MANATEE COUNTY (WSNN) – Our furry friends are always there for us when we need them offering comfort and unconditional love. But what about when they need it? One Suncoast organization is doing just that.
Instead of pups giving us TLC, this time, we’re giving it to them.
It began as a mom’s Christmas donation of a few blankets…
“She donated eight or so blankets,” said Kelly Thompson, director of Manatee County Young Lawyers.
… to a community-wide effort led by the Manatee County Young Lawyers Division.
“We think we had about 161 blankets today, plus a couple gave us harnesses, we had a dog bed, some cans of dog food, and some money as well,” Thompson said.
“We figured that going around your house and finding a blanket that you don’t use anymore is a pretty cheap and simple way of helping a dog,” Thompson said.
Word spread fast when the Mayor of Palmetto, Shirley Groover Brant, got involved.
“My son’s an attorney in Bradenton and so he asked if I would help too, and so I posted on my personal Facebook Page,” Brant said.
And it blew up.
“It’s surprising the difference an animal can make in your life,” Brant said.
Animal Services Outreach and Event Specialist Hans Wohlgefahrt says these are necessary items they use on a daily basis.
“For bedding, for medical cases all the way to giving a dog a bath,” Wohlgefahrt said. “A donation of this size allows us to recycle out some of the blankets and towels that have already been used very much and start with some new ones.”
And while the blankets and towels are washed after every use, let’s not forget they’re animals…
“They do soil things and sometimes they may not want to be used again if it’s bad enough, so we’re just happy we have the opportunity to replace a lot of our current items and start with some new ones,” Wohlgefahrt said.
He says these items go along way in helping these pets.
“It’s hopefully a short-term stay for them here until we find their homes, but during that time, we want to make sure that they have comfortable bedding that they receive all the care that they need,” Wohlgefahrt said.
The Manatee County Young Lawyers Division says there’s interest to do something like this in the future. So stay tuned.
So if you want to give a dog or cat a forever home, there’s more information, here.