A Guide to Helping Animals at Christmas

Give Kind, Compassionate Gifts

Christmas is the season of giving, and the best, kindest, most compassionate gifts are always cruelty-free. Avoid buying a product or gift that causes any animal to suffer. Avoid a gift that is made using any part of an animal or comes from an animal. Avoid all leather, fur, wool, silk, cashmere, shearling, suede, exotic skin, down, or body parts. No animal should have to suffer for your gift. And that goes for the Christmas tree – avoid buying ornaments made from bird’s feathers or other animal parts.

Cruelty-Free Shopping

Shop for cruelty-free, vegan gifts not made from any part of an animal. Here are some great places to shop:

• LUSH – 100 New Vegan, Cruelty-Free Christmas Gift Ideas
• ETSY – Vegan Holiday Gift Guide and specially selected from the Veganetsy Team!
• AMAZON – Gifts for the Vegan
• UNCOMMON GOODS – All Vegan Gifts
• CRUELTY-FREE KITTY – Makeup brands, vegan beauty brands, drugstore brands, at Sephora, and ULTA
• PEACE FUR PAWS – Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide
• NUTRICIOUSLY – 60+ Amazing Vegan Gift Ideas for the cruelty-free gourmet
• PETA – Gift Guide to the Best (and Kindest) Vegan Gifts Under $100
• EPICURIOUS – 25 Best Vegan Gifts
• VEGNEWS – Holiday Shopping Guide
• 100% PURE – Holiday Gift Guide
• BEST SERVED VEGAN – Holiday Gift Guide
• COSMOPOLITAN – 38 Thoughtful Vegan Gift Ideas
• VEGETARIAN TIMES – 60 Great Gifts Picked by the Editors
• BEST PRODUCTS – 20 Best Vegan Gifts for the Plant-Based People in your Life
• BUSINESS INSIDER – 27 Best Gifts for Vegans
• FEMESTELLA – Cruelty Free Beauty Gifts for Every Budget

Learn more about how to shop humanely and celebrate compassionately for animals, read these Tips For Humane Gift Buying and Compassionate Celebrating.

Best Gift Guides for Pets!

• VEGAN DESIGN – 2021 Holiday Gift Guide for Pets
• LIVE KINDLY – 15 Vegan and Cruelty Free Christmas Gifts for Pets
• CHEWY – Best Cat Toys and Best Dog Toys

Ways to Help Animals at Christmas

• Donate supplies such as bedding, blankets, towels, toys, kongs (for dogs), cat and dog food to your local animal shelter; personally deliver the items they are asking for. Call the shelter in advance to see what specific items they need, most have a list.
• Make a financial donation to an animal rescue group, animal sanctuary, animal shelter, or non-profit organization that helps animals instead of giving a material gift.
• Make a donation as a gift in someone else’s name, to their favorite animal charity instead of a material gift. Then follow-up and send the person a card with the non-profit charity name and donation amount.
• Volunteer over the holidays at your local animal shelter or animal sanctuary.
• Walk the dog(s) of a neighbor(s) who is an invalid, elderly, home-bound, injured, sick or unable to walk their dog over the holiday vacation. Make it a habit to help them and their animals.
• Buy Christmas cards that support an animal charity or nonprofit that helps animals.
• Support a rescue organization’s thrift shop or store that funds needed medical care, spays and neuters, well pet care, for that nonprofit.
• Give documentary films/DVDs as gifts that raise awareness about the exploitation of animals and promote animal rights and welfare.
• Build some DIY shelters for feral, homeless and community cats this year that are cold and exposed to harsh weather, here are some ideas.
• Don’t forget to give your beloved pets their own Christmas presents that will enrich and improve their lives!

Don’t Give Pets As Presents

Remember, never buy a pet to give as a Christmas gift. If you do, make sure that you know they are wanted, prepared for, and will have good care and love for their entire life. Pets are a major life-long commitment of 15-20+ years, and are a big responsibility that includes a lifetime of medical care, emergency visits, food and supplies, needed prescription drugs, feeding twice daily, and they are a commitment of time, love and support every single day. And unlike material gifts, they cannot be forgotten about or neglected. They should never be bought or adopted on a whim or impulse, but must be considered and planned for thoughtfully, carefully, and responsibly. Animal shelters are full of animals that were given as “gifts,” then later were discarded when their novelty wore off, or new pet parents came to realize the daily responsibility was not for them, or they had needed veterinary care. Also, never buy a pet or animal from a commercial breeder, backyard breeder, puppy mill, online dealer—many are totally unethical in raising animals, and are irresponsible, neglectful, and even cruel. These breeders are in it for the money and don’t care about the animal. When you buy a pet, it means one less home for a shelter or rescue pet.

Protect Your Pets, Keep Them Safe During the Holidays

1. Keep Candles and Decorations out of Reach – Use battery operated candles as an alternative. If you do use lit candles, keep them completely out of reach of animals.
2. Toxic Poinsettias, Lilies and Seasonal Poisonous Plants – Keep live plants out of reach of animals, many are highly toxic and poisonous including poinsettias and lilies. Lilies can kill in 35 hours after ingestion. Don’t accept live plants if you have pets. Or put the plant in a room where your pet is not allowed to go. It’s always safer to buy faux or artificial plants instead.
3. Cover Electrical Cords – Be sure to cover all electrical cords for the Christmas tree and house lights. Keep them unplugged when you’re not at home.
4. Keep Tree Ornaments Out of Reach – Pet-proof your tree by keeping dogs and cats away from it as tempting as it is for them. Put your tree in a room they have no access to, and keep ornaments higher up where they cannot reach them. Ingesting and eating ornaments can be deadly and they can make for an expensive trip to the vet.
5. No Holiday Treats – It’s best to totally avoid holiday treats for your pets. Chocolate is toxic to cats and dogs; avoid feeding dinner scraps that can cause fatty liver disease, pancreatitis, indigestion, inflammation, and an expensive vet bill; put food completely away after preparing it, and after eating your meal – don’t leave food scraps or leftovers on counters or dining tables that pets can clean up when you’re not looking.
6. Clean Up Ribbon, String, Plastic Ties, Paper, Wrapping – These can all be swallowed causing intestinal blockages, and much worse. Keep them put away after wrapping gifts, and cleaned up after unwrapping gifts. Never leave string, ribbon, ties, or bags with handles on the ground for pets to find and potentially swallow or get caught in.

Photo Credits: Cover photo by TerriC on Pixabay