Today, my staff is on Pawsitively Pets Radio at 11 a.m. CST, 2 p.m. EST, talking with host Sandy Robins about holiday gifts that give back. If you’re looking for gifts that benefit pets in need, look no more! We’ve done some research for you and everyone on your list this year. (P.S. Be sure to listen in to Pawsitively Pets every month for my new special guest segment. I’ll let you know when the next one is coming up!)
Here are my top picks for gifts that keep on givin’……
1. Rescue Calendars
Calendars published by rescues as a fundraiser are a great gift for your pet loving friends. You can find almost any breed, type or style to tickle your giftee’s fancy!
Some examples I found:
- Blind Cat Rescue
Florida Boxer Rescue
Found Animals My staff says their 6 Packs, 9 Lives hot guy with cats calendar is quite the treat!
North Shore Animal League If there are any Howard Stern fans on your list, this calendar is perfect! It features photos taken by Howard of his wife and animal advocate, Beth Ostrosky Stern.
2. Books! Mimi and Maty to the Rescue
This is a fantastic new book from the creators of Freekibble.com and Written by Freekibble.com Mimi Ausland’s mom, Brooke. Read my review here. For every Mimi and Maty to the Rescue
3. Big Paw Designs
Big Paw is a wonderful online store that sells unique gifts for pet lovers has a very sweet line of charms and keychains and other items that benefit Used Dogs Rescue in New Orleans.
4. Christmas Bulbs from Shelter Partners
I love this. This is a program from the Shelby, Alabama Humane Society. The
Shelter Partners program transports dogs from the area’s overpopulated location to various shelters in New Hampshire and Maine, where affordable spay/neuter services, enforcement of leash laws, 
and other animal welfare legislation have kept the dog population at bay. Since its inception in November 2006, Shelter Partners has saved the lives of nearly 5,000 dogs, each one oblivious to their narrow escape from death. Several times per month, the shelter’s van is loaded with 30 to 40 dogs and sent northward on a 24-hour journey that will take them to one of several shelters in New England. Volunteer drivers come from all over the southeast – Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia – in order to be a part of this experience.
$50 helps transport a dog to the Northeast. For every $50 donation you make to help these dogs to a better life, you will receive a Christmas ornament with that dog’s photo on it. I think this is such a great idea. I actually gave myself an early Christmas gift and asked my staff to make a donation. I’m super excited to get my bulb. If they keep doing this every year, we will keep donating! How cool will it be to have a bunch of bulbs over the years to remind you to always do what you can to help pets.
5. December Doodles
Courtesy: BZTAT
One of my favorite artists, BZTAT, has an awesome December Doodles program where, from December 1-15, she draws a new drawing each day and auctions them off. A portion of the December Doodles program goes to a non profit that participants get to suggest by making a submission on BZTAT’s facebook page. BZTAT is extremely generous all year round and does so much to help animals. And her work is absolutely wonderful. She has done portraits of both Pugsley and me.
6. Purchase all of Your Gifts Through AdoptaShelter.com.
This wonderful program lets you shop at all of your favorite online retailers while giving a percentage to the shelter of your choosing. Visit their site to find out more. There’s no cost to you and it’s easy peasy. One shelter in Virginia just earned $800 in a month because a supporter mandated that all of her company standard holiday gifts be purchased through the site. Ta da! It’s easy. Do it. All year round!
7. Simply Make a Donation in Someone’s Name.
You can never, ever go wrong with a donation. Give to an organization your friend or family member cares about. Do something fun with it – wrap up the receipt or hang it on the tree. I know I would love to receive a gift like this, wouldn’t you?
Do you have others to add to this list? Tell me all about them!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Romeo, thanks for sharing this grate info. From yore grate review, we bought copies of Mimi’s book for the little Sticky people in our family. There’s 3 houses wif them and they’re all getting this book! Efen though they all have cats and dogs alreddy, we kno this will help them be even better animal lovers.
Buddy
If anyone is a Pittsburgh Penguins fan, the team partnered with the Animal Rescue League of Pittsburgh for the 2nd year to put out the Penguins and Paws calendar. It’s 12 months of players and either their own pets or animals from the shelter. http://www.animalrescue.org/penguins-paws-calendar-view
What great ideas. Thanks for the useful info.