by Noella Noelophile®
(Graphic courtesy of Justin Rudd/Haute Dogs, and used with permission.)
Today is Giving Tuesday.
And if you’re wondering to which of so many deserving causes and nonprofits you might consider giving a little extra, here’s a great one.
Sometime before Christmas, would you be willing to participate in “Operation Santa Paws” by collecting pet food, pet toys and treats, and shelter cleaning supplies, and taking them to your favorite local animal shelter?
You don’t have to do this alone, unless you would like to.
In Long Beach, Operation Santa Paws is organized by “Chief Inspiration Officer” Justin Rudd, through his Haute Dogs nonprofit. You, your company or your community organization can become a part of Operation Santa Paws by emailing Justin at Justin@JustinRudd.com.
He will send you a PDF of the above poster, to print out and attach to a cardboard box or large plastic tub, for donations. (Or, you can click this link to download a copy.)
Then, place the donation box or tub in your church, place of business, school, pet store, local veterinarian or other location. Ask friends, co-workers, family and anyone else who loves animals and would like to help abused and/or abandoned pets at Christmastime.
And call the media! (I’m only half-joking here. You may want to contact local newspapers, or other local media outlets, to alert them to your efforts.)
Next, choose a date to deliver the donations to your favorite local shelter, OR plan on delivering them to one of Haute Dogs’ major drop-off locations in L.A. or Orange County by noon on the Friday before Christmas.
What to donate? Here’s a link to download a”wish list”.
Justin mentions, on Haute Dogs’ website, that very simple donated pet toys–a ball, rubber chew toys for dogs, something the cats can bat around–tend to diminish stress for shelter pets, and increase their chances of being adopted into a “forever” home.
And isn’t that really what we’d like to give every shelter pet, for Christmas?
(Can’t participate in the collection and delivery due to your other commitments, but you’d still like to support “Operation Santa Paws”? The blue box at this link will tell you how to send a tax-deductible gift.)