When you’re getting ready to donate to an animal shelter, pet food and toys are probably the first things that come to mind. But caring for dozens of animals every day takes more than pet products, and some of the most useful donations aren’t even pet products.
Think about all the laundry, cleaning, and everyday messes that come with running a shelter. Those supplies add up quickly, and many are things you might already have at home.
If you’re cleaning out a closet or looking for a way to help your local shelter, here are eight often-overlooked items worth considering. Just be sure to check the shelter’s wish list first, since every organization has different needs.
1. Old Towels
Before tossing those faded bath towels or replacing your mismatched hand towels, consider donating them to an animal shelter. They’re useful for drying animals after baths, cleaning up accidents, and making kennels more comfortable, as long as they’re clean and free of large holes or loose threads.
2. Laundry Detergent
Imagine how much laundry piles up when you’re caring for dozens of dogs and cats. Between blankets, towels, and washable bedding, shelters can use detergent quickly, so an extra unopened bottle is a practical donation.
3. Garbage Bags
Animal shelters produce plenty of waste from cleaning kennels, changing litter boxes, and keeping the facility tidy. Staff use sturdy garbage bags throughout the day, and an unopened box in the sizes the shelter needs can help replenish its supplies.
4. Paper Towels
Anyone who has owned a pet knows that messes happen, and animal shelters deal with them on a much larger scale. From spilled water bowls to food scattered across the floor, paper towels are constantly used, making an unopened multipack an easy, useful donation.
5. Washable Blankets
That stack of extra blankets taking up space in your linen closet might be just what a shelter needs. Lightweight, machine-washable blankets can make kennels more comfortable for puppies, kittens, older animals, and pets recovering from medical treatment, though shelters may restrict used bedding.
6. Cat Litter
If you’ve ever had a cat, you know how quickly a bag of litter can disappear. Now imagine keeping litter boxes clean for an entire room full of cats and kittens, which is why shelters often need a steady supply of litter in their preferred type or brand.
7. Leashes, Collars, and Harnesses
Have a leash or harness sitting in a drawer that your dog outgrew or no longer uses? Some animal shelters accept clean, gently used walking gear for walks, outdoor breaks, and adoption events, as long as the straps, clips, and buckles are still secure.
8. Cleaning Supplies
Keeping an animal shelter clean takes a lot more than a quick sweep at the end of the day. Disposable gloves, scrub brushes, and approved cleaning products can be useful donations, but check which products the shelter uses because some household cleaners aren’t safe around animals.
