HOW PET-RELATED ITEMS (NEW AND USED) CAN HELP RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS
Peace, Hope & Joy – photo taken at Georgiana Garden Centre
As pet parents, we accumulate, tons of pet-related items that we purchase, or have been given, throughout the year. Especially, at birthdays and Christmas. It is after all, mostly about our beloved companions (of the furry variety)! I have items that still have tags on them and books on my shelf that I have not even read yet. Some I will get around too, other, thoughtful gifts may be of more interest to someone else. In most cases, I will donate blankets, beds, collars, etc. directly to a local rescue. Other times, (and until I win the lottery and money is not a concern), it is nice to know the following is an option and an opportunity to recoup some of those expenses.
Auction4Pet Supplies is a membership site where you can find anything from collars to crates and a portion of the proceeds from each sale is donated to Rescue Organizations.
The face of this wonderful site is Layla, a rescue dog. Layla and her person Ruth are the fabulous, founders of Auction4PetSupplies, helping to raise funds for rescue organizations.
Ruth shares:
I had been through a lot with my dog before Layla who passed away from IMHA (Immune-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) at the age of 6, just as we finally had a home of our own. I feel she left me knowing I was safe and it was time to give a new dog a home.
After three months of Baby’s passing, I started searching for a new li’l one. I could not find a fluffy in San Francisco, at the time. A friend of mine told me one day that he was going to L.A. for 5 days, and had a friend that did rescues and if I saw one online on Pet Harbor or Pet Finder she would pull her, and my friend would bring her home to me. I sat for five days, nearly 24/7 looking until I saw Layla in the cage at the Carson Shelter. I told the woman I wanted this dog, so they went to meet her on Saturday afternoon, called me from the shelter and told me this dirty, smelly mess was licking them. I said that is all I need to know; bring her home. Twenty-four hours later she arrived in San Francisco. I called her Layla which is Hebrew for Night as she is black and arrived at night.
The Lovely Layla
Why we decided to do the auction site: Over the years I’ve been watching the rescue organizations do auctions on Facebook, and noticed how hard it was to organize it. They would have to start a new page each time for each auction. Listing the pictures adds to the difficulty, so to give back to the Rescues I set up the site so that they could use our website to hold auctions for free. By doing so, I can help with the marketing and its a wider audience.
We also did it so that pet people who have pet related items lying around their house could auction them off; it is free to list but if there is a sale they pay 2 dollars to the website, the money being shared afterward with a rescue. It is also an outlet for people who do not want to have a website but make pet related items. Everyone benefits.
The Mission of the site is to help struggling Rescue Organizations. Each month, a percentage of the income from the site donated to the Rescue Organization of Layla’s choosing (done on a rotational basis).
It’s better to give. Photo taken at Georgina Garden Centre
Ruth explains that after many months of watching Rescue Organizations requesting financial assistance from members on Facebook, and watching Facebook control the Rescue Organization and other pages, we decided to put together this website from which everyone will benefit.
How does Layla choose which organizations to support?
Rescue organizations provide information regarding programs they believe to be worthy of funding, and if deemed viable by Layla and her person Ruth, support is given. Also, Rescue Organizations interested in a venue to ‘appeal to the public,’ are invited to contact Layla and Ruth, and they will accommodate where possible.
Do you have pet items lying in your house? Are you a small business that makes pet items? This is an opportunity to auction the items on our site. A fee of US $2.00 will be deducted from each sale on auction and each month we will choose a Rescue Organization to receive a donation from us.
Rescue Organizations will also have that option to utilize our site for
doing auctions. If you are using this site on behalf of a 501(c)(3) rescue
organization and would like to have your sales items highlighted at no extra charge, please send a copy of your IRS determination letter to auction4petsupplies@gmail.com.
Gifts for all! Decorated by the team at Georgina Garden Centre
Items from and for almost all species are welcome including cats, dogs, ferrets, fish, hamsters, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and reptiles.
Types of items available:
Accessories
Cages
Crates
Aquariums and Accessories
Toys
Books
Beds
Clothing
Collars
Leashes
Harnesses
Grooming items
Bedding (mice, rabbits, etc.)
Jewelry
Animal themed jewelry for humans
Memorial Items
All you have to do is become a member and list items for sale or fill your shopping cart! Everyone wins.
Listed items are auctioned for a maximum of thirty days. There is a service charge of $2.00 (U.S.) per item (see Terms of Use on website).
NO SALE OF ANIMALS, OF ANY KIND, WILL BE PERMITTED ON THIS SITE!
Seriously, how ADORABLE are these dog items?!?!
In my head, I’m saying ‘I want that, and that, OHHHHHH and Reese would look DARLING in that’!
Don’t miss out on Boxing Day shopping – for the best cause!
Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Amazing idea, thanks for sharing!
I hope more people will consider using this site.
Thank you and we hope to see more people on our using our site so that 2017 can be a good year for rescue organizations
What a great idea! We give everything we can’t use to our shelter including but not limited to cat food, toys, furniture, human bedding, towels, cleaning supplies and rugs for them to cut up for scratching posts. I’m going over there to sign up. Thanks for sharing.
Cathy Keisha recently posted…The Year of Stunning Keisha
Thank you for giving to the shelters as we strongly believe in giving back. We look forward to you sharing about us and bidding or listing there too, Happy 2017
Truly wonderful idea – we will be checking this out quite often and sharing with our readers (who will love it)!
Rebecca at MattieDog recently posted…How To Care For Your Mental Health In The New Year
Thanks Rebecca we would appreciate it and did you know you could list your books there too 🙂
Thank you! That would be wonderful.
Great idea!!
thank you 🙂
What a wonderful and unique service you offer. I’ve never heard anything like it. So cool. I love your story about how Layla entered into your life and that you loved her smelly messiness. 🙂 I love her name too, and what it means. I learned a lot from reading this post, and bow to you for all that you’ve done to help. Thank you so much.
Thank you for reading it Jeanne and our story. We hope to see you listing or bidding on our site to help the rescue organizations, Happy 2017
This is a great service for a rescue or shelter. I love hearing how you found Layla and how she is the inspiration for your cause.
Thank you and yes she is my little mischief maker and big inspiration
Oh wow … I have some bags, XXS clothes and stuff that I just don’t use anymore. But Montecristo is such a gentle wee tiny thing that it all is like brand new. This would be a good way for us to clear the extra stuff out and feel good about it.
That would be great and we cannot wait to see what you have, I always tell everyone that lists there I will from my side push the sales also through social media. Happy 2017
Someone would LOVE to inherit Montecristo’s ‘last season’ wardrobe BOL
This is a great reminder to “re-gift” those things that we no longer need. I just gave my shelter a bunch of little coats that my Sadie used to wear. Georgie isn’t interested in coats, so giving them to the shelter just makes sense. Thanks for sharing! Happy New Year!
Absolutely! They might as well be used and appreciated. Thanks Christina.
Thanks Christine and we hope you will spread the word about our website, we love your blog and updates
Have a great 2017
Good way to donate and make some money at the same time. We usually donate old pet stuff to the shelter here.
I love win/wins!
Mr T so true it is a win / win but just think you have helped a rescue and your portion is for more treats for you 🙂
What a great idea. I don’t have anything to auction but I do save all of my unwanted dog stuff to donate to the rescue I adopted Gretel from. They actually take used things, including partially eaten bags of food. I didn’t realize rescues did this but I’m happy that at least this one does. I hate seeing foods my pets won’t eat going to waste.
You’re right, a number of them don’t. I know they will appreciate your donation – thank you.
Jessica thanks for giving back, you could also tell that Rescue about our website and they could hold a free online auction on our site. My pet store is amazing and will take back any opened dog food or treats, give us credit and then donate it all to the rescues. Those are the shops I like the best
I always try to donate to shelters (and ironically have a bag ready to go) but this would be an awesome alternative… Thanks for the great info!!
That’s wonderful! I know how much the shelters appreciate the donations.
Ali thank you and we would appreciate you listing on our site and helping others at the same time.
It seems like a great place to pick up bargains and help rescues at the same time! I love reading Layla’s point of view on her blog.
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…and she’s such a cutie!
Beth thank you and Layla woofs thanks too, she has to have her nose in everything BOL
Layla woofs thank you all for your comments, help with rescues and lets make 2017 a good year for everyone and may all the pets find new homes, See you on the website,
Ruth
I think it’s amazing how Ruth has dedicated herself to helping rescues through her auction website. There is so much time involved in something like that…she has a big heart!
Thank you Karma and we hope to see you there listing and bidding
Really good idea, I hope more people get involved. Thanks for the great share.
My pleasure. I hope it helps bring more people onboard.