Oh Dog! Today I want to get you thinking about the upcoming holidays! Now I know I have friends all around the world, so how or what you choose to celebrate may not all be the same, but I think it’s fair to say that, regardless of your cultural beliefs, this is a time to practice our gratitude for what we have by remembering those who may not have it as good as we do.
The Santa Paws Drive was started three years ago by some wonderful folks who wanted to make sure that animals in shelters also received Christmas gifts.
According to their web site, Santa Paws Drive has raised approximately $15,000 in toys, treats and donations for 12 shelters worldwide.
Now to some of you that might sound silly. After all, do animals know when it’s Christmas? Do they care if they get gifts?
Here’s a video to assure you that the animals do indeed appreciate the gifts, courtesy of Eleven Eleven Animal Rescue:
This year Santa Paws Drive is focusing on shelters and rescues that help special needs and less adoptable pets. The web site mentions FIV+ cats, senior pets, retired greyhounds, black dogs and cats, ferals… These are sweet animals that have been dealt a trickier card in life, but still deserve all the love and attention as any other pet — maybe even more so! They want to target smaller groups that don’t usually get much opportunity for funding.
Nominations can come from around the world!
So if you are or know of a non-profit, no-kill organization relying solely on donations to survive, go here to nominate the group and maybe this year they can be a recipient of some Christmas joy!
But go TODAY, because nominations must be in BEFORE October 21st!
Now you may also be asking how you can donate to help! The Santa Paws elves will choose six shelters based on need and nomination notes and announce them before the official start of this year’s Santa Paws Drive on November 1.
Once the drive starts, you’ll be able to donate toys, treats or money to send directly to these special pets to help make this their best Christmas ever!
I’ll keep you posted, so start saving your pennies now!
What a generous and thoughtful idea… Animals in shelters need holiday gifts too… We got our tabby cat at a shelter and I would love to see others find homes. Thank you for the reminder. :-)
Posted by ElizOF | October 18, 2011, 4:42 AMMaybe you can nominate a shelter or rescue group!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 7:02 AMGreat post Rumpy!
This is an excellent idea….
Posted by Milly And Sarah | October 18, 2011, 6:17 AMDon’t forget to nominate your shelter/rescue choice before Friday!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 7:01 AMThe idea of “Santa Paws Drive” is great! The animals in shelters surely need Christmas gifts, too! They have a right to enjoy Christmas even if they don’t have family. In my country, there are some non profit, no-kill organization ( they are very few though) and they are always confronted with finalcial problem.
of course, we support them with food or donations, but never thought of the Christmas gifts! That would be nice! Thaks for this post, Rumpy!!! Woo woo! :)
Posted by eripanwkevin | October 18, 2011, 6:58 AMIs there a rescue group in Japan you would like to nominate Kevin?
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 7:01 AMThe website of the group written in Japanese, so I’m wondering even if I nominate them, how Santa Paws Drive understand what the group does for those animals.
Posted by eripanwkevin | October 18, 2011, 7:11 AMThrough Google translation or they can ask you for help!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 7:21 AMHi Kevin! I’m one of the Santa Paws Drive founders and elves (Dorian from YourDailyCute.com)! I just wanted to jump in and say that yes, please, nominate your favorite shelter… no matter where they are or what language. We can find a way to help them if we choose them. Animals all over deserve presents — woof and meow are the same in all languages! ;)
Posted by Dorian @ Santa Paws Drive | October 18, 2011, 4:09 PMThanks Dorian! I nominated a shelter in Japan. They run it by only two people for injured, homeless, handicapped animals. I hope that those animals in their shelter will be able to have wonderful Christmas this year! *paws crossed*
Posted by eripanwkevin | October 18, 2011, 4:48 PMYAY!!!!!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 5:04 PMAww love your post! That black cat looks just like my cat :D I wish I could adopt another one…
Posted by Marie Nagle Photography | October 18, 2011, 9:11 AMYou are sweet too! Your kitty is fortunate.
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 4:11 PMHey Rumpy, I am doing a big event at the end of the month for Howl’oween. At it I am having a Holiday Dog Boutique. XMAS, Chanukah, New Year. Do you know where I could get some “Signage” to put up at my booth promoting Santa Paws?
If you don’t know that, do you think I could just copy & paste the little cat & dog & holiday present image onto something? Kindly tell me what you think of that idea. Thanks, AdoptedMomToChazz
Posted by adoptedmom | October 18, 2011, 9:52 AMThey have some stuff at their web site or contact the Santa Paws Elves. Their contact info is at the web site also!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 10:46 AMHi adoptedmom,
Dorian here. I’m one of the founders and elves of Santa Paws Drive! We do have a page on our site where you can grab badges and things for websites, but nothing really big enough to print.
http://blog.santapawsdrive.com/2009/11/badges-and-widgets-to-use-on-your-blog.html
You are more than welcome to see what we have and print any of it, of course, I just don’t know how good the quality will be if you make it too big. But please do try — we appreciate all the help spreading the word.
The more people we can tell, the more presents we can give the animals! :)
Posted by Dorian @ Santa Paws Drive | October 18, 2011, 4:12 PMI can’t nominate a rescue group as I’m not there in the US but this post just gave me an idea, Rumps. My dogs have all these unused squeaky toys that they don’t like and I think I’ll be sending them to a rescue center here. Thanks! :)
Posted by tita buds | October 18, 2011, 9:57 AMThey are taking nominations worldwide, not just in the US.
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 10:45 AMYes, like Rumpy said — we are taking nominations for shelters all over! In past years we have helped shelters in Canada, Australia, the UK, Africa… all over! Please nominate one you love. :)
Posted by Dorian @ Santa Paws Drive | October 18, 2011, 4:12 PMThis is such a great idea and a worthy cause! Thanks for bringing it to our attention, Rumpy! Have a terrific week!
Love,
Payton
Posted by Payton | October 18, 2011, 10:04 AMHope you have someone in mind to nominate!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 4:12 PMThanks for making me aware of this, what a great idea. Mr. Cheddar sends his best too. He is still pumped from yesterday’s blog interview. So many new admirers, he likes all the girl-feline attention. ;)
Posted by Geraldine | October 18, 2011, 10:58 AMOh Dog! He’s gonna have to fight ‘em off now!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 4:12 PMA wonderful and very worthwhile cause to highlight Rumpy!
Posted by Bassas Blog | October 18, 2011, 11:07 AMBy the way, we celebrate Christmas on 7 January here in the Republic of Georgia.
Posted by Bassas Blog | October 18, 2011, 11:08 AMSo do you know of any animal rescue organizations that you could nominate from Georgia?
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 4:13 PMWhat a great program, now to think of a shelter :)
Stop of by for a visit!
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/
Posted by Kari | October 18, 2011, 11:35 AMYAY! Thanks Kari!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 4:13 PMThis is such a cool idea. I would have gone nuts if I didn’t have toys when I was in dog jail - before my people got me and took me home with them. -Bongo
Posted by BongoDogOwner | October 18, 2011, 1:03 PMFor real! Do you know any group you could nominate?
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 4:14 PMThank you SO much for the great post, Rumpy! We hope we can make this an extra special Christmas for a lot of special animals this year!
Posted by Dorian @ Santa Paws Drive | October 18, 2011, 4:14 PMI hope so too! woo woo woo!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 4:18 PMYay for Santa Paws Drive! Thanks for your pawsome post my furriend. Purrrrrrrrrs
Posted by Baby Patches | October 18, 2011, 5:18 PMOh Dog! The pleasure has been all mine!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 5:23 PMRumpy, once again, you’re a Hero! I read your post and then nominated a local shelter that my 2 legged children and I volunteered at. Thank you so much for this post. I was not aware of the Santa Paws Drive, and am so happy I had a chance to vote! x Moxie and the Berner girls
Posted by Moxie Reviews™ | October 18, 2011, 5:39 PMYay!!! You’re the hero for making the nomination!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 5:45 PMI remember when Dorian started this, and it just gets better every year. Thank for spreading the word!
Posted by Brian | October 18, 2011, 7:06 PMOh Dog! Thanks for visiting my blog!
Posted by rumpydog | October 18, 2011, 7:08 PMOur person went to a workshop at the County shelter where she learned how to crochet toy mice to be given as presents to the shelter kitties. Maybe she can make some to donate to Santa Paws! We’ll tell her she needs to start right away. Love from RainbowCatsx8
Posted by Annabelle Essert (@RainbowCatsx8) | October 18, 2011, 8:32 PM