Once upon a time, Christmas was a simpler affair, with values stronger than the frenzied holiday rush we experience today. Sadly, Christmas has been overshadowed, transformed into a stressful chore we all seem obligated to endure.
I yearn for the days when Christmas was a genuine celebration, devoid of the consumerist frenzy and the wasteful tradition of exchanging cards. Two decades ago, I fell out of love with Christmas, but each year, I find myself reminiscing about those simpler times that I miss dearly.
So, I decided I’d do something about that this year. Instead of succumbing to the pressure of extravagant gifts with little meaning, I’m advocating for presents that resonate with a purpose. As the creator of a not-for-profit platform for animal lovers, my Christmas will be dedicated to supporting animal welfare.
Why not make a difference this Christmas by offering gifts that positively impact society? For the animal lovers in your Christmas shopping list, I’ve got some ideas for you.
THOUGHTFUL GIFTS
For a cost similar to that of a supermarket Christmas card, you can purchase a delightful and meaningful gift for the animal lovers in your life. These gifts are not just thoughtful but contribute significantly to the well-being of homeless animals.
They are perfect for the younger generation in your family, serving as a reminder of the genuine spirit of giving that Christmas embodies.
Animal rescues often struggle to meet the financial demands of vet bills, shelter, and food for homeless animals. During the Christmas season, many of these rescues create simple gifts to generate the funds they desperately need.
Every bit of profit from these gifts goes toward providing a safe haven for a homeless animal. It’s essential to highlight that all these animal rescues operate on a not-for-profit basis.
Consider gifting something simple and meaningful this year. I offer a few ideas from the animal rescues below.
CONSCIENTIOUS SHOPPING – UK only
When you shop for your Christmas presents or birthdays, you can automatically have a small percentage of your shopping donated to an animal rescue of your choice. It’s a simple and automated way to support an animal rescue.
There are over 200,000 charities, big and small, signed up at Give As You Live. You pick the animal rescue you wish to support, and that’s it. Just go shop. A percentage of your shopping will be donated directly for you at no extra cost to you.
I’ll give you more details below on how to go about this.
A DONATION OVER A GIFT
For animal lovers, the sweetest gift could be no gift at all! How about not buying a gift at all this year? Instead, make a donation in their name to an animal rescue. The immediate impact of your donation is an immediate booster for your family member and for the animal rescue who so desperately need that money. Imagine the booster they’ll get knowing this donation in their name saved a homeless animal. That’s an original, priceless gift right there! And how about making your announcement with a gorgeous Christmas card you make yourself? Here’s some ideas for you to make some gorgeous, original, eco-friendly Christmas cards.
THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT OF ALL
Perhaps the most profound gift of all is to offer a place in your home to a homeless animal. Numerous puppies, kittens, older cats, and dogs are eagerly awaiting a human family to snuggle up with this Christmas. Explore our appeals directory. You never know…
Animal rescues I like and support
Now that you have a few ideas about how to make your Christmas about giving, allow me to introduce you to a few animal rescues I support myself.
Dogs 4 Rescue
United Kingdom
Homeless dogs have a rough life. And a spot by a fireplace in the cold Winter months is a gift from heaven, especially for older dogs who are likely to never find a human family to snuggle up with on the sofa.
For less than £4, you can contribute to a warm spot by the fireplace for these seniors this Winter. And, if you can give a little more, then you can offer a hearty meal for less than £6.
Here is their shop : https://dogs4rescue.myshopify.com/
You can also have a look at a number of other ways to support their work at https://dogs4rescue.co.uk/help-us/
Christmas is a special time for the dogs under their wing, but also for the volunteers who support and care for these animals. Learn more : https://dogs4rescue.myshopify.com/collections/all
In Sri Lanka, animal welfare is far behind. A country grappled by unrelenting economic mismanagement has driven people to a harsh existence. For street animals, life is 100 times worse because people can’t afford to care.
The good volunteers of Animal SOS in Sri Lanka struggle every day to raise the funds needed to save as many stray, abandoned and mistreated animals as possible. Even with no space left in their shelter and with diminished donations over the last year, they always somehow find a little extra corner for the day’s new rescue.
They could do with your support.
To support this rescue, you can :
Make a direct cash donation. Learn more here : https://www.animalsos-sl.com/you-can-make-a-difference
If you’re still shopping, then consider adding this rescue to your favourites list at Give As You Live so that a portion of your shopping can be donated directly to them? There’s no additional cost for you. Learn more here : https://www.animalsos-sl.com/you-can-make-a-difference
Get acquainted with their work at https://www.animalsos-sl.com/
Animals SOS
Sri Lanka
Dog Desk Animal Action
Turkey
Dog Desk Animal Action CIC provided £100,000 to vulnerable dogs in the southeast of Turkey as of May 2023.
They have provided huts for shelter, funded a fully equipped clinic, food and water troughs, bowls & blankets & have supported hundreds of dogs with food and clinical support.
But donations are never enough for all the abandoned and mistreated animals roaming the streets with nobody to care for them.
A tiny contribution of £2 per month will help these amazing people save more lives every day.
Visit their website : https://dogdeskanimalaction.com/ and donate some change each month.
There are so many other ways you can help this charity. A direct donation is always very welcome.
But, if you’re still shopping for Christmas, add this rescue to your favourites so that when you shop online, you can automatically have a small percentage of your shopping sent to this animal rescue at no extra cost to you.
Learn more here : https://dogdeskanimalaction.com/fundraising/
This animal rescue is located in Spain and they have saved hundreds of dogs from the harsh streets of Southern Spain, especially Galgos, who have often found themselves abandoned and fending for themselves.
I’m Portuguese. I live right next door. So, it breaks my soul that Galgos, despite their long heritage in Iberia, have been so mistreated in this region. Spain and Portugal alike.
I have been following their work for a long time. It’s no easy task to find homes for so many dogs. But, somehow, they keep on doing the incredible, finding forever homes across Europe and the rest of the world.
Of course, this takes a lot of money. The vet bills, the cost of running the shelter they run, it all takes a lot. For the cost of a Christmas card, you too can contribute to saving more abandoned animals from the harsh streets of Spain.
Visit their website : https://galgosdelsol.org
Support their work : https://galgosdelsol.org/donate-help/
They also offer some great looking Christmas gift ideas for dog lovers : https://galgosdelsol.squarespace.com/store
Galgos del Sol
Spain
Second Chance Dog Rescue
United Kingdom
Eastern Europe
When we look at the news, our world may seem dark and bleak. But, there are exceptional people in every corner of this world. In Eastern Europe, salaries are a fraction of what they are in places like Western Europe. But, somehow, there is always a kind soul who will give a portion of the little they have to save the life of a dog or a cat in need.
Second Chance Dog Rescue has a network of such amazing volunteers doing just that every day. Small contributions from their donors help them save more.
No amount is too small. A bit of loose change may not make much difference to you, but it gives these amazing rescuers what they need to scoop up more homeless animals, provide them with a safe space and begin the search for a human family.
Visit their website : https://www.secondchancedogrescue.co.uk/
I have a soft spot for senior pets. In 2021, I lost my old dog, Mondego, a gorgeous lab-mix I loved. And just a few days ago, I lost my 17 year-old collie-mix girl. They were lucky that they had a warm and safe home to live out their golden years.
But, you would be horrified to know just how many people carelessly dump their elderly pets in kennels in exchange for a cute, bouncy new puppy.
So, animal rescues like the Oldies Club are precious to me.
If you can spare a bit of change, please know that every penny does count, no matter how small the contribution. And charities like the Oldies Club have a lot of seniors to care for.
So, take a moment to visit their website at https://www.oldies.org.uk/
There’s even a gorgeous calendar you can offer as a gift to an animal lover. It’s such an original, thoughtful gift. Have a look here : https://www.oldies.org.uk/2023/oldies-club-desk-calendar-2024-now-available
Oldies Club
United Kingdom
Senior Staffy Club
United Kingdom
Another one of my favourite animal rescues is the Senior Staff Club. They too care for elderly dogs who have been left behind in their golden years. And you can support their seniors with a contribution or by purchasing a gift from their shop.
Visit their site at https://www.seniorstaffyclub.co.uk/
Like other animal rescues in the UK, you too can have a percentage of your shopping donated automatically to this rescue at no extra cost to you. Learn more here : https://www.seniorstaffyclub.co.uk/christmas-shop/
If you wish to support their amazing work more regularly, you might like to join their Kennel Crusaders Club – a community of monthly supporters who help to cover the costs of providing shelter for these seniors.
Learn more at https://www.seniorstaffyclub.co.uk/kennel-crusaders/
There are people who aren’t registered charities. They are fosters. These are special beings who open their homes for abandoned animals.
Many dogs lived chaotic lives in chaotic homes with chaotic humans who showed them the worst of human kind. So, they arrive traumatised and fearful of humans.
People like Stef bring these tortured souls into her home, and, for the first time, they learn to trust. They take a seat on the cozy sofa and learn that they can relax. They get used to having a hearty meal every day. And they learn that not all humans are evil.
This takes a lot of time and patience. It also takes a lot of money. Many of these private fosters pay the bills from their own pocket. There’s vet bills, medication, food, cleaning, you name it.
And it’s hard work. She cleans after them, she feeds them, she walks them and she takes them to vet visits, etc.
I like to support people like Stef because they are selfless. And they never ask for much.
Stef, for example, welcomes any donation you can offer.
She also has an Amazon Wish List filled with stuff for the dogs in her care. You can pick an item, buy it for her, and have it shipped to her directly from Amazon.
For a direct donation to Stef, send it to her Paypal account at : stefsrescue@gmail.com
Her Amazon Wishlist is here.
And you can follow her on Twitter.
Stef's Animal Rescue
United Kingdom
THE SIMPLEST OF GESTURES
There’s still a simple, zero-cost gesture you can make that will significantly impact these animal rescues.
All you have to do is to share this article with family and friends. It’s the simplest of acts, but don’t doubt the power of spreading the word.
This simple act of sharing will resonate from friend to friend and beyond to people you have never met and contribute to the well-being of countless homeless animals.
Christmas, after all, is all about the simple act of giving.
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