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The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting colder, and Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Every year, November and December seem to fly by with a flurry of activity. If you’re looking for ways to be generous to the dogs in your community, you’re in luck, because there are lots of great opportunities!

With the winter season, many local animal shelters and rescue groups take in stray pups without families. Groups like the Nashville Humane Society can always use donations of food, blankets, toys, and treats to help make their stay a little more comfortable. Even dogs with homes may still rely on places like a pet food bank when their parents don’t have the means to feed them. Donations of both food and money help ensure the pet owner can provide for their dog.

If you have a love for a certain breed, chances are there is a specialty rescue group just for you located somewhere in Middle Tennessee! These organizations are often powered by volunteers to keep them running, so in addition to benefiting from donations of money and goods, they certainly appreciate time as well. Fostering a dog waiting for their forever home is a great way to spread a little love during the holidays; many facilities offer the opportunity to foster for a few days or a weekend while their regular foster families are away for the holidays. If your house is already full, offering a hand to screen applications, interview potential pet owners, and transport dogs is also great. Even updating the group’s website can be a huge help during this busy season. A few hours can make a big dent in a rescue group’s to do list!

The holidays are a time for giving- with these organizations, no matter how big or small, your contribution is sure to wag a few tails!

Jessalynn is the studio manager for Adrian Hitt Photography. She coordinates smooth operations behind the scenes and updates the blog on what’s the “woof” in the dog world. A Nashville native, Jess uses her degrees in communications and entrepreneurship to support creative business. When she’s not working, she can be found with paintbrush & power tools tackling home improvement projects, trying new recipes & crafts from Pinterest, and tossing tennis balls in the backyard with the main men in her life- her husband and their rescue dogs, Waffles & Rocco.