Your Hudson Valley Holiday Giving Guide: Animals and Pets

The holidays are a time for celebrating as kinfolk, and for many of us, this includes snowy hikes with our pups and fireside cuddles with our kitties. As animal lovers, we know our pets are as much a part of us as our human companions. And we also know there are many cats, dogs, and other animals and pets who still need a loving home, especially during the cold season.

Please Donate! This winter, we’re honoring our local organizations, from the arts to our pets and wildlife. When gifting, consider a tax-deductible donation in a loved one’s name. Our local animal rescue organizations save lives and bring great joy to the families who adopt.

Hudson Valley Animal Rescue Nonprofits

AnimalKind Hudson, NY

Founded two decades ago by Katrin Hecker, a registered nurse “determined to end the plight of stray cats and kittens that were overrunning the streets and alleys of Hudson,” AnimalKind saves and serves more than 5,000 animals in need each year. Donate | Learn more.

Catskill Animal Sanctuary Saugerties, NY

Catskill Animal Sanctuary (CAS) is a 150-acre refuge for 11 species of farmed animals “rescued from cruelty, neglect and abandonment.” Co-founded in 2001 by author and animal rights activist Kathy Stevens, CAS has saved more than 5,000 animals through direct rescue as well as programming designed to encourage veganism. The Sanctuary hosts private and public in-person tours, year-round virtual tours, vegan cooking classes, field trips and summer camps; built in 1813, The Homestead at Catskill Animal Sanctuary allows visitors to stay overnight to experience the full beauty of the Sanctuary’s pastured and wooded surroundings. Donate | Learn more.

Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA Hudson, NY

In 1955, Ella Merle and her daughter Dede Kline opened a small building with five dog kennels. Today, the Columbia-Greene Humane Society (CSGHS/SPCA) is a multi-dimensional animal welfare organization caring for up to 60 dogs and 100 cats at any given time. In the last six and a half decades, CSGHS/SPCA has expanded to include low-cost veterinary services, pet adoption, cruelty intervention, boarding/daycare, grooming, community outreach and humane education, as well as a food bank for families in need; each year, the vet clinic serves more than 2,000 while the food bank provides 25,000 pounds of food. Donate | Learn more.

Dutchess County SPCA Hyde Park, NY

The Dutchess County SPCA is an independent nonprofit no-kill shelter that provides a temporary sanctuary for animals in need, secures permanent housing for adoptable pets, provides community educational resources on animal care, and enforces humane law throughout the county. With three locations in Hyde Park, NY, the Dutchess County SPCA includes an adoption and education center, a thrift shop, and a veterinary clinic. Its programs provide pet-related support to veterans, the elderly and victims of abuse. Donate | Learn more.

Friends of the Feathered & Furry Saugerties NY

2021 was a sad year for this locally loved 501c, with the sad news of the untimely passing of Missy Runyan, the founder of Friends of the Feathered & Furry. Barbara “Missy” Runyan, dedicated her life to giving voice to the voiceless. A tireless defender of injured and orphaned creatures who, over the course of her too-short life, rescued and released thousands of animals, Missy opened one of the only facilities in New York State licensed and equipped to treat large mammals like bears and white-tailed deer, and endangered and migratory birds like eagles and raptors. Help keep Missy’s legacy alive, and support the animals in their care and the many who will continue to arrive at the center. 100% of all monies donated go to animal care. There are no salaries paid other than to those who charge us for their expertise in veterinary care, as well as construction, excavation and more. Donate | Learn more

Hudson Valley Animal Rescue & Sanctuary Poughkeepsie, NY

Hudson Valley Animal Rescue & Sanctuary (HVARS) is dedicated to rescuing domestic, farm and wild animals across the Hudson Valley. A NY State Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, HVARS also runs a low-cost vet clinic for cats and dogs, as well as a spay/neuter program for cats, dogs and rabbits. Donate | Learn more.

Ravensbeard Wildlife Center 

For over 20 years, Ravensbeard Wildlife Center provides wildlife rehabilitation for injured, ill and orphaned animals in order to return them to the wild. However, 5 years ago the center was forced to relocate. And since then has been set up as a temporary rehab shelter. This year they took in nearly 350 birds which are above and beyond their capacity. They need a permanent home, one where volunteers can come to work easily.  A real clinic to store supplies and freezers to hold food donations. A place with a pond or lake for the waterfowl they take in every year. And space for students and visitors to come and learn about the birds and garner support and care for our environment. It’s a tall order but you can help Ravenswood Wildlife Center get a much-deserved forever home! Donate | Learn More

Ulster County SPCA Kingston, NY

The Ulster County Society SPCA has been combating cruelty to animals since 1891, providing temporary shelter and finding adoptive homes for homeless, abused and neglected animals, conducting cruelty investigations, offering low-cost spay/neuter services for cats and dogs, delivering humane education, and working to improve animal welfare laws. Headquartered in Kingston, NY, the Ulster County SPCA also hosts community events, runs a thrift shop in nearby Saugerties, and showcases a monthly Artists for Animals exhibit, with the proceeds benefiting both the SPCA and the local artists. Donate | Learn more.

Wayward Ranch Animal Sanctuary Kerhonkson, NY

“Wayward Ranch was founded by three friends who, after working for other rescues for a long time, realized there was something missing from the average rescue model.” As a result, Wayward Ranch not only provides sanctuary and adoption services but uses a combination of enrichment and training techniques to help its permanent residents thrive. Built on a 60-acre farm in Kerhonkson, NY, the Ranch is home to dogs, cats, small animals, horses, pigs and other farm animals; currently, the team is working on building a kennel to match the barn. Donate | Learn more.

Woodstock Farm Sanctuary High Falls, NY

Founded in 2004 and relocated to High Falls, NY, in 2015, the Woodstock Farm Sanctuary rescues and provides sanctuary and personalized care for farm animals, “connects animals with people to advance veganism,” and advocates for animal rights “in alliance with other social justice movements.” The Sanctuary welcomes visitors to meet the animals most commonly exploited, abused and killed in animal agriculture, as well as offers a variety of online educational materials for the community. The Sanctuary includes two large barns, two cattle sheds, five chicken coops, a duck/goose shed and pond, an animal hospital/treatment room, and a visitor center. Donate | Learn more.

Thank you to all of the organizations listed above for all you do for our furry friends and the community! 

Let us know if we missed your favorite local organization