Does anyone have any ideas on how I could get dog toys for the Humane Society shelter?

Question

I volunteer at the shelter 2-3 days per week, and I've made it my goal to take some of the more hyper, exciteable dogs out to the play yard and let them have some "free-running" time. This helps them learn to socialize with humans, and it also helps them burn off the excess energy that gets built up living in such close quarters.

The problem is, when we get out to the yard, we have no toys for them to play with. I don't mean the expensive kind of dog toys. I mean, we don't even have tennis balls to throw for them. NOTHING. The shelter is so over-wrought, all the funding and donations go for the basics... food, water, medical care, staffing... there's no $$ for "extras" like toys.

I need some ideas for getting toys donated, or at a great discount, so the dogs can at least have something to fetch. Right now, all they have are rocks! I need names of charities to contact, even those philanthropists who give small sums to charities. Anything you can think of. Thanks!

I've asked PetSmart, which is the only store close to us, and they said they send monetary donations to the national Humane Society. Unfortunately, our shelter doesn't get their donation directly :(

I would ask Walmart, but they've been so generous to us recently, I'd feel bad going to them asking for more. Someone stole one of the cash boxes at one of our remote adoption centers at a PetSmart store (over $1000!), and when Walmart heard about it, they sent us a check to cover the stolen amount.

Answer 1

I think tennis balls are great. Hard rubber balls that are too small can choke a large dog.

Try asking local tennis clubs if you can have their old balls in bulk. People sometimes do this for dog parks and the fluff will be gone anyway.

Dollar Stores and other types of deep discounters also have inexpensive toys including those big rope toys literally for a dollar.

You can also go to your local hardware store and buy lengths of rope that you can knot to make pull toys. You go to a toy store or drug store and pick up frisbees for practically nothing.

Stuffed toys and things like soft frisbees probably won't last very long. You can try a basketball with some of the air taken out. A volunteer may even have an old one at home.

Some dogs even enjoy playing with the empty 2 liter bottles of soda without the cap. They seem to like the crunch of the plastic. Others like tearing apart cardboard boxes. As long as they aren't eating any of it, these are inexpensive ways to enrich their environment.

Answer 2

Send a letter to the top dog at the Humane Society, Wayne Pacelle and have all the volunteers sign it asking for funds for basic toys. He can probably take it out of his approximately 200 MILLION dollar excess.
I think you volunteers are the best. I know your hearts are in it when it comes to caring for the dogs and cats and any other animals that come through HSUS doors. I just don't have much faith in the people in administration.
Another idea is for a group of your volunteers to approach PetSmart and PetCo stores nearby and explain that you are volunteers that help out at the HSUS in your area and how the dogs don't have any toys for play time. They can at least tell you when they might have a sale and what times are the best time to get toys for the dogs. They often have clearances. Then call the stores back and bug them from time to time.
One independent shelter I used to work for had bake sales. They'd set up in an area of the parking lot and sell baked goods one day and use the proceeds for the shelter. Maybe one of the big stores I mentioned would let you do that in case Wayne can't part with some of that excess or allow for setting up the bake sale on HSUS premises.

Answer 3

Try setting up a donation box in the lobby. Just make a sign that the money will go toward buying the shelter dogs toys and people can put spare change in there. We have one in our shelter and we get a surprisingly big amount of money. Maybe also make a bigger box where people can donate actual toys.

Answer 4

In the past, I've had the task of searching out donations for the Non-Profit that I work for. Your best bet is to send out donation letters to as many Pet Shops and Vets that you can find within about a 15 mile radius.Call them ahead of time and find out the name of the person to whom you would direct your request. Also, don't forget the big manufacturers of the pet toys, such as the Hartz Corp. You can also contact them by phone. Many of these companies can write off their donations on their taxes. GOOD LUCK with your project.

Answer 5

ask them to bring some from home

ask every1 to donate a dollar or 2 and go to the dollar store where u can buy 3 dog tennis balls a pack for a buck
and other toys

ask small pet businesses for toys

i really wish i could help if i could id bring a whole box of toys it doesnt happen to be located around chicago?

Answer 6

Trying to get donated toys may take a lot of effort. I would suggest buying wholesale dog toys. I would suggest toys costing $.35 - $1.25. I think I would buy $20 worth of these durable toys and set up a box at the shelter for a donation.

"Donate one of these toys for $2.00 to a dog here in the shelter" People like to donate tangible items.

Answer 7

Donation from Walmart... Walmarts are alloted a certain amount of money in their budgets to use for donation purposes. Go to your local Walmart, and talk to one of the members of management.. explain that you volunteer at such and such and are looking for a donation of dog toys and such.

See what they say. Also bring some sort of documentation showing your representing the shelter that your asking for toys for.

Answer 8

Hit up your local Freecycle page (Yahoo groups)

Post signs at your nearest tennis courts -- leave a cute container for donated tennis balls

Ask your local pet shop if you can do the same thing -- leave a cute container and ask people to buy and donate the items (if you are 501(c)(3) it's tax deductable for them)

Ask people at your work to donate toys - -again, leave a box

If you make it convenient for people to donate, the chances are higher they will

Good luck!

Answer 9

Jennifer, Hi,
I am pleased to hear that you are doing your bit for the most unfortunate dogs, it is hard work but last year I did a LOT of footwork, begging and pleading with local pet stores, toy-shops to get some toys for our local dog rehoming place. Some supermarkets help out too. But make sure that any toys you get are SAFE for dogs. Also tennis balls are fine but the "fluff" can be chewed off and swallowed and may choke small dogs. It's also a pain if it gets stuck in their front teeth. LARGE dogs may even get them stuck in their throat. Solid rubber is the best, a ball on a rope, rubber rings, knotted cotton toys are good for teeth as they can chew or play "shake it" and tug of war and they love throwing this over their back and heads. Whatever you beg for MAKE SURE IT'S DOG SAFE, no teddies with eyes and noses etc which can be chewed off.
Good luck

Answer 10

Approach pet related businesses in the area and ask if they have anything to donate. Maybe they have toys that don't seem to sell well because of colour etc, that they might be able to donate.