If you have children you know that often times they will have more fun playing with the boxes their toys come in, than the actual toy itself. Well apparently, it’s the same with pets. Your trash can be turned into a toy for your dog or cat and the Montclair Animal Shelter is asking for donations for pet enrichment.
Drop in a couple pieces of kibble and your cat will spend time trying to figure out how to get it out.
Montclair Township Animal Shelter staff members and volunteers recently attended an insightful seminar called “Enrichment on the Cheap,” at the St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, where they learned about unique and inexpensive ways to provide environmental enrichment and stimulation for shelter animals. Now their creative wheels are spinning and they need your help.
Below is a list of items that are readily available around the home and will help MTAS staff create such projects. Some may seem odd, but are actually very useful. The Shelter will post photos of animals playing with the finished projects made from donated items.
All items may be dropped off at the Shelter labeled “Attention: Melissa”
- empty toilet paper and paper towel cardboard rolls
- shoe boxes
- empty cardboard egg cartons
- empty milk, soda and water bottles (cleaned)
- card board drink holders (such as those provided at coffee shops)
- old metal muffin or cupcake baking tins
- metal buckets (in good condition)
- small mirrors
The Montclair Township Animal Shelter is located at 77 North Willow Street, Montclair and is open Tuesday and Wednesday 2:00 – 6:00 p.m.; Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 2:00-4:00 p.m. Also available by appointment during non-public hours. Please Call 973-744-8600.
One thing I’ve learned in my short life as a cat owner is that you don’t have to spend big bucks to entertain cats. Paper bags, cardboard boxes, old socks, the cardboard inserts from toilet tissue and paper towels, even old newspapers rolled up into ball, an old loofah tied to a door knob…all of these are acceptable cat toys, according to Cassie and Casper.
How come the town Shelter readily accepts more types of bulky waste than the Sanitation Dept ?
A small white cotton sock knotted with a bit of catnip is also a great toy.
The Montclair shelter takes such good care of its animals. We have seen the friendly staff and volunteers walking the dogs and socializing with the cats. Good management.