Charitable Gifts for the Pet Lovers on Your Shopping List

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During the holiday season, it's rewarding to give the animal aficionados in our lives something special to share with a furry companion. So what about combining a unique gift with a charitable giving opportunity? 

According to Harris Interactive and World Vision, 83 percent of Americans say they would prefer to receive a meaningful gift that would help someone else instead of a traditional gift such as clothing or electronics. However, the percentage of people giving charitable gifts as presents has fallen. Consider thinking outside of the box with a gift that will please both humans and animals. Here are some perfect opportunities: 

A Symbolic Gift from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) allows you to benefit needy animals while making the gift recipient feel great, too. The option you choose comes with an ASPCA greeting card, educational brochure and personalized Certificate of Appreciation, all sent to your gift recipient. Choices include Scholarships for Therapy Cats ($60);  Transport of an Animal Rescued from Cruelty or Disaster ($25); Hospitalization for Victims of Cruelty and Abuse and Pet Owners in Need of Financial Assistance ($50); and many more.

The Animal Rescue Site offers fun pet-themed gifts that earmark 3% to 50% of each purchase price to help needy animals through charities such as the Petfinder.com Foundation, the International Fund for Animal Rescue, the Humane Society of the United States and Rescue Bank. Gifts include The Paws Galore Cookie Baking Set ($7) with baking sheet and paw-shaped cookie cutters (perfect for making biscuits for dogs or humans!); Paws Galore Ultralite Rain Boots ($18) that offer a plethora of rainbow-hued paw prints and thick traction soles to get people and pooches through the most precarious puddles; and the Stainless Steel Travel Mug ($17) with a paw print design, "All-My-Children-Have-Paws" exclamation and a drip-proof seal to prevent spills on the way to the dog park.

Based in Kanab, Utah, Best Friends Animal Society is best known for their 3,700-acre sanctuary where approximately 1,700 animals receive medical help, socialization and love to help turn their lives around.  While searching for their forever homes, they live in a scenic, healing environment among human and animal friends. Best Friends makes it easy to send a tribute gift online to help the sanctuary and will send a card of acknowledgment to the person you designate.

Of course, there are many more options out there. So while planning your holiday purchases for animal lovers, consider a charitable one. A lot of friends, family and animals will undoubtedly appreciate the gesture.