*Kids also always want to try to help out our animals or animals around the community. Below is a list of items that can be found around your own home that kids can collect via a donation drive:
Newspapers
Plastic grocery bags
New or gently used blankets, towels, and hand towels
Brown paper bags
Shoe boxes of all sizes
Cat charmers (a toy or feather tied to a string and tied to a stick which can be made at home)
Fleece blankets
Bath mats
Laundry bags
Blanket Program
*Kids can make blankets:
Dog Coat Program
*Kids can help with making dog coats for the shelter dogs:
Rachel Schul developed sewn and colorful, fun fleece coats for our shelter dogs to help keep them toasty warm every winter. She is always looking for sewers, as well as helpers who can cut coat patterns. She is always in need of donated fleece material, sewing thread, or monetary donations to buy this material to make more coats.
If you would like to donate towards this project you can:
Donate online! Choose "general assistance fund" and put "dog coats" in the comment section.
Send all materials or monetary donations to Animal Care & Control, 8315 Byrum Dr, Charlotte 28217. Checks need to be made out to City of Charlotte and earmark it for "Dog Coats".
If you would like to get your kids involved in a "coat cutting party", and/or can help sew coats please contact AC&C's Julia Conner at jconner@cmpd.org.
Do It Yourself Cat Scratchers
*Kids make make cat scatchers at home for our shelter cats:
Any cat loves to scratch their nails on cardboard and trees. Why? It's to help them trim their nails and keep them sharp to fend of enemies. It's also a good source of stretching their muscles. Kids can make these right at home with easy to find material. Watch the two YouTube videos on how to make your own:
Video 1
Video 2
Dog House Program
*Kids in 4-H or Scouts who need to earn a building badge can build dog houses to help the animals in their community.
Often times our AC&C Officers come across dog owners who don’t realize the laws and ordinances regarding proper pet containment and provisions for dogs who live outside. We educate these owners on the proper needs their dog. One of the most important needs is proper shelter. Sometimes owners simply can’t afford even the most basic shelter.
It’s our mission to bring them into compliance rather than forcing them to owner surrender their dog. When we have an inventory of donated dog houses we will supply them one. Once they receive the dog house, we will have follow-up visits to ensure they are staying in compliance with our ordinances and providing the proper care for their dog.
We rely on groups and organizations to help supply us with dog houses for this program.

*They can also hold a Pet Food drive. More info found on the drop down menu.*