Help local animals this holiday

Tucker the mini-horse smiles for the camera at Saving Grace Animal Sanctuary in Acton. DAN WATSON January 2016
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The holidays are a time of giving. If you’re an animal lover in the Santa Clarita Valley, there are several ways you can help local organizations that care for homeless pets or sanctuary animals.

By volunteering your time or donating much needed items for daily operations or comfort, you’ll make a big difference in the lives of animals and those that care for them.

Ready to get started? Here are five local groups caring for everything from shelter dogs and cats to farm animals such as horses or goats and what they need most this holiday season (and throughout the year).

The Brittany Foundation

www.brittanyfoundationonline.org

Located in Agua Dulce, The Brittany Foundation rescues, rehabilitates, adopts out and provides safe shelters for homeless, abused, and abandoned dogs, with a focus on those that have a more difficult time being adopted such as seniors, special needs, puppy mill victims, and hard to place breeds.

Items needed: New and used blankets, sheets, and towels; rakes, shovels, brooms, heavy duty garden hose; paper towels, laundry detergent, dish soap, bleach, drawstring trash bags; white letter copy paper, stamps; pure honey, coconut oil, canned green beans, Kirkland premium dog biscuits; Evangers Canned Chicken dog food, SportMix Wholesomes dog food; poop bags, 6 foot leashes, Nylabones; gift cards from Costco, Petco, PetSmart, Office Depot, Staples, Lowes, or Home Depot.

Volunteer opportunities: The Brittany Foundation needs help with tasks at the ranch such as cleaning kennels and walking dogs, as well as at mobile adoption events or off-site assistance with grant writing, marketing, and fundraising. If you like to bake, consider contributing homemade brownies, cookies, or muffins to their monthly bake sale.

For more info, contact Nancy Anderson at [email protected] or call (661) 713-5240.

Castaic Animal Care Center

Animalcare.lacounty.gov/

As part of the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control (LACC), Castaic Animal Care Center serves the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the San Fernando Valley. They have dozens of adoptable pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, reptiles, and farm animals such as horses.

Items needed: Dry and wet cat and dog food, KMR-Replacement Formula and Mother’s Milk Formula from Esbilac (for kittens and puppies), small, fleece beds for cats and foam dogs with zip covers in all sizes for dogs, disposable food boats, cat and dog toys, newspaper, fly traps, brushes, nail clippers, new and used towels, crates and X-pens of all sizes, food for bunnies, hamsters, and guinea pigs, bird food, pill pockets, heating pads, Frontline or Advantage flea and tick treatment, pee pee pads, gift cards to pet supply, grocery, and hardware stores.

Volunteer opportunities: Castaic Animal Care Center needs help with animal care, training, mobile adoptions, and fostering. Volunteers must sign up for orientation on the LACC website.

For more info, visit website listed above or call (661) 257-3191. Donations can be dropped off to the shelter at 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road, Castaic, Monday through Thursday from noon to 7 p.m. or Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Furever Purr Rescue

Three-year-old Lucy lounges on her perch a the Klein's  Furever Purr Foster home in Canyon Country.  031616  DAN WATSON    031616
Three-year-old Lucy lounges on her perch a the Klein’s Furever Purr Foster home in Canyon Country. 031616 DAN WATSON
031616

www.fureverpurrrescue.com

Felines are the focus of Furever Purr Rescue, which saves abandoned shelter and street cats across Southern California and focuses on those most in need, such as the seniors, injured or ill. Foster volunteers and veterinarians provide medical care and rehabilitation until the cats and kittens are healthy enough to be adopted.

Items needed: Kitten formula, powdered goat milk, wet kitten and cat food (chicken, turkey, or beef), unscented clumping litter.

Volunteer opportunities: Furever Purr needs help with fosters to take care of kittens and cats (supplies provided), as well as help with administrative duties, fundraising, producing a monthly newsletter, and grant writing.

For more info, email [email protected] or call (818) 635-6473.

New Leash on Life

www.nlol.org

Established in 1997, New Leash on Life Rescue Foundation has a mission to rescue homeless dogs from Los Angeles County and City shelters. New Leash on Life also trains volunteer handlers and therapy dog teams to provide canine assisted therapy at care facilities, as well as search and rescue dogs to assist in emergency situations.

Items needed: Dog treats (including grain free), laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, bleach, vinegar, dog toys (Kongs and rope style), rope leashes, and treat pouches.

Volunteer opportunities: New Leash on Life needs help with dog reading and therapy dog program, adoption events, basic dog training, grant writing, receptionist and dog walking.

For more info, please contact [email protected] or call (661) 255-0097. Donations can be dropped off to New Leash on Life Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 16742 Placerita Canyon Road, Newhall.

Saving Grace Animal Sanctuary

www.savinggraceanimalsanctuary.org

Saving Grace Animal Sanctuary is a refuge for animals that have been abandoned, abused, unwanted or nearing euthanasia. Their hope is to intercede before an animal is sent to a shelter or euthanized and help each animal here move forward into a life of peace and joy.

Items needed: Muck rakes, apple cider vinegar, hay feed bags, 60 pound bags of concrete, and bales of orchard hay.

Volunteers: Help is needed with grooming horses, walking animals, and cleaning.

For more info, please contact [email protected] or call (661) 269-1356.

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