Hey,
As the lyrics to a famous TV jingle tell us, the holidays are coming...
I'm not sure, even if you lived in a cave, you'd manage to avoid the message that the most wonderful time of the year is upon us.
I like this time of year. I get to see family and friends, take some time off work, eat delicious food and drink wonderful wine. I like shopping for gifts, too — when you spend most of the year buying things for yourself, it's nice to focus on what someone else might like.
I'm lucky, though. Too many people don't have these things.
There's poverty, loneliness, homelessness, physical and mental illness, grief, and millions just about getting by as life gets less affordable.
It's a hard time for many dogs, too. I know that every reader of this email would do anything for their dog, to keep them warm, safe and fed. But not every dog gets the love and protection they deserve.
So I'm going to echo my request of last year and ask you to do one nice thing for a person or a dog. They could be stranger or a neighbor, a much-loved pup or one spending Christmas in a shelter.
It doesn't require money — just speaking to someone can give them a lift — but if you can afford a little something, whether time or money, you might consider one of the following:
- Donating to a charity.
- Donating money or gifts to an animal shelter (ask what gifts they need first) or a homeless shelter.
- Giving food to a person, or a dog, in need.
- Volunteering.
You can usually get dog toys and blankets from thrift store or charity stores, of pick up some deals on sites like Chewy. And you can find inspiration for food to gift on our site.
Hundreds of thousands of people receive this email. Think of the good you could do as a group.
And, of course, for those as lucky as I am,
don't forget to enjoy every moment with your friends, family and dogs.
