Pets (and their people) need your support this season

It’s the season of giving! And, let’s be honest here: It’s also the season of stressing about exactly what, and to whom, we’re giving (not to mention where we’re visiting, and what we’re cooking, and what we’re going to wear…)

One of my favorite ways to combat holiday-season fatigue is to spend some time thinking about how I can support the causes that matter most to me. The pets in my community top that list.

Here are some ways you can shop small, direct your donations where they make a difference, and volunteer your time with animals—and people—who need your help. We’ve included many of the usual suspects (like donating to your local shelter) alongside a few other ideas that are less common but just as impactful.

Let’s get to it!

Shop small to support local pet parents

Attend festivals, craft fairs, and other nearby events

Juniper community member Kelly loves taking her dog Moose to pet-friendly festivals, farmer’s markets, and seasonal events. “That’s where I get most of his tracheas and fun snacks,” she says.

As my partner and I travel with our dog full time in a converted van, I personally love veering out of the way to stop by local pop-ups when we see them. Two of the best things about shopping in person:

• You don’t have to pay for shipping!
• You get to chat with business owners firsthand to learn about their process and passion, which creates an opportunity to feel more connected during a season that often magnifies loneliness.

Find custom gear and accessories online

Small creators bring so much to the table, especially when it comes to custom options: You can often work with them to choose colors, illustrations, and other details to end up with exactly the gift you’re looking for.

We recommend getting lost in the oodles of Etsy listings (or TikTok and Instagram searches) for everything from stylish dog water bowls to handmade toys to accessories for the human end of the leash.

Ask fellow dog parents for their favorite recommendations

Some of the best treats, toys, and gear you buy might come from a “friend of a friend of a friend” who you discovered by simply asking around. You might not even realize the connections you already have!

If you're in the market for something new and looking to shop small, ask your family members, friends, dog trainer, or vet for their go-tos.

Prioritize brands that give back

If you’re shopping from a larger company this season, consider choosing a brand that supports animal rescue, rehabilitation, or community support programs. Just one example: Grounds & Hounds is a coffee company that shares profits with shelters. And many pet food manufacturers have seasonal or even year-round programs where they make a donation for each bag purchased!

You can also use large-scale holiday sales as an opportunity to stock up on discounted food, toys, and other supplies to donate to organizations in need. (Many pups here at Juniper love Ollie.)

Direct your donations where they make a difference

Shelters and rescues are constantly in need of donations to keep their operations running. You can:

• Sponsor a specific animal’s adoption fee (which can be a great way to help an overlooked pet receive some more attention).
• Contribute to a general-use fund for staff to cover any costs that come up in animal welfare, admin, and more.
• Get in touch with your local organizations to learn which physical supplies they need right now.

Ask who needs your help the most

There are countless—truly, it’s impossible to count—deserving shelters and rescues out there. When I can’t decide where to channel my limited resources, I like to think about what donations will have the greatest impact on quality of life.

• Cute leashes, collars, and bowls are fun accessories—but they don’t matter much to our pets themselves. Consider prioritizing feeding and housing efforts first.
• Shelter dogs greatly benefit from enrichment opportunities in their confined environments. Initiatives like author Taylor Finton’s Shelter C.A.R.E program provide pups with appropriate outlets for their natural behavior.
• Don’t write off “kill shelters” just because the label sounds unnerving. “Kill shelters are open intake municipal shelters,” explains author and animal rescue advocate Isabel Klee. “This means they take in every single animal that comes to their door. They take in strays. They take in owner surrenders. They take in medical cases. They take behavioral cases. […] They are not able to say no, even when the dog has no place to go.” Often, public shelters need even more support than private rescue organizations.

Help pets stay with their people

Supporting adoption initiatives is a great way to show our love for animals. But sometimes these efforts overshadow other programs that are just as important: Those that help pets stay with their people, keeping them out of the shelter in the first place. This has become one of my personal passions since reading Rethinking Rescue by journalist Carol Mithers.

You can:

• Ask your local shelter or rescue if they have a temporary foster program to help people experiencing housing insecurity not have to surrender their pets.
• Make monetary donations to organizations like Downtown Dog Rescue, which runs a shelter intervention program—providing resources that allow people and pets to stay together—in the United States’ second-largest city.
• Support a local pet food pantry.

Volunteer your time

Volunteering can take many forms—and it’s often one of the most fulfilling ways to help out, as you get to feel the impact of your work firsthand. Consider signing up to walk and play with shelter dogs, clean kennels and communal spaces, or even lend your technical skills in other areas like marketing, social media, event planning, and more.

Raise awareness

Finally, no matter what resources you have available to you, raising awareness is something everyone can do. Try promoting adoptable pets to your in-person and online networks. Share adoption profiles. Offer to help friends who are looking for a new dog find their best match at a local rescue.