December 10 is ‘Shelter Supply Saturday’
It’s better to give than to receive, as we’ve all heard. Unfortunately, the Humane Society of the United States gives only 1 percent of its budget to local pet shelters. Odds are, the shelter nearest you didn’t see a dime of HSUS’s $126 million budget last year. Thankfully, you can help.
We’re announcing the second annual HumaneWatch “Shelter Supply Saturday” event. What's Shelter Supply Saturday? It's a once-a-year observance when HumaneWatch is urging its readers (i.e. you) to donate supplies or volunteer time (or money) to the pet shelter nearest to where they live. (Use PetFinder.com to find organizations near you.)
Not sure how to help? Click here for a list of some supplies shelters typically want to receive. Or, call your local humane society, SPCA, or other shelter to find out what they need and when they're open on Saturday.
If you like, we’ve also prepared a HumaneWatch greeting card for Shelter Supply Saturday that you can include with your gift. It's easy to make this card part of your holiday giving! Just follow these simple steps:
1. Print on any color printer
2. Fold twice on the dotted lines
3. Punch a hole where it's indicated
4. Thread some twine or ribbon through the hole
5. Attach to your shelter gift and deliver it to your local pet shelter on Saturday, December 10
HSUS has already started its holiday season fundraising, and HSUS’s “pitch” appears to revolve around a rescued dog. While HSUS does provide some hands-on care for pets (though it could do a lot more), the vast majority of the dogs and cats that are saved are helped by local groups who are in the front lines, not a Washington, DC-based group that doesn’t run a single pet shelter.
This season (and throughout 2012), we hope you’ll support your local pet shelter instead of “Big Animal Rights.” Shoot us an email if you want to tell us what you’re doing this Saturday for your local shelter. Be sure to tell your friends about Shelter Supply Saturday, and explain why they should give local to best help abandoned and abused pets. And thanks for helping animals this holiday season!
