Sydney Dogs and Cats Home urgently needs your help to keep pets cosy this winter
If you've been wondering what to do with old towels and blankets you've decluttered from the linen cupboard, keep pet shelters in mind.
The Sydney Dogs and Cats Home has put a call out for urgent donations of those items as it is "running critically low" and needs them to keep the animals in its care cosy during winter.
"The blankets and bedding are essential in helping keep the animals comfy and warm," Karen Kalpage, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home head of fundraising and marketing tells 9honey Pets.
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Kevin keeps cosy at the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home with towels and blankets. Supplied/Sydney Dogs and Cats Home
"Large sheets, towels and bedding also assist in covering dog crates or cat carriers which makes for a really nice cosy den/cocoon, comforting animals who are a bit scared."
The shelter has a high-turnover of these items for several reasons.
"We go through towels and blankets so quickly due to wet conditions, maintaining good disease control, plus also giving adopters a blanket to get their new furry friend home in or to put on top of a cage so they feel safe during transport."
In addition to blankets and towels, the shelter has also asked for large sheets.
However, doonas, fitted sheets, hand towels and face washers are not needed as they can't be used for the animals.
Before you donate your old blankets, sheets and towels the shelter would appreciate that they were freshly washed.
"If they've been in a cupboard but still clean that would be suitable, but if musty then we would appreciate it if washed," Kalpage says.
There are plenty of other ways to support the shelter if you don't have any of those items spare, including tax-deductible donations or providing other helpful items.
"We need big, soft bedding for our dogs, as some larger and older dogs need softer bedding for their joints," Kalpage says.
A blanket helps keep a cat warm at the shelter. Supplied/Sydney Dogs and Cats Home
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"Another donation we love constantly is Dine paste for the kitties [it's such an] amazing treat for behaviour work/ vet work/ getting into carriers etc. that we go through it so quickly," she added.
"Plus, we always need is dog chews such as deer antlers or goats horns – dogs chew to self sooth and this can also assist with sleep."
Blanket and towel donations can be dropped off at the shelter's Strathfield location: 442-446 Liverpool Rd, Strathfield South.
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