Dog Biscuit Bake Sale
Selling homemade dog cookies is a yummy way to help the animals. After baking, package the cookies in bags with colorful ribbon to sell them to your neighbors or at local dog parks. The MSPCA can provide informational brochures to give out along with the cookies, so people can learn about the MSPCA at the same time. Be creative with the packaging or give the cookies a holiday theme (like Valentine's Day) to make them more fun and festive.
Find a healthy dog cookie recipe on the Internet, at the library or use the following:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup cornmeal
6 tablespoons oil
2/3 cups water
1 cup peanut butter (optional)
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Roll dough to about ?” thick, then cut out shapes using cookie cutters or a knife. Bake for 35 40 minutes at 350 degrees. (Recipe courtesy of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA)
Hold a Supply Drive
One way you can help the MSPCA help the animals is through donation supply drives. It takes hundreds of pounds of food and supplies to care for the approximately 6,000 animals the MSPCA cares for each year. We are always in need of the items from our wish list, and money donations to help us purchase equipment and supplies to keep the animals warm, fed and healthy.
1. Set a time frame in which to collect donations, for example give it a week or a month.
2. Decorate posters and collection boxes to be displayed at your school, church or community center. Be sure to get permission to put the collection boxes in the places you choose.
3. Distribute copies of the MSPCA’s wish list to people telling them where they can drop off their items and why the drive is important. For an up to date wishlist visit www.mspca.org/wishlist
4. Wait for the items to start rolling in!
5. Be sure to nicely remind people about your drive throughout the time frame.
When your drive is over, drop everything off at the Boston MSPCA. Make sure to check www.mspca.org/boston for hours and directions.
Be an Animal Advocate!
Join the MSPCA’s Animal Action Team and keep up to date on current happenings at the Massachusetts State House and around the state on animal issues. Find out your state Senator and Representative and contact them on important animal protection legislation. Hearing from young constituents means a lot to elected officials and your call can change their minds and their votes! A monthly Animal Action Team e-newsletter will be sent to you on campaigns and legislative happenings as well as e-alerts as action develops around important pieces of legislation. Click here to join the Animal Action Team
Create a Cat Toy
Want to make some cats really happy? This nifty, thrifty toy is a fun classroom project. Not only is this imitation butterfly easy to put together, the materials are readily available. You can give the entire batch directly to your shelter or have a sale and donate the proceeds.
Here’s What You’ll Need to Create Each Toy:
1 yard of heavy flexible stainless wire (you can find it in a hardware store)
Wooden chopstick or dowel
Masking tape
2 to 3 inch long ribbon, cloth or twine
Here’s What You Do:
1. Securely wrap one end of the wire around the chopstick or dowel. Then cover the wire with masking tape. This will become the toy’s handle.
2. Tie the ribbon or twine onto the other end of the wire.
3. Slowly twirl the handle between your fingers. Sort of looks alive, doesn’t it? Because it mimics the motion of a cat’s prey, a kitty will pounce and stalk and sail through the air to “capture” it.
Taken from the APSCA’s AnimalLand Website http://www.animaland.org/
Other Quick Ways to Help!
Let your purchasing dollars be heard! Don’t shop at stores that sell pets. Let the stores that only sell supplies know you appreciate them.
Form a committee at your church, synagogue or club any organization that brings people together. Get a speaker to educate people about pet overpopulation and other animal issues. Decide what you as a group can do to help animals.
If you know someone who needs advice on adopting a pet, information on pet care or anything other animal issues, have them call the shelter.
If you see an animal being abused or neglected, call your local animal control officer or the MSPCA’s Law Enforcement Department for help.
Put posters up at local stores, your school or place of worship about how to help animals in your community.
Organize a “Pennies for Pets” program. Collect the money in a canister or jar you create and donate it to the shelter.
Do your part to end overpopulation by having your pet spayed or neutered. Tell other people to do the same.
When thinking of adding a pet to your family, adopt one from a shelter. Whether it is a hamster, iguana, rabbit, cat or dog, shelters have a wide variety of animals looking for loving homes like yours!
