12 Things to Donate to Your Local Animal Shelter

Border collie Australian shepherd dog on brown leather couch under blanket looking sad lonely bored hopeful sick curious relaxed comfortable

Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/Lindsay Helms

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Old Towels + Blankets

We all deserve to sleep cozy and warm in our beds at night, and that includes our four-legged friends that live at the animal shelter. Wash any of your old, forgotten blankets or towels and bring them by your local shelter for the fur-babies to enjoy.

Photo: BOGO Bowl

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Unopened Pet Food

Keep those kibble bags sealed before heading off to donate. Shelters only accept sealed pet food to ensure the safety of their animals. Our go-to for food donation is BOGO Bowl. Buy a bag of premium dog or cat food from BOGO Bowl, and the company will donate a bag of food to a shelter, rescue group or pet pantry. DONATE: BOGO Bowl

Photo: Debbie Wolfe

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Raised Cot Bed

Ensure that shelter pups snooze soundly on raised cot bed, like picture above. The Animal Humane Society requests specific donations of the Kuranda bed for their shelter. DONATE: Kuranda.com, $59

From: Dan Faires and Danmade

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Paper Towels + Tissue

I adopted a puppy last summer and I feel confident in saying that I went through more paper towels in the first two months than I went through during all my years away at college. Keep in mind, I was only dealing with one potty-training puppy as the time. Imagine that, multiplied by 50. Or more. Yes, the shelter will be grateful for even one roll of paper towels.

Photo: ©iStockphoto.com/Tatomm

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Cleaning Supplies

Ah, cleaning supplies… This doesn't need too much of an explanation, does it? Before heading to the store, give your local shelter a call and find out what they're low on now. Who knows, you may make their day with a fresh bottle of dish soap.

Photo: Martin Poole

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Shredded Office Paper + Newspaper

Think twice before tossing your shredded office paper and skimmed newspapers. Add a pile of paper to your donation box, instead.

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New Cat + Dog Toys

There's nothing sweeter than seeing animals get excited over a brand-new, never-chewed-on toy. Gift your local shelter with new, inexpensive dog and cat toys, and volunteer your time to spend an afternoon helping those cuties break 'em in.

Photo: Debbie Wolfe

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Gentle Leads + Leashes

Gentle leads, leashes and collars are all great items for donation. While the Animal Humane Society welcomes these items for pets of all sizes, the shelter asks specifically for medium and large sizes for leads and leash donations on their wish list. Reach out to your shelter about any specific sizes they need.

Photo: Jennie Andrews Photography . From: HGTV Crafternoon

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Office Supplies

Think outside the (litter)box when gathering items for donation. Office supplies are often overlooked but are a necessity for shelters to run properly. Think: Printing paper, pens, pencils, paper clips and lined notebooks.

Photo: Debbie Wolfe

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Window-Mounted Cat Bed

The Animal Humane Society seeks to keep cats and kittens comfy during their shelter stay, with a little help from Sunny Seat window-mounted bed donations. DONATE: Amazon, $15

Photo: Native Edge Landscape. From: Native Edge Landscape

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Flea + Tick Prevention

Shelters strive to give pets the best care possible while they wait on their fur-ever family to find them. One way to help shelters in their efforts is by donating medicine that prevents against pesky fleas and ticks. And while you're writing this down, go ahead and add heartworm medication to your list, too.

Red Rubber dog toy with peanut butter covered dog bones isolated on white. Copy Space.

Photo: jclegg

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Kongs

Call or go online to check out any wants or needs specific to your local shelter. Example: My go-to shelter, the Humane Society of Charlotte, has an Amazon registry that requests donations of new, XL Kong dog toys. What better way to use your Prime membership, right? DONATE: Kong Company

12 Items to Donate to Your Local Animal Shelter

Old Towels + Blankets

Unopened Pet Food

Raised Cot Bed

Paper Towels + Tissue

Cleaning Supplies

Shredded Office Paper + Newspaper

New Cat + Dog Toys

Gentle Leads + Leashes

Office Supplies

Window-Mounted Cat Bed

Flea + Tick Prevention

Kongs

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