Gifts That Give Back To Animals in 2020

I struggle with gift giving. I try to find unique, high-quality gifts that the recipient actually wants, but the ethically conscious side of me is always desperate to make an impact with my dollars. And I love to give gifts that give back to animals! Basically, my consumerism and my hippie-ism are constantly at battle, and it can be hard for them to find a compromise.

My hope with this guide is that those of you who feel my pain will be able to avoid giving tacky knick-knacks (you know, the ones where you have to assure your mom or your cousin as they open it that “it’s for a good cause!”) and instead give meaningful, useful, relevant gifts that simultaneously make a legitimate difference for animals in need. I hope it’s helpful!

---

GIFTS THAT GIVE BACK TO ANIMALS

---

Puppies Make Me Happy

I’ve been a fan and supporter of the Puppies Make Me Happy brand for a few years now, thanks to their impeccable quality and their genuine respect for other designers. Having designed apparel in the past (and having had my ideas stolen repeatedly), I really appreciate how much care their team puts into making sure their ideas are original! With their mix of compassion, creativity, and the occasional pop culture reference, Puppies Make Me Happy apparel is always on trend!

Puppies Make Me Happy donates 100% of profits from their Rescue Puppies Make Me Happy line and a portion of profits from all designs to animal rescue organizations!

*PS: Use code thetreekisser for 10% off your order!*

---

---

Shop Dog Threads

I honestly find the best gift ideas while watching Shark Tank- and this is no exception! Shop Dog Threads makes high quality matching apparel for dogs and their humans. Each item is purchased individually, so you can simply order one sweater for one dog, a pair for your baby and their canine BFF, or a matching set for the whole family. They offer pajamas, sweaters, and even Hawaiian shirts! 2% of each sale is donated to animal rescue organizations.

*PS: Use code TREEKISSER10 for 10% off your order!*

---

The Animal Rescue Site

The Animal Rescue Site is probably the most well known source for finding a huge selection of gifts that give back to animals! Every item purchased donates a minimum of 35 meals to shelter pets, but many of their featured items or donation suggestions provide additional support to animal rescue organizations. You can also shop specifically for eco-friendly items or from women-owned or black-owned businesses!

There are hundreds of products available through The Animal Rescue Site, but some of my favorites (shown above) include the Paw Print Oven Mitts, the Super Cozy™ Merry Paws Throw Blanket, and the Beaded Paw Ball Ornament.

---

Petit Vour Cruelty-Free Beauty Boxes

Petit Vour is an online beauty and fashion brand known best for their vegan, cruelty-free Beauty Boxes. This year, they’re donating 10%* from all of their curated beauty boxes to Austin Pets Alive, one of my favorite animal rescue groups!

I’ve been a fan of Petit Vour since the day they launched in 2012! Their team has very high standards and only includes the very best products in their cruelty-free beauty boxes.

** You must enter DONATE10 at checkout to ensure your donation goes through!

---

Elephant Pants

Since 2014, Elephant Pants has been raising funds and awareness for endangered elephants through their wide range of apparel. Loved by yogis and compassionate fashionistas alike, this company has patterns and styles for just about everyone. Don’t want to be covered in vibrantly colored animals? That’s fine, they have some subtle items too. 30% of net profits are donated to saving elephants!

---

Love Brand & Co

How did I just learn about Love Brand & Co?? This British beachwear company was founded for the purpose of protecting endangered elephants. 1% of all revenue is donated to wildlife protection organizations like Elephant Family, The David Shelddrick Wildlife Trust and Tusk Trust. They specialize in mens swimwear and apparel, with a full line for kids as well!

---

Lil Bub Store

I wasn’t quite sure which category to put the Lil Bub Store into, because they sell absolutely everything! But I love this crazy Christmas sweater (talk about a conversation piece for your holiday party!), so here she is. Thanks to the Instagram fame of Lil Bub the cat, her humans have been able to operate a shop that raises funds and awareness for special needs pets! 10% of the proceeds from all merchandise is donated to the Lil Bub ASPCA fund, which gives grants nationwide to rescues that care for pets with special needs. Since 2012, the fund has raised over $800,000!

---

Fetch Eyewear

Innovative Fetch Eyewear was created solely to support The Pixie Project, a dog and cat rescue center in Portland, Oregon. 100% of the profits (yes, 100%!) from these eyeglasses, reading glasses, and sunglasses (probably your best gifting option), are donated to help The Pixie Project continue their life-saving work! If you’re unsure about ordering glasses online, Fetch gives you the option of ordering five pairs to try at home!

---

Votch

Votch, the watch company with vegan leather bands, was created when founder Laura contracted a skin disease that inspired her never to wear the skin of another animal again. Votch’s kindness to animals extends to its program of giving back; 10% of all sales are donated to rotating animal rescue organizations. This season, their featured beneficiary is Hopefield Animal Sanctuary a group that rescues and rehabilitated injured and orphaned wild animals. Votch’s collection boasts a wide range of band and face colors and materials; you’re sure to find the right combination for the timepiece lover on your list!

** PS: Use code TREEKISSER15 for 15% off your order from Votch! **

---

The Purrfect Accessory

I’m just going to say it. There’s a lot of tacky animal-themed jewelry out there. Fortunately, The Purrfect Accessory, a collection created by established jewelry designer Alissa Wrenn Smith, is both charitable and chic! Inspired by her own foster cats and kittens, Alissa launched The Purrfect Accessory to raise funds (15% of all sales) for animal rescues like Milo’s Sanctuary for Cats with Special Needs and Marley’s Mutts Dog Rescue. The pieces are primarily cat themed, but if you’re a dog momma who wants to support the cause, The Pawfect Cuff is pretty species-neutral 🙂

---

Brewing Good Coffee Company

Brewing Good Coffee Company’s motto is, “Drink Coffee. Save Animals.” It doesn’t get much more straightforward than that. After years working in large-scale animal rescue (busting puppy mills and dog fighting rings with Animal Rescue Corps), co-founder Karla Goodson set out to launch a life-saving coffee company. 10% of all proceeds benefit animal rescue organizations; if you sign your caffeine-loving friend up for a subscription, that’s a huge impact! They have a wide selection of coffee, tea, and even accessories to peruse. This is the perfect gift for your friend who caffeinates daily and would love to help animals while doing so!

(PS: Get FREE shipping on your first order with discount code treekisser, or take 25% off your first subscription with code treekisser25!)

---

Goodwill Wines

(Australia only!) Goodwill Wines donates 50% of their profits to your Australian charity of choice! There are hundreds of animal advocacy organizations to choose from, including some of my favorites like Oscar’s Law, Animal Equality, and Edgar’s Mission. All wines are confirmed vegan!

---

Rescue Chocolate

Rescue Chocolate: this is obviously a winner. They offer a variety of chocolate products (containing zero animal products!) and 100% of profits are donated to animal rescues! Choose from adorably named treats like Foster-iffic Peppermint, Off The Chain Chia, and Peanut Butter Pit Bulls. If anyone on your list has a sweet tooth and a sweet heart, Rescue Chocolate is the gift for them.

---

Lush Cosmetics Charity Pot

Lush is one of my favorite stores to pop into for indulgent (and ethical!) bath products. I always make sure to grab a Charity Pot, knowing that 100% of the price (excluding tax) is being distributed amongst Lush’s numerous charity partners. Since launching the Charity Pot, they’ve donated over $22 million to deserving organizations! The Charity Pot, which contains some of the richest, most hydrating lotion I’ve ever used, is a bit different than the other items in this guide, as the donations go to animal advocacy organizations as well as humanitarian and environmental groups, but you can feel safe knowing your money is going directly where it’s needed! Past animal advocacy beneficiaries include the Beagle Freedom Project, HugABull Advocacy & Rescue Society, The Unbound Project, and the Wolf Awareness Inc. (among many others!). Each pot only features imagery from one charity, so if it’s important that your gift depicts one of the animal advocacy organizations, you’ll have to pop into one of their retail stores to choose your favorite.

---

Wicks For Wags Candles

Candles get a bad reputation for being that last minute item you buy someone when you can’t think of anything more personal. That definitely does not apply to Wicks For Wags, as the recipient is sure to appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into this gift! For extra personalization, you can even order a custom candle with a portrait of any pet. 10% of proceeds (plus hundreds of dollars in fundraising products) are donated to rescue groups every year! These vegan, soy-based candles are sure to warm the home and heart of anyone on your gift list!

---

Bissell Vacuums & Cleaning Products

When our blind, 17-year-old Schnauzer started losing bladder control, the Bissell SpotBot Portable Carpet Cleaner was a life saver. Not just for us, but also for the pets who benefited from the donation when we purchased it! I know, not everyone on your list would be thrilled to receive a cleaning appliance, but they might if they knew Bissell donates up to $10 per Bissell Product to the Bissell Pet Foundation, which has given millions of dollars to animal rescue partners since launching in 2011! The Bissell Pet Foundation is extremely open about their work, which I love. You can see an accounting of all their nationwide donations here! Bissell has a wide range of pet products, from the BarkBath to the Pet Stain Eraser; you’re sure to find something for the most overwhelmed pet parents on your list!

**Note: If you purchase their Products through Amazon, be sure to register the product with Bissell to ensure that the donation goes through.

---

Sammantha Fisher Photography

Sammantha Fisher (one of my personal heroes) is a traveling animal advocate and photographer who donates 50% of the sale from each piece to the farm sanctuary where the photo was taken. Her talent for capturing the soul and individuality of each rescued animal is incomparable. She sells everything from 4×6 photograph prints to massive wrapped canvases, so you’re sure to find something that matches your aesthetic and your budget.

---

Red & Wolf Paper Co.

The Red and Wolf Paper Co. primarily sells greeting cards, but I happen to be a huge fan of their “Wino” cotton tote bag! For every item sold, they donate $1 to the Wildlife Conservation Network. Given that the majority of their products are individual greeting cards, that $1 per item is quite a substantial portion. I especially love that if you buy a 10 card boxed set, your cost per card goes down but the $1 donation per card stays the same!

---

For Animals. For Earth.

For Animals. For Earth. has a very straightforward giving model! For every t-shirt you buy, $5 will be donated to one of their rescue partners! Shirts featuring dogs and cats donate to a companion animal rescue, shirts featuring elephants donate to an elephant conservation organization, and shirts featuring whales donate to a Japanese whale advocacy organization! They also make apparel for adults and pets (all are made with recycled materials!), but personally the kids tees are my favorites!

---

“Animal Rescue” Book

“Animal Rescue”, a book created to help young children understand and even enjoy the concept of freeing captive animals, donates 50 pence (approximately $0.67 US) per book sold to Born Free USA, an organization dedicated to protecting and advocating for wildlife. The book has no text, so the reader can decide how to communicate the content to the child. As the child turns the page, they have the option of “freeing” the featured animal and releasing them back into the wild; you sort of have to watch this video to understand! Recommended for ages 3-5.

---

“Rusty The Rescue” Book

Rusty the Rescue: A Book About Shelter Dogs and Us was written by animal advocate Christina Capatides in order to teach children about the importance of adopting pets from shelters. This is Capitides’ first children’s book, but she has years of experience creating pro-animal-rescue content for kids through the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum program. 10% of all proceeds are donated to help homeless pets at the North Shore Animal League.

PS: Don’t read the Amazon reviews if you’re easily annoyed by people who stigmatize shelter pets…

---

Fit 4 A Pit

Fit For A Pit sells apparel, toys, and other accessories designed for the often overlooked broad-chested “pit bull type” body. They thoroughly try all items out on their own pitties, as well as other friends’ dogs, to ensure everything they sell is of the highest quality. They donate a minimum of 15% of profits to dozens of animal rescues, but when sales are high (hello holiday season!), they’re able to give up to 75%!

---

Thank you for giving gifts that give back to animals during these busy holidays!

---