TAZEWELL COUNTY, Va. -As we move further into the holiday season, many are looking forward to the gifts and time spent with others that this season is known for. However, for animals in shelters, this time of year isn’t always merry, with the cold often keeping them inside and alone.
To help bring holiday joy to these animals waiting on their forever home, “Santa Paws” has come to town (the “Santa Paws Gift Drive” that is.)
Three years ago, the local nonprofit “Pit Bulls Second Chance Rescue” helped create the Santa Paws Gift Drive to bring Christmas joy to shelter animals in our area. The needs of these animals go beyond the basics, with the Tazewell County Animal Shelter hoping people will consider donating items that bring enrichment.
“Our main focus on this drive is really the animals, one hundred percent them, so toys for them, treats for them, you know, anything that benefits them aside from the normal things that they have…” says Ginny Dawson, director of the Tazewell County Animal Shelter:
How it works is simple: just drop off your gift at the Tazewell County or Mercer County Animal Shelters or at participating businesses: Bluestone Interiors, Brookes Bath and Biscuits, Ferguson, Beauty on Bland, State Electric, and Grants Supermarket in Tazewell.
As a ‘thank you’ for donating, you’ll get something as well: an ornament from the pet-themed tree at the donation location. Dawson says while this time of year may bring people together, shelter animals are sometimes left forgotten, but a gift can mean a lot to their lives.
“…Often times… we forget that the animals are here in the shelter. Of course, they don’t know that it’s Christmas, but they know something is going on, you know? They don’t see as many people as frequently… they don’t get to get outside as much to get… as much time out on the play yard because of the weather and the cold and things of that nature, so I think that it’s extremely important for them,” says Dawson.
Dawson says last year drive was a success, but she’d like to see more people help them distribute the gifts to the animals as well. They will have a distribution event at the shelter on December 20th that anyone can attend, with cookies, hot cocoa, and a visit from Santa to let humans and animals celebrate the season together.
The Santa Paws Gift Drive will be held through December 19th.
If you’d like to help support Pit Bulls Second Chance Rescue, you may also want to attend the “Pet (and Family) Pictures with Santa” event 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm on December 8th at Brooke’s Baths N Biscuits at 513 Cherry Street, Bluefield, West Virginia. The event is free, with donations going to support the rescue.
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