Free Things to do for the Animals

• Have any fur? Give it away. This serves two purposes. First, it eliminates you being used as a target for anyone wielding balloons filled with red paint. Second it can help the animals. Some wildlife rehabilitators use old furs to make surrogate mothers for the orphaned and injured animals in their care. By donating your furs, small and large, you can help to provide a comfortable and soothing environment for many needy animals. You may even be able to deduct the value of the fur from your taxes. The Humane Society of the United States can help you with distributing your old fur to animals in need. All you have to do is mail it to them. Visit www.hsus.org/furdonation for more information.

• Cut up your plastic. Not your credit cards; but those plastic rings that come on the six-packs of your favorite drinks. When you cut six-pack rings it keeps animals from being entangled in them when they end up in the outdoors. Any plastic caught around the neck of a wild animal can cause strangulation. Also, don’t forget to cut other plastic rings that end up in the garbage such as freshness seals and the pull tabs from your soy milk.

• Volunteer at your local animal shelter. Shelters everywhere need help cleaning cages, walking dogs, and socializing the animals left in their care. Contact a shelter in your area and see if you can be of service.

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Posted/Updated: 3/23/03