Your Hudson Valley Holiday Giving Guide: Animals and Pets

As the year draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how deeply animals enrich our lives—and how much our local organizations do to protect them. Across the Hudson Valley, non-profit animal shelters, rescue farms, pet adoption centers, and wildlife rehabilitation organizations work tirelessly to provide safe havens, medical care, and second chances for animals in need. These community-based groups step in every day to rescue, heal, and re-home vulnerable animals, often relying almost entirely on donations and volunteer support to keep their doors open and their missions alive.

Your support helps fund lifesaving veterinary care, food and shelter, rehabilitation services, and adoption programs that strengthen our entire community. We are all animal and pet lovers at heart—let’s show that love by standing behind the Hudson Valley organizations that give animals a voice, a future, and a chance to thrive. This article was originally published in December 2021 and updated in December 2025.

Supporting Our Animals and Pets

End-of-year giving is a powerful way to show love for the animals who bring us so much joy and companionship. Many donations are tax-deductible, making this season an ideal opportunity to give back while making a meaningful impact close to home.

Featured Message. You’ll see information below about Wayward Ranch in Kerhonkson, New York. It’s closing and has animals in need of homes.

“Wayward Ranch is closing, and we need your help! Here is a link to animals still in need of homes. All of our other animals have homes lined up, but some aren’t ready for them just yet—we need your help taking care of them until they leave! Please consider donating to help us continue to provide them with the care they need until their families are ready for them!​”

AnimalKind | Hudson NY | @animalkindhudson

Beans Cat Cafe (Part of HVARS) | Beacon + New Paltz NY | @beanscatcafe

Catskill Animal Sanctuary | Saugerties NY | @catskill_animal_sanctuary

Columbia County Beekeepers Club | Hudson NY | Facebook

Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA | Hudson NY | @cghsspca

Dreaming of a Chance Bird Sanctuary at Lilymoore Farm | Pleasant Valley NY | @dreamingofachanceny

Dutchess County SPCA + Thrift Store | Hyde Park NY | @dcspca

Frederick Farm Goat Rescue + Sanctuary | Napanoch NY | @frederickfarmgoats

Friends of the Feathered & Furry | Hunter NY | @fffwildlifecenter

 Hudson Paws Dog Rescue | Hudson NY | @hudsonpawsdogrescue

Hudson Valley Animal Rescue & Sanctuary (HVARS) | Poughkeepsie NY | @hudsonvalleyanimalrescue

Institute For Animal Happiness | Woodstock NY | @instituteforanimalhappiness

 Lost Pets of The Hudson Valley | Hudson Valley NY | @lost.pets.of.the.hudson.valley

 Mid Hudson Animal Aid | Beacon NY | @midhudsonanimalaid

 Nyquist-Harcourt Wildlife Sanctuary (Wallkill Valley Land Trust) | New Paltz NY | @wallkillvalleylandtrus

 Ravensbeard Wildlife Center | Saugerties NY | @ravensbeardwildlifecenter

Saugerties Animal Shelter | Saugerties NY |  @name

 Shandaken Animal Volunteer Effort | Shandaken NY | Facebook

 Ulster County Canines | Saugerties NY | @ulstercountycanines

 Ulster County Horse Council | Cottekill NY | Facebook

 Ulster County SPCA | Kingston NY | @ucspca

Wayward Ranch Animal Sanctuary | Kerhonkson NY @waywardranchanimals

 Woodstock Farm Sanctuary | High Falls NY | @woodstocksanctuary

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

Please Donate: This winter, we’re honoring our local organizations, from the arts to our pets and wildlife and community support. If we’ve left out your favorite organization, please add its name in the comments so our community can learn about it.