This holiday season, we’re spotlighting some of our favorite non-profit organizations that give back to pets (and their people) in various ways.
Animal Cancer Foundation
Founder/President: Gerald S. Post
One in 4 dogs and 1 in 5 cats will develop cancer in their lifetimes. Animal Cancer Foundation is dedicated to funding research in and increasing public awareness of comparative oncology— the study of naturally occurring cancers in both pets and people—with the goal of curing pet cancer once and for all.
ACF funded research includes the Canine Cancer Genome Project (CCGP), sponsored with an inaugural gift from Blue Buffalo Foundation, to map the cancer genomes of the seven most common canine cancers, and place the datasets in the public domain for use by all cancer researchers. CCGP is the largest pan-cancer canine genomic study to date. You can make a donation to honor a loved one and support comparative oncology research in their name.
Learn more about the latest pet cancer research at acfoundation.org
Canine Companions®
CEO: Paige Mazzoni
Imagine dropping your keys and not being able to reach them. Sitting in the dark because you can’t turn on the lights. Waiting for someone to come by to open the door. Now, imagine having a Canine Companions service dog to do all those tasks—and more.
Since 1975, Canine Companions has been transforming the lives of children, adults and veterans with disabilities by providing expertly trained service dogs free of charge. Disability reaches all races, classes and backgrounds—and Canine Companions does too.
Learn more or get involved at canine.org
For the Love of Alex Inc.
President /Executive Director: Austin Meadows
Unexpected veterinary costs affect low-income families in an outsized way—so much so that many are forced to surrender or euthanize their pets due to economic hardship.
For the Love of Alex, Inc. is dedicated to making sure that doesn’t happen by providing essential funding for vet care to low-income families. With that support, pet owners of all circumstances can afford to get their pets healthy and back into their loving homes.
Give back to pets in need at fortheloveofalex.org
National Disaster Search Dog Foundation
Founder: Wilma Melville
Founded in 1996, the National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (SDF) trains and cares for search and rescue dogs at no cost for fire departments across the country. SDF gives adopted dogs the essential training they need to perform the difficult work of finding people in the aftermath of fires and natural disasters.
Operating more than 78 trained disaster search teams in nine states and Mexico, SDF also ensures lifetime care for every dog that comes out of the program with the belief that “once rescued, these dogs never need to be rescued again.”
Learn more about this program at searchdogfoundation.org
Puppies Behind Bars
President/Founder: Gloria Gilbert Stoga
Therapy dogs are incredibly valuable for people who have experienced physical or mental trauma. Puppies Behind Bars does the double work of training service dogs for wounded veterans and first responders by employing a misunderstood and often forgotten population—prison inmates.
Trained program participants take puppies in for around 24 months, during which time the future service dogs mature into well-loved, well-behaved dogs. The inmates experience the positive impacts of pet ownership and get the opportunity to contribute to society directly while serving their sentences.
Read about their mission at puppiesbehindbars.com
Your local pet shelter
Don't forget your local animal shelters this holiday season! You can always donate time to your local rescue, or collect the following items in new or good condition for donation: