This Christmas season, many lucky cats and dogs will be getting presents and treats from their human family.
Unfortunately, many animals are in shelters and won’t be so lucky.
Most shelters are funded mainly by donations and fundraising and are able to provide basic care for those lost and abandoned animals, but there aren’t always funds left over for extras.
That’s where Operation Santa Paws comes in.
The holiday campaign encourages animal lovers to share the gift of giving at their local shelters during the month of December.
Justin Rudd founded Operation Santa Paws in 2001 as part of the Haute Dog organization. The mission encourages animal lovers to donate treats and pet toys so animals in shelters can feel the love during the holidays just like people do.
The campaign reminds people of the millions of pets in shelters in need of a loving home.
According to aspca.org, approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats). About 810,000 animals that enter shelters as strays are returned to their owners. Of those, 710,000 are dogs and 100,000 are cats.
Although many get adopted, the majority spend much of their lives in cages. December is a time to donate a new blanket, toy or even some treats for a shelter animal to enjoy.
That’s exactly what took place in Seymour on Saturday during the annual Bring Christmas to the Animals event at the Humane Society of Jackson County, 1109 G Ave. West.
The shelter is a private nonprofit animal welfare organization that serves the residents and animals of Seymour. It provides short-term shelter care for animals, lost and found services, adoptions and advice regarding animal health and behavior.
Even though that event has passed, the Humane Society needs donations year-round. Some items needed at the shelter include paper towels, detergent, Purina Cat Chow (blue bag), Purina Dog Chow (green bag), nonscoopable clay cat litter, medium and large dog collars, Nylabones, Kong toys, dog biscuits and soft bacon or beef dog treats. Gift cards to dollar stores or gas cards, cash and checks are always welcome, too.
Volunteers on hand to receive donation drop-offs last weekend were board President Jamie Jones, Vice President Ellen Mirer, Secretary Becky Bujwid and kennel assistant Kristie Doyle.
Mirer said in the course of a year, they typically take in around 500 animals at the Humane Society. On Saturday, the shelter had seven dogs and 12 cats waiting to be adopted.
The dogs and cats are listed on petfinder.com and sisaveapet.com, which is a network of several southern Indiana rescues, Jones said.
“Since we’re still dealing with the pandemic, we’re open only by appointment, so people can come out and see the animals or visit a particular animal,” Jones said. “There is an application available online if people want to get preapproved for an animal or they can fill one out here.”
She said the main thing is matching families and pets together so both will be happy because they want the animals to have forever homes.
“So giving a pet for a Christmas present is not the best idea, especially if it’s a surprise because of the different personalities of the pets,” Jones said. “A person should be able to meet them ahead of time and see how they’re going to fit in your particular household.”
Mirer said the shelter staff members keep the facility very clean, and there’s an outdoor exercise area for the dogs and cats.
During Saturday’s event, several people dropped off donations for the Humane Society, including Seymour resident Tom Melton.
“We have a cat at home and it’s cat No. 3 for us, and all of our other cats are strays or ones we’ve gotten from here or other shelters,” Melton said. “It’s just something we do, and hopefully, our donation will help.”
Another Seymour resident, Victor Bryant, was at the shelter dropping off a donation, too. His golden retriever, Bubby, came along for the ride.
“I try to donate at this event every year, and then during the rest of the year, I drop off a lot of toys,” Bryant said. “I promised my late service dog, Chandler, the night he passed away that I’d make sure any animal I could help, I would help, and everything I do is in his name.”
Bryant said he also donates to other local shelters, including Saints on our Side Animal Rescue, which has both dogs and cats.
The next fundraiser for the Humane Society is from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. It’s the annual Pictures with Santa at Paws-N-Klaws Pet Parlor, 631 W. Second St., Seymour. The cost is $20 for two 5-by-7-inch photos taken by local photographer Emma Zumhingst. There will be a drop-off box for Humane Society donations set up, too.
To make a monetary donation to the shelter, a PayPal link is on the jchumane.org/support-hsjc website or a check can be mailed to Humane Society of Jackson County, P.O. Box 135, Seymour, IN 47274.
For information, go to facebook.com/jchumane or call 812-522-5200.