Because everyone deserves some extra cheer this time of year.
Between six to seven million dogs and cats enter shelters across America each year. The U.S. has at least 70 million stray cats alone; many stray animals are most likely "lost pets who were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification."
There are nearly 3,500 animal shelters across the country that are providing care and comfort to those animals. In the spirit of the holiday season, consider these ways of giving back and helping out an animal in need through your local shelter, as told to BuzzFeed from the Humane Society of New York:
Give a monetary donation.
Check your local shelter's website for exact information of how to donate; there may be a special fund for a specific animal or a general donation pool. (If you're interested in donating, HSNY recommends checking Charity Navigator first to make sure it's a legitimate destination.
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Spend a little time as a volunteer.
Get in contact with your shelter's volunteer coordinator to see what they need. Every pair of helping hands will be super appreciated!
"Sometimes it’s walking dogs, sometimes it’s cleaning cat cages, sometimes it’s at a special event," said HSNY. "You never know exactly what they might need."
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Donate new (or used!) goods/items/supplies.
There are so many things required to keep a shelter healthy and thriving. These can even be items you've previously owned/used. Many shelters have wishlists online just for this purpose.
Getty Images/iStockphoto TracyHornbrook / Thinkstock
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