Craft For Your Local Shelters Day

Animal lovers, take note: July 21st is Craft For Your Local Shelters Day. That’s a pawesome cause! Shelters go through supplies very quickly in caring for their adorable furry wards, and always need new things. Here, a Lakewood, CO vet lists a few things you can easily make.

Sweaters

Dogs and cats with thin fur, missing fur, or no fur can get pretty chilly in winter. You can easily make little sweaters for Fluffy and Fido. If you have children, you may be able to repurpose some of the things they’ve outgrown. Look online for patterns.

Rope Toy

To make a cute doggy rope toy, start by cutting an old towel or tee shirt into thin strips. Braid those strips together. You can alternate colors to make the toy look nice, but honestly, Fido won’t care if his toy is pretty or not. Braid the braids together, and keep going, until the toy is as thick as you want it. Tie it off with a big knot. Done!

Note: there are several variations of this. You can form the toy into rings or knots, or braid things like tennis balls or dried sweet potato into it. Try a few different things!

Catnip Toys

We would have said catnip mice, but, like Fido, Fluffy doesn’t care much about toy aesthetics. That said, you can certainly make a mouse shape. Start by cutting two pieces of material into the same shape and size. Put them together, with the outsides facing in, then sew around the edges to close it. Leave one small hole. Use that gap to pull the material through, so the outsides face out again. Then, stuff catnip in, and sew it closed.

Smaller Pets

Shelters and rescues also have many adoptable smaller pets, like bunnies and Guinea pigs. These little guys love chew toys! You can make plenty of edible playthings out of plain paper, cardboard tubes, or boxes. Try stuffing shredded paper into a shoebox, or fill a cardboard tube with crumpled up paper balls. These make great kids’ projects!

Tips

No matter what you’re making, stick with clean, safe objects. Don’t use anything with small parts, sharp edges, or dangling threads. Before starting, contact your local shelter and find out what they need most. 

Do you have questions about your pet’s health or care? Call us, your Lakewood, CO clinic, today!