Giving to your local pet rescues and volunteering is a great idea; however, almost all national animal funds are very wasteful.
“Giving to your local pet rescues and volunteering is a great idea”
Helping people especially unborn babies, should be a priority over helping animals .
True. The best thing you could do is take the largest (50 pound) bag of cat/dog food down to your local shelter. They will go through that like a hot knife through butter in a day.
Also go to the Dollar Tree and buy bleach by the case and take that to them. As many cases of bleach as you can afford.
cat litter. Does not need to be expensive just the biggest bag you can find.
also at Dollar tree leashes, collars for dogs they can always use. If you can afford it go to a pet store and buy dog muzzles in all sizes, the dog warden will love you for it.
Local only. Agree completely. And no-kill only. That’s a firm requirement.
As for the wish tree, just all too bad. Nice little children who would be more than happy with something much less and more reasonable than high end electronics get the short end of the stick. Next they will be wanting a motorbike, go cart, a car or something like that.
For a few years I gave generously to Toys for Tots. I am unhappy to say that what ruined it for me was to see people drive up in newer cars than we drive and just do their Christmas Shopping at the charity. It was obvious what they were doing and the Vets just had to stand there and take it. They complained after the people left but were powerless to stop it.
Maybe if the well dries up some will find the worth of the water. My give-a-damn is pretty much just plain busted these days. I suppose I am "Lucky" to have paid all the taxes I have over the years. Taxes that have been so well pissed away. "Lucky" to have spent so many years at Christmas on a rig in some far flung place. "Lucky" to catch a few winks so many many times on the steel bench of a cold or sweltering and noisy dog house and "Lucky" to have managed to work my way through a good education and on to opportunity I worked hard not to waste. Until I retired I never turned down work I could do not knowing when it would be offered again. That served us well. I don't feel any obligation to anyone else 'cept for a few friends who offered me work when I needed it in the bad times. I owe them my loyalty and that is all. Nobody has given me a thing since my parents gave me a good reputation and all they had to offer that I really needed.
I donate to Furball Farm. They have a youtube channel also.
https://furballfarmcatsanctuary.com/
Bingo. I give lots to the local animal rescue and the senior citizen charity directly. I use to give to “Right to Life” until I saw how little they actually use to fight abortion laws.
“however, almost all national animal funds are very wasteful.”
Stick with your local shelter.
I agree
my little community has only one animal control officer
I prefer to take pet food to her because she is boots on the ground, knows which shelters/rescue would appreciate it the most