AstronomyAtlanta

Knitting for Shelter Animals

Bring comfort and security to shelter animals by knitting simple blankets, pads, coats and toys. (The toys are for cats). The blankets are more comfortable than cold metal, and is something familiar that can go home with the dog or cat. It also calms them when they first enter the shelter. In the United States, you can find shelters that accept knitted items through the Snuggles Project. Also visit Comfort for Critters. The Battersea Dogs & Cats Home in London also wants knitted toys, blankets and dog coats. You can find patterns on these websites. If you use the patterns from the Snuggles Project, please join their group (it is free) and give them credit. (Be sure to read their guidelines).

For more information about the Snuggles Project,
visit www.snugglesproject.org or
contact Hugs for Homeless Animals (www.h4ha.org)

Pads for Animal Shelters (by Susan Paretts): To make pads specifically for shelters that work with the Snuggles Project, follow their guidelines to make pads of the correct sizes, which fit in standard cages. The guidelines state that small pads, 14 by 14 inches, are used for cats and other small animals; medium pads, 24 by 24 inches, are used for cats and small to medium size dogs; and large pads, 36 by 36, are used for medium to large dogs. Other, local groups, such as the Compassionate Action Institute in New York City, run a Cage Comforter Program, similar to the Snuggles Project. The group requests small, knit cage comforters 12 by 18, 24 by 18 and 24 by 36 inches in size and donate the pads to shelters in the area the organization works with.

Ralphie is resting on a shawl that I gave to him. I used size 11 needles and cast on 65 stiches. The pattern is knit 3 purl 3 on each row. I made it about 5 feet long so that I can fold it over and make it nice and cushy.

Links

http://www.battersea.org.uk/about_us/whats_new/cat_knitting.html

http://www.talkingtails.com/sweater.html

http://www.unitedhope4animals.org/2011/02/knitting-a-dog-sweater-the-easy-way/

http://www.snugglesproject.org/

http://www.ehow.com/info_12145967_knitting-pads-animals-shelters.html

http://comfortforcritters.org/

http://knitting.about.com/

http://knit-fish.blogspot.com/2008/12/sunday-market-shawl.html?m=1

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

http://www.ravelry.com/

http://www.fibergypsy.com/common/needles.shtml