Be an Angel - Grant A Wish - National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week

Be an Angel – Grant A Wish
National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week
November 7-13

WEST CHESTER, PA – November is typically a time to reflect and give thanks. This year consider thanking your local animal shelter. November 7 – 13 is National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week. Shelters serve eight to ten million injured, homeless and abused animals each year with the necessities – food, water and shelter – and they rely on cash donations from the community to make that possible.

While the pets wait in cages and hope for a loving home, they have little comfort to call their own. Treats and toys that make the wait bearable are also appreciated by both the shelter and the pet, but these are “luxuries” and are rarely available.

If you would like to show your appreciation to a local shelter but don’t know what to do, here are some suggestions.

• Ask your shelter if they have an event planned. If they do, volunteer to participate. If they don’t, offer to organize one. Get the children involved.
• Tell everyone it’s National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week! Use your personal e-mail list or bulletin board at the gym, place of worship, grocery store or any other community venue.
• Be an angel . . . grant a wish. Log on to http://www.dogtoys.com/dohogipa.html or http://www.cattoys.com/donategift.html and donate a gift package full of toys and treats to the shelter of your choice.

DogToys.com and CatToys.com oversee the national Toy and Treat Donation Program – an initiative that coordinates gifts, donors and shelters. “Some pet lovers donate in memory of a pet or as a thank you for the new family member they’ve recently adopted,” says owner and pet advocate Jill Gizzio. “Sometimes people don’t know where to send their donations. We can help with that. We have a list of shelters waiting to receive treats and toys.”

Any animal rescue or shelter is invited to participate and receive gift packs from benefactors. If you are an animal shelter and want to be added to our waiting list, or if you are interested in donating to a rescue or shelter, log onto www.DogToys.com or www.CatToys.com.

For more information about National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week log onto the web site for the Humane Society of the United States at www.hsus.org.