It’s EASY Being Green

 

 

 

In celebration of Earth Day 2014, Fabulous McGrady and Friends Foundation was invited to Union County Master Gardener Association’s “Down to Earth Day”. We readily accepted the invitation as recycling gently used pet-related items is one of our main missions!  In a sense, McGrady is a “recycled” dog so it’s fitting that his foundation recycles goods to be put to good use at rural Carolinas animal shelters.  We were thrilled by our reception at the event as there were already anonymous donations waiting at our table space before we arrived

We can recycle many things!  Gently metal pet food bowls/pails, plastic insulated dog houses, clean towels/blankets/linens, collars/leashes, animal crates and washable dog beds.   While we never like to say “no” to any donation, we really cannot accept wooden dog houses, used pet toys, carpeted cat towers,  and certain types of animal beds as shelters are unable to sterilize them in the event of disease outbreak.

Most shelters prefer metal dog food bowls as bored dogs tend to chew the bowls.  However, as noted above, we do not like to refuse any donation as we know we can usually find a rural humane society or shelter who can take an item or items.  Although our mission statement states that we help rural shelters in the Carolinas, we did assist one special shelter in KY as they could use plastic pet food bowls that no other shelters in our area could.

 

 

Getting the bowls cleaned and packaged up to ship to Owensboro Humane Society.  Owensboro Humane Society in KY works very hard to help homeless animals in their area.  We had the good fortune to meet one of their tireless volunteers, Bunny Allen, along with her Service Dog and shelter SpokesDog, Carma Poodale Allen, at the BarkWorld Convention a few years ago.  As none of our Carolinas shelter contacts could use plastic bowls, we contacted Bunny to see if they could.  Indeed, they were very much able to use these so we mailed out 2 boxes of bowls.  Please see the blog post from Carma’s page about their arrival

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many County shelters cannot use padded or stuffed pet beds as dogs may tear them apart.  This could present a choking hazard for the dog.  We contacted our friends at Scotland County Humane Society and they readily said yes to the donation of beds.  They distributed these out to their network of foster homes!

 

 

 

Gently used plastic insulated dog houses can be a lifesaver for shelters that have to house large dogs in outdoor-only runs.  We collected many of these for use at Ashe County Animal Control back in 2012 and also collected them for use at Montgomery County Animal Control after they had to build new kennel runs as the old ones no longer met codes regarding cross-contamination barriers.  As you can see here, those are being put to good use!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dog and cat crates, either airline or plastic can be recycled for FABULOUS uses.  Many groups who rescue animals from rural shelters need the crates for transports to regional foster homes or to distant rescues in the NE and other areas.  Last month we delivered multiple crates of various sizes to Teresa Bruton, one of the founders of the wonderful Montgomery County Spay/Neuter Van Project (see also our previous blog post about this wonderful endeavor here).  The 4 ladies involved with this assist pet owners with getting their pets transported to the discounted Spay/Neuter Clinic in neighboring Moore County, a 45-minute drive the many working folks just cannot make!  In 2013, they assisted over 300 animals in getting spayed and neutered!

How YOU can help!

Please check the list below for items that can be readily recycled for use at rural Carolinas shelters:

If you are in the Charlotte Metro area, please email us at fabulousmcg@gmail.com for item pickup.  Smaller items can be mailed to us at

Fabulous McGrady & Friends Foundation

PO BOX 1443

Matthews NC   28106

 

If you are not in the Carolinas, I would encourage you to find a rural shelter in your region and give them a call.  We make personal contact with all shelters before we visit so that we can establish their specific needs and tailor our deliveries to them.  We don’t want any donated (or new) goods going to waste simply because a shelter cannot use an item as there is definitely going to be another shelter who can use said item!  Although we usually do not collect these type items as they do not directly affect the comfort and well-being of animals in shelters, we can say that many rural shelters CAN use office furniture and other non-pet-related items.   Again, however, we do recommend calling a shelter directly before you bring them such items so that you know they’ll be used.