can help shelter animals, the better their chances for adoption and another chance at a great life. And they do so deserve another chance…
The Fuzzy Tails human should NOT be embarrassed about the amount of blankets she made, that’s 27 animals who got a cozy something that they would not have had! 27 is a LOT! And every single one is awesome and amazing to the animal who got it!
Thank you so much for mentioning the FUNdraiser we did for Winnie’s Wish, we had a ball doing it (still on going!) Fun for me, fun for kitties, and help for the rescue!
I love all the suggestions you have for helping. Every little bit adds up!
It’s true. You don’t need to have a lot of money in order to make a difference in the lives of animals in your community. I know our shelter is always thrilled to receive gift cards and coupons. They are always in need of things like blankets and towels, or even just a small box of kitty litter.
I love the kitty trivia and will definitely be making it a part of my morning routine!
Thanks for sharing these ideas! I get coupons all the time from PetSmart and Petco, including for dog food (not a dog owner), and I usually end up recycling them. Not anymore!
Awesome, Pawsome info! We knew about FreeKibble, didn’t know about giving coupons and felt the same about entering giveaways. Now we know of more ways we can help! Thank YOU!
You are a very wise kitty Sparkle. I say that a lot, but it is true
Excellent ideas. We never thought about donating coupons!
The Florida Furkids
fabulous suggestions sparkle. the coupon things never crossed our minds.
Great post. Love all the suggestions.
Have a great day.
Hugs, Max, Bugsy, and Knuckles
WONDERFUL ideas! I love these. My shelter won’t take anything but newspaper. They aren’t a place I would want my pet to be picked up and taken to as they euthanize after 3 days. Thank heavesns my cat stays in all of the time. But they would likely take my money if I offered..just not anything else. Don’t know of any rescues and wish I did! I would do all I could to help.
Great ways to help Sparkle!!!
GREAT ideas! There always seems to be extra old towels lying around. Just throw them in your car then take a flash of your day to drop them off when you are in the neighborhood of a shelter – so easy!! But so appreciated!
We’ve started entering the contests now – even the ones we can’t win because of location – so that we can donate. These are great tips!
All great suggestions. Most shelters/rescue groups have wishlists posted on their websites. Check your local one and see what they need. We often have stuff at home like old towels, blankets that can be washed and re-cycled.
Great post Sparkle. we didn’t do one this year – Still waiting to get Joey’s tests back.
Our Daddy makes condos and always donates part of the proceeds to our local rescue (the one I came from)! Love all of your ideas Sparkle.
purrs
>^,,^<
✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.
these are some great ideas! Often people aren’t aware that it is the little things that really add up!
What pawesome ideas, Sparkle! We’ll make sure our human servants get right on it. We’ll even withhold purrs to encourage them to get cracking on those nip knots.
seriously – the idea of a rewards card is really fantastic and we hadn’t thought of it either, so thanks!
I like the thought of helping the kitties! I’m gonna paw at Tommy so we can do more….she got a Before Kitty from a shelter and is happy she did!
Noir
Great ideas all!
purrfect post Sparkle, and some ideas Mom and Dad will start to use immediately. I read that you are a somewhat persnickety eater and weigh in at only about 6 pounds…Sparkle, you are such a petite dainty ladycat…apologies that I do not comment often nor regularly, but I do read efurryday. paw pats, Savannah
Whoa! We do most of those. We enter raffles for our shelter and play Meow Trivia. Another way is to donate old towels, bedding, clothes and rugs that they can use as cat beds or scratching posts. At least once a year, we have a huge goodie bag for Linda and the cats at the A Call 4 Paws sanctuary.
We do play Meow Trivia and also visit The Animal Rescue Site (also free food for clicking, plus you can vote for a rescue to win dollars) every day from home & work days from work. We think you had some excellent ideas.
such a wonderful post and thank you for the mention.. although you forgot to say that anyone could stop by my blog for the next few weeks and leave a comment on my blogoversary post 😉
Although I DID link to your post that says you are doing it! 😉
Sparkle, darling, sometimes I forget what a wonderful softie heart you have underneath your diva exterior. This is a wonderful post!
Fantastic post, Sparkle Cat. That’s quite a strong comeback! It’s good to see you back in our link list.
I love ALL of these ideas and thanks for the new perspective on blog giveaways. I used to think like you did first did – that I have too much already. I have now motivation to win for those who need it most.
Thanks so much for Blogging the Change!
Kim Clune
Director: http://BetheChangeforAnimals.com
Blogger: http://thisonewildlife.com
Absolutely fantastic ideas! Thanks so much for participating today.
A.J.
Be the Change for Animals
I Still Want More Puppies
great ideas, Sparkle! a lot of little things can really add up. our mom always scoops up cat and dog toys on sale to either donate to the shelter or the local pet food bank.
Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, HOllie
Dear Sparkle,
What a great post. Thanks for listing the many little ways wes can helps.
Kisses
Nellie
In memory of our bridge babies, on their birthdays we donate the presents that we buy for them to the local shelters. This was a nice post! Thanks!
Sparkle you are such a delight. I have a very soft spot for cats, any kinda cats and I always try to do what I can to help them find homes…people in my village know my vulnerability and they used to abandon kittens at my door, which is very sick….but I do my best to help them although my boyfriend is loosing his mind with so many cats around :). Kisses.
Great post! These are great ideas that I will definitely relay to some of the volunteers and co-workers at my shelter 🙂 The kitties will definitely appreciate it.
Hi Sparkle,
First time visitor here. This is great advice! Love it!
-Ann
(ps – I can see why you are a supermodel!)
What awesome ideas, and such a great reminder that there really is no excuse, we can all do something to make a difference. There’s no such thing as “too small” for that!
All great ideas! Thank you =^.^=
Purrs
What wonderful ideas Sparkle, thanks for sharing.