Animal Network, Inc.

“Hope for Tails’ was officially formed in November of 2007, with the help of The Bradenton Herald. Thanks to their support and the  support of many individuals, this program has provided toys, blankets, treats and love to our local shelters and rescue animals in need. Donations were made to: MCAS - 17 times, HSMC - 7 times, Canine Castaways - 9 times, Bishop Animal Shelter – 2 times, other local rescues and private foster homes 15 times. Thank you everyone for your support of this ongoing program and donations are still being accepted.

 Hope for Tails Brochure PDF File

What is “Hope For Tails:

“Hope For Tails” is a program to furnish toys, blankets and treats to animals in our local shelters and rescues. That is it, plain and simple. Most shelters and rescues are dealing with major medical and operating costs for our homeless animals on a daily basis and actually are forced to choose between physical health over mental stimulation.They simply cannot afford a toy or blanket for these animals. The rescued wait months and sometimes years for their new homes, with no toys and with nothing to do. We can give these animals a toy and something to do while they wait, but we need your help.

How it all got started:

“Hope For Tails” originally started with the rescue of a nine week old street dog in Sept. 2001, who was eventually named LuckyMutt by her rescuers. Medical bills to save this little dog were so high, money for purchasing toys was out of the question, so the making of toys from socks and old jeans began. After making home made toys for several years for this little girl and others by several animal lovers, and donating them to local rescues, it became apparent  that making these toys was not time effective and  keeping up with the demand for them was impossible.  In July 2007, a need was identified at our local Animal Services for toys for animals awaiting adoption and a toy drive began to fill this need, which has now grown into “Hope For Tails.”

Items Being Collected:

Dog Toys

Cat Toys

Dog Treats

Cat Treats

Dog Blankets

Cat Blankets

Cash Donations

How to Donate:

After you have made or purchased your toy donations, you can contact Animal Network to arrange a delivery plan that fits your needs and ours, or you may also deliver your donations to your local shelter or rescue. Cash donations can be made to Animal Network, Inc. for this program and we will purchase these items on line at great savings, because of our rescuer status that is honored by some manufacturers.

(941) 238-7810

terrilyn@animalnetworkinc.com

How to Help:

Purchase the items on our list the next time you go shopping. Have a toy drive where you work.  Put a jar in your break room at work for everyone to drop their change into as donations towards “Hope For Tails.” Have pizza tonight for dinner instead of shrimp, so the savings can purchase one or two of these items. As you can tell the “How to Help’ question can only be answered completely by how far your imagination will extend.

Why Toys:

The animals in our local shelters and rescues have over come abuse, neglect, starving, skin diseases, broken bones, being tied to trees, parvo and the loss of a home. These animals are stressed, scared, and lonely when they enter the rescue system.  Solving the physical problems is actually the easier problems to solve, the emotional ones take a little longer, but what better way to help these animals heal than a toy or a blanket to cuddle with. A good forever home does and will solve all the problems these animals have, but in the mean time we need to help them with a toy or blanket that is solely theirs. Can you imagine your pets or children not having at least one toy?  As with LuckyMutt we can not imagine pets not having a toy, but these animals in rescue do not have a toy and we want to correct that. Lets give them all a toy and make a promise to them to always have at least one toy.

 LuckyMutt