Celebrate Operation Santa Paws Every December

• By NSC
• 2 Comments.

 

 

This holiday season many lucky pets will be getting presents and treats right alongside their human siblings and parents.

But many animals stuck in shelters won’t be so lucky. Most shelters are funded mainly by donations. Through careful budgeting and fundraisers they manage to provide basic care for these lost and abandoned animals.

But there’s rarely much left over for extras. That’s where holiday drives like Operation Santa Paws come in.

This holiday toy/treat/supplies collection drive benefits shelter and rescue dogs and cats. It runs from December 1 through the week before Christmas, usually ending on or about December 17.

Justin Rudd founded the drive in 2001. It’s part of his nonprofit Community Action Team (CAT), which organizes many different events to benefit animals, kids and the environment.

The first year of Operation Santa Paws was limited to supporting shelters and rescues in Long Beach, California. It has since expanded across the country.

Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this pawsome event.

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Celebrating Operation Santa Paws

How best to celebrate this worthy cause?

Donate!

 

Donate to Operation Santa Paws

The Operation Santa Paws web page lists official donation sites, both in and outside of California. You can also check their wish list to see what they want most.

And follow the Operation Santa Paws Facebook page for regular updates!

You could also become an official Operation Santa Paws drop-off site. Contact the organizer with your name/business name and address to be listed on the website.

Then download the wish list and a poster. Put them in your window or on a box for donations. Ask family, friends, and customers to help abandoned pets have a brighter holiday.

Bring your collected donations to a local shelter.

 

Donate to your local shelter

If there are no official drop-off sites near you (and you don’t want to be one), don’t let that stop you from helping. Your celebration of this cause doesn’t have to be official. I guarantee there are plenty of local shelters that would love any help you can give.

Shelters/rescues are always looking for things like:

• Towels, blankets, and sheets
• Pet food and treats
• Cat litter
• Toys, leashes, and collars
• Cleaning supplies and trash bags

 

Many shelters also have wish lists posted on their websites and/or Facebook pages. Check to see what your preferred shelter needs most.

And, of course, monetary donations are always more than welcome.

Some rescues also have lifetime-care programs for less-adoptable animals. These animals get their very own lifetime foster family and the shelter pays for their care. These costs are often quite high. You can sponsor one of these animals to help offset the costs.

Of course you’ll want to research your chosen shelter before donating to make sure it operates & uses donations in ways you approve of.

 

Adopt/Foster/Volunteer

If you’ve been thinking about getting a new pet, visit with the adoptable animals when you’re dropping off your donations.

Even if you can’t adopt, consider either fostering an animal or volunteering at the shelter. You’ll keep making a difference for the animals long after the drive is over for the year!

So what will you be doing to help Operation Santa Paws this year?

 

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