Gift comfort & joy to shelter animals

This July, we’re gifting our resident animals with toys, treats and enrichment items that support their comfort, behavioral health and overall wellbeing! And we need your help, as Santa’s helpers.

All of our shelter pets are on Santa’s “nice” list this year, and they deserve all of the toys, treats, puzzles and playthings!

These items are more than gifts. They are an important part of each animal’s day, helping them stay active, engaged and comforted while they wait for their next chapter.

Join in “Christmas in July” by shopping our Amazon Wish List or Chewy Wish List and sending items directly to SPCA Tampa Bay.

What is Christmas in July?

Christmas in July is a simple way to support our pets during the summer by donating toys, treats and enrichment items. Enrichment helps animals play, explore, relax and stay mentally and physically engaged in the shelter environment.

Shelter environments can be stressful for animals:

  • Newly admitted shelter dogs can have cortisol levels (a marker of stress) nearly three times higher than dogs living in homes.
  • Shelter environments can also be loud, with some research noting that barking and shelter sound levels can exceed 100 decibels.

Enrichment like toys can alleviate the stress that animals are experiencing during their stay at the shelter. Donated toys, treats, puzzles and games provide daily enrichment for dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals in our care. 

 

                     

 

It’s more than a toy

Toys, treats, chews, and other enrichment items help animals stay active, engaged, and comfortable while they are in our care.

These enrichment items can help reduce stress, support relaxation and give animals positive ways to play, explore, and interact with their environment.

That is why a toy is more than a toy. Your donation helps support an animal’s comfort, behavioral wellbeing and daily care while they wait for their next chapter.

How to participate in Christmas in July

You can support SPCA Tampa Bay’s Christmas in July Donation Drive in three easy ways:

  1. Shop our wish lists. Purchase items through SPCA Tampa Bay’s Amazon Wish List or Chewy Wish List. Items purchased from Chewy and Amazon are shipped directly to our shelter.
  2. Drop off items at a participating donation bin. Throughout July, select community partners, apartment communities, and local businesses will host Christmas in July donation bins. Locations will be added soon!
  3. Donate to SPCA Tampa Bay. Donations will be used to support SPCA Tampa Bay’s operations, including its enrichment programs. 

Please donate new, unopened toys, treats and enrichment items only.

Most-needed items

Items that help support daily enrichment include:

  • Dog toys and durable chew toys
  • Cat toys and treats
  • Training treats
  • Puzzle toys and interactive feeders
  • Rabbit and small animal enrichment items
  • Other wish list items selected by SPCA Tampa Bay’s animal care team

Please make sure all donated items are new and unopened.

 

Thank you for supporting shelter pets

Whether you send one toy, a bag of treats, or a full wish list order, your support helps brighten the day for animals at SPCA Tampa Bay.

Thank you for helping us make Christmas in July special for the animals in our care!