What should you get the favorite animal lover and No Kill advocate on your list?  Here are some great stocking stuffers and more for your holiday giving:

DVDs:

Hotel for Dogs

It pits animal control—the “Central City Dog Pound”—against the rescue community and paints a poignant picture of the sad reality of animal sheltering in too many American cities. But, in the end, it is a movie about the triumph of compassion. A group (of kids) with limited resources but a deep and committed love for animals take on the establishment by showing there is an innovative, kinder, better way and win.

For a four paw review, click here.

To purchase, click here.

Fifteen Steps

The PBS documentary which was inspired by the book, Fifteen Legs tells the story of heroes who go the extra mile (often thousands of miles) to save the lives of dogs from shelters that kill.

To purchase, click here.

Books:

Redemption: The Myth of Pet Overpopulation & The No Kill Revolution in America

Redemption is the story of animal sheltering in the United States, a movement that was born of compassion and then lost its way. It is the story of the 'No Kill' movement, which says we can and must stop the killing. But most of all, it is a story about believing in the community and trusting in the power of compassion.

Expanded and updated in 2009, Redemption is being called “powerful and inspirational,” “ground-breaking,” and “a must read for anyone who cares about animals.” Winner of USA Book News Award for Best Book (Animals/Pets), a Best Book Muse Medallion winner by the Cat Writers Association of America, a Best Book nominee by the Dog Writers Association of America, winner of a Silver Medal from the Independent Publishers Association, and a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Award for Excellence, the book shatters the notion that killing animals in U.S. shelters is an act of kindness.

To purchase, click here.

Irreconcilable Differences: The Battle for the Heart & Soul of America’s Animal Shelters

The long awaited follow-up to Redemption. The battle lines have been drawn: No Kill advocates on one side. Those who kill sheltered animals on the other. Can’t we all just get along? Irreconcilable Differences says we can’t because shelters act in ways which are the antithesis of the values most Americans hold dear. We are a nation of animal lovers. But the shelters we expect to save animals are instead needlessly killing about four million of them every year. Thankfully, animal lovers all over the U.S. are increasingly rejecting the excuses and blame shifting of shelter administrators used to justify that killing. And it is that rejection of the status quo, propelled by the American public’s great love of companion animals, which is explored in this book’s essays.

To purchase, click here.

Merchandise:

Check your local No Kill shelter and rescue groups. Simply go to Google and type “No Kill shelter” “rescue group” and your city. Many sell merchandise to support their lifesaving programs. For example, Animal Ark in Minneapolis/St. Paul has an online store with lots of great gifts, including clothes and even a special blend of coffee named after a one-of-a-kind dog. Click here to find out more.

National organizations such as the No Kill Advocacy Center also have  online stores with coffee mugs, key-chains, t-shirts, caps, and much more. (You can also support them when you shop on Amazon. By following the link on their website, you don’t pay anything extra when you buy things on Amazon, but Amazon donates a portion of the proceeds back to them). Click here for more.

The Gift of Life:

Give a donation in honor of someone at your local No Kill shelter or rescue group. They are often very happy to send a card on your behalf. The No Kill Advocacy Center does so at www.nokill.org by clicking on “What’s New” or by clicking here.

Gifts for Animals:

Assuming they haven’t been naughty this year, websites are teaming with gifts for your animal companions. But, of course, the greatest gift you can give them is time with you.

Home for the Holidays:

If you are thinking about expanding your own family, now is a good time. Nationally, shelters have banded together to try and save the lives of over 1,000,000 dogs and cats this holiday season. Visit your local shelter or rescue group and help bring them “home for the holidays.”

The Nevada Humane Society, for example, found loving homes for over 1,000 animals during their holiday pet adoptathon in 2008. They hope to top that number this year. Check them out and others in your community.

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