Jim Mathers

This time of year there are always a lot of kittens and puppies at animal shelters from people not having their animals spayed and neutered.  There are also a lot of adult cats and dogs being surrendered by owners and now we are seeing many that are abandoned or dropped off because of the economy getting more and more uncertain for many people.

The next time you have the urge to take on a pet, I hope you will go to the shelter and adopt an animal from there.  Animal shelters also need donations as the economy tightens in on them too.  Here’s a list of items that can be dropped off and will be put into good use:

• Clean, old newspapers to be used for litter and lining cages
• Toilet seat covers (cats love to lie on them in their cages)
• Any type of cat or dog toy (plastic or washable)
• Old bath towels and blankets
• Canned cat food, any brand
• Bagged, dry dog food (particularly desired is Science Diet but other brands accepted)
• Laundry soap
• Bleach
• Heavy ceramic food and water bowls
• Antibacterial hand soap
• Candles - citrus or spice
• Paper towels

Shelters also need volunteers to come and walk dogs and play with the animals for short periods to give them exercise and socialization skills. If you have spare time on your hands, you can put that to good use helping out some of our society’s most helpless and most easily tossed aside, pets.

Tags: General Interest, Outdoors, education, rants, raves //