Wild Earth Integration

Twas the days before Christmas,

and all ’round the world

lots of creatures were stirring, without saying a word

With Christmas being right around the corner, it’s easy to get overcome by all the festivities. Shopping, baking, shoveling snow and general holiday-osity are important, but it’s also a good time to remember that there are those out there that need your help. Right now (and all throughout the year) there are homeless, hungry and unhappy animals, all without a voice. Let’s fix that, shall we?

Without further adieu, here’s how you can help. You might think it’s small potatoes, but with enough small potatoes, we can make a big difference.

• Feed the Birds

Sure it’s simple, but it can also bring some great rewards. Here’s a great ornament feeder for your yard that’s fun to make and sure to please your feathered neighbors. All you need is some yarn, rice cakes, peanut butter and bird seed. Using the tip of a knife, poke a small slit through each rice cake. String in your yarn, tying off a knot before and after each rice cake. Roll the sides of the rice cake in PB and dip them into the bird seed. Finito! Leave a bit of yarn at the top (or if you’re like me, mess it up and then have to tie on extra) and then string it up to a tree. Promise, the birds will go crazy over this one.

• Check out your local shelter. Lend a hand.

One of my first jobs was at the Humane Society. I can tell you first hand – there is no downtime for animal care workers. Why not drop by a shelter in your area? Even if you can’t give money, they are always in need of newspapers, blankets (to keep young animals warm), pet food, treats and cleaning products. If you want to make them really happy, bring some leashes, collars or pet toys. If you have awhile, you can always offer to walk shelter dogs (one of my favorite holiday activities), or spend some time with the cats and other small animals. Socializing the animals increases their chances of being adopted (because they get used to handling and people), so your gift could very well result in an animal finding a home!

• Donate money to an animal-related charity of your choice.

I know, money doesn’t grow on trees. But there are many organizations that are doing really fantastic things with even small sums. If conservation is your thing, you can donate to the World Wildlife Fund. These people work around the clock throughout the year to inform and educate people and improve ecological policies. If you can’t look at a malnourished puppy without crying, you would probably get a lot from donating to the World Society for the Protection of Animals. WSPA spends countless hours trying to eradicate animal cruelty of all kinds around the globe. Everything from bear-baiting to bull fighting – WSPA covers it. These organizations also have hundreds of gift ideas, so your giving can also get you a beautiful present for someone. Win-win.

There are many more ideas, but these are a few that can get you started. If you want to learn more about shelter donations, you can check out your local Humane Society. If conservation or cruelty aid are more your thing, you can click the logos below to find each website. I hope you guys have a fantastic week, and I’d love to hear what you do to help out our animal friends. Of course, one of the easiest ways to help animals is to give your own pet a hug – so go to!

See you on Wednesday!