Monday, October 10, 2011

Santa Paws Drive 2011: Nominate Your Favorite Shelter Now for Online Pet Toy Drive!

This is the story of five pals who met on Twitter and how together, with the support of pet lovers everywhere, we'll help bring some extra joy to shelter animals this holiday season.

Just think about it... many of us shower our pets with gifts during the holiday season, but what about the shelter pets? Don't they deserve some holiday cheer too?

That's what Dorian Wagner, founder of YourDailyCute.com, was thinking when she wanted to start a "Toys for Tots" type of program, but this one would help shelter animals and provide them with toys and treats during the holiday season. So Dorian reached out to four of her like-minded blogger pals (including us!) who continue to work together to make the dream grow.

Now, kicking of its third year, Santa Paws Drive is the first-ever online holiday toy drive dedicated to helping shelter pets worldwide. The five of us Elves will work tirelessly (like Elves do!) to deliver toys and some extra cash to needy pets and animal shelters this holiday season.

Here's how it works and how you can help!

Starting today, we're officially taking nominations for shelters to benefit  from our third annual Santa Paws Drive. This year, we are focusing on shelters and rescues who make the extra effort to help special needs pets. These might be pets who need a little more attention or medical help like senior pets,  FIV+ or FeLV+ cats or other "less-adoptable" animals like black dogs and cats.

Nominations accepted through October 21

To nominate your favorite shelter who goes above and beyond to help special needs pets, please fill out our nomination form before October 21, 2011. Shelters can be anywhere in the world -- there are no boundaries for helping these special pets!


We'll choose six shelters based on need and your nomination notes and announce them before the giving part of the Santa Paws Drive starts on November 1. Starting November 1, you'll be able to donate toys, treats or money to send directly to these special pets to help make this their best holiday ever!

Putting the FUN in FUNdraising


As always, we'll be hosting some fun Twitter pawties and raffles to help raise more money, toys and awareness for the special needs shelter pets throughout the holiday season. Stay tuned for more details and dates, and we hope you'll join us in the fun!

Remember, all the Santa Paws Drives donations can be made online so it's super easy to help. And once the giving part of the drive starts on November 1, we'll also have widgets and flyers for you to share to help spread the word... and help more anipals who need it most!

Then, once all the toys are counted and all the donations have come in, the Santa Paws Elves will pack up all the goodies and ship them off to each shelter in time for Christmas.

Introducing the Elves
(No, we're not from the North Pole, but we represent from coast-to-coast and across the pond!)

Dorian Wagner, Deerfield Beach, Fla.-- YourDailyCute.com
Salina Gannon, La Verne, Calif. -- NipandBones.com
Kerri Schlack, Philadelphia, Pa. -- TheKittenCrew.com
Lynn Haigh, Leek, Staffordshire, U.K. -- DougalsDen.com
Diane Silver, Atlanta, Ga. -- ToDogWithLove.com

Since its inception in 2009, the Santa Paws Drive has raised $15,000 in toys, treats and donations for 12 shelters worldwide. Please help us make this the most joyous season yet for shelter pets by nominating a shelter, spreading the word and pawticipating in our Santa Paws Drive!

As Cosmo says...
I don't go anywhere without my big green bone. I want all
the shelter animals to have special toys too! -- Cosmo Havanese

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