Filling
a shopping cart with brand new toys for an animal shelter feels
incredible. Things that animals can chew, toss, squeak, or cuddle
provide invaluable relief from the monotony of life in a kennel.
Products from pet stores make wonderful donations but can be
expensive when purchased in bulk. Fortunately, shelters with great
enrichment programs utilize all kinds of supplies to entertain their
residents. I can't walk into a Dollar Store anymore without leaving
with something for the shelter! If your budget is holding you back,
here are some of the most inexpensive supplies with the biggest
impact.
Cats
are born hunters, naturally curious. They love investigating new
objects, making just about everything a toy. Pompoms, Popsicle
Sticks, plastic straws, and pipe cleaners in a cat's kennel inspire
them to play. Stick-on hooks, string, and yarn can also be used to
secure toys or cardboard scratching posts to kennel doors. Plastic
Easter eggs make fun wobbly toys for cats and can be bought in large
quantities. Feathers and bells are also useful supplies for DIY
enrichment crafts. The crinkle of paper lunch bags makes them
engaging for felines to explore, and they can also make a dog's
meal more enriching when kibble is hidden inside. Tinfoil can be
crumpled up to make shiny balls. Low-cost toys usually aren't
durable and won't last long. Look for hard plastic cat toys and
ping pong balls, which are easy to sanitize, and tennis balls and
stuffies that may last for dogs who aren't chewers. Bubbles and
wand toys are also a great way for staff and visitors to engage with
playful felines. Additionally, a shelter can never have enough
catnip, xylitol-free peanut butter, and treats! Plastic cups can
present cat treats in a more challenging way or be filled with water
and peanut butter and frozen to make "pupsicles!" Balloons,
muffin tins, and ice trays can also be filled with water to make
frozen treats. You may even have enrichment supplies lying around at
home. Empty toilet paper and paper towel rolls are great for filling
with treats, as well as empty cardboard food boxes! Pets
should always be supervised and should not be given materials that
pose a choking hazard.
Things that animals can chew, toss, squeak, or cuddle provide invaluable relief from the monotony of life in a kennel.
When
we think about enrichment, we often picture things an animal can play
with or eat. But sight, sound, and smell are also stimulating sources
of enrichment. Pinwheels, hanging party décor, and wind chimes can
be placed in, above, or outside a kennel to provide visual
entertainment. Many cooking spices are appealing to pets and can be
sprinkled on bedding or kennel floors.
These
are just some of the many creative ways to support an enrichment
program. Enrichment is crucial for relieving stress, providing
solace, and engaging the minds of shelter pets while they wait for
their forever homes. You might not think a dollar can do a lot, but
watching an orphaned kitten battle a Popsicle Stick just might change
your mind.
Breonna Loxley is an animal care technician at an animal shelter. She is an avid artist, writer, and animal-lover. She lives with her parents, a younger brother, two cats, and one dog.