Giving back to four-legged friends in Redmond
It’s the season of giving, and in Redmond that means giving back to four-legged friends. BrightSide Animal Center is vowing to make life a little easier for its residents this holiday season.
BrightSide is a high-save shelter focused on rescuing and re-homing animals. The shelter recently rescued 17 dogs scheduled for euthanasia in California, but to do these good deeds, the shelter needs help too.
“What we wanted to do is create a festive spirit around helping the animals,” Teresa Daily, Brightside thrift store manager, said Wednesday. The shelter receives 50 percent of its funding from the BrightSide Thrift store. All thrift store profits go to helping the BrightSide animals.
This year, the thrift store has set up a giving tree to help raise donations and make many dogs’ and cats’ shelter experience a little merrier.
Daily explained that the tree helps someone become a Secret Santa to an animal. The way it works is shoppers can choose an ornament off the giving tree and purchase that item to help a needy pet.
The items asked for include everyday items like dog food, kitty litter and peanut butter.
“Even the peanut butter that’s on our giving tree, that’s to put into their Kongs so they have something to do to stimulate them,” explained Daily.
With the cold of winter, many of the animals need supplies to keep warm. Items like dog jackets and blankets are in high demand for the winter months.
Daily also pointed out that making a donation to BrightSide Animal Center is a great gift to give for that person on your list that has everything.
“I think people are very generous this time of year, we’ve seen that community generosity time and again,” said Becky Stock, executive director of BrightSide Animal Center.
She explained that a little difference to an animal can make the world of a difference to an animal that’s been neglected or mistreated.
The Giving Tree will be at the Redmond BrightSide Thrift store through Dec. 24. You can also visit their website at www.brightsideanimals.org for a wish list of items the shelter needs.
