Baldwin County animal shelters, rescue organizations seek support for furry friends this holiday season

By WHISPER EDWARDS
Editorial Assistant
whisper@gulfcoastmedia.com
Posted 12/19/24

The holidays aren't just for spreading cheer among family and friends — they're also the perfect time to help animals in need.

From donation wish lists to creative retail fundraisers, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Baldwin County animal shelters, rescue organizations seek support for furry friends this holiday season

Posted

The holidays aren't just for spreading cheer among family and friends — they're also the perfect time to help animals in need.

From donation wish lists to creative retail fundraisers, Baldwin County animal shelters and rescue groups are inviting the community to lend a hand.

The top request from shelters and rescue organizations is usually monetary donations followed closely by volunteer time. Monetary contributions help cover veterinary bills, operating costs, medicine and other essential expenses that you may not think about along with food, toys, bedding and more.

"Donations go toward the shelter, all (the cat) shelters and all of their upkeep," said Wendy Heineke with Coastal Cats & Critters. "Making sure we have a vet on staff; she comes once a week. We also just make sure that they get their treats or they've got good food."

For those eager to support local animals during the holidays, there's no one-size-fits-all approach to helping. Each animal shelter and rescue organization operates differently with unique needs and methods for accepting donations.

Take North Baldwin Animal Shelter, for instance. They've posted their Christmas wish list on Facebook featuring links to their Amazon and Walmart wish lists. High on their priority list are Pedigree or Beneful canned food for senior dogs, Meow Mix dry cat food, pet toys, bleach, Dawn dish soap, and even dog beds and cat trees. Check out their full wish list to see how you can help.

The Baldwin Humane Society offers another unique way to contribute. Through their UpTail ReSale boutique, located next to their adoption center, animal lovers can shop for quality home furnishings while supporting the organization. All proceeds from the boutique directly benefit the animals under their care. For those with furniture or household items to donate, the boutique even offers pickup and delivery services. Call (251) 928-8020 to coordinate donations.

Meanwhile, Orange Beach Animal Control has launched its second-annual Pet Angel Tree at the Orange Beach Police Department. The tree, located in the department's lobby at 4480 Orange Beach Blvd., aims to collect supplies for animals in their care. Residents can stop by to select an "angel" and provide much-needed items. Questions can be directed to talong@orangebeachal.gov.

SPOTLIGHT ON COASTAL CATS & CRITTERS AND COASTAL CAT SANCTUARY

For Baldwin County's community cats, Coastal Cats & Critters Inc. and their associated Coastal Cat Sanctuary play a vital role.

Founded in 2023 as the brainchild of Mona Brown, the 501(c)(3) sanctuary spans 20 acres in an undisclosed location in Baldwin County and serves as a haven for feral, abandoned and unadoptable cats.

"We're here to provide safe havens for feral and abandoned cats in Baldwin County," Heineke said. "That's really what our mission is."

Initially home to just four cats, the sanctuary now cares for nearly 200. To sustain their growing operations, the organization relies on community support. Donations of Purina Cat Chow (blue bag), wet food, catnip and toys are especially needed.

The sanctuary's location has not been publicly disclosed to prevent animal dumping.

"We need to find a safe haven for these community cats because there's so many, and we hate to call them feral, but it's more community cats."

Monetary support can be made through customized paver bricks, available for $125 each, to help fund the sanctuary's maintenance and care efforts. These bricks will be part of the sanctuary for years. There are other ways to assist, too, such as sponsoring a cat, scooping the sandboxes, social media ambassador and content creation and even being a cat/kitten snuggler. The Sanctuary will be having another volunteer orientation soon, so head to their website at www.coastalcatsandcritters.com to fill out an application.

Items purchased from the Sanctuary's Amazon or Chewy wish lists can be shipped to Creekside Mini Golf in Foley at 20868 Miflin Road, Foley, AL 36535. The sanctuary also works closely with Stray Love Foundation and Safe Harbor Animal Coalition for trap-neuter-return programs and adoptions.

"Safe Harbor is the best TNR facility in the country. I mean, they're awesome," Heineke said, referring to how the organization contacts Coastal Cats when they have a community cat that can't be released back on its own. Additionally, she said Coastal Cats partners "with Stray Love Foundation for adoption. If we can adopt out some of these loving community cats, we can bring more of those cats in that need a safe place."

LENDING A HAND

Whether it's scooping litter for an hour a week, a little retail therapy at UpTail ReSale or selecting an item from a wish list, every little bit helps. Baldwin County's animal organizations work tirelessly to ensure no animal is left behind.

Whatever you decide to do, if you are donating items or supplies, make sure your shelter or organization of choice needs that particular item. For example, Heineke said Coastal Cats already has plenty of sheets and towels and isn't looking for those at this time. Take a second to explore an organization's website or social media pages, and as a last resort, give them a call.