
Groups around the country are knitting or crocheting mats to make life easier for shelter and rescue animals. Many shelter animals are seniors, and they welcome the cushioning provided by the mats. (If you’re not a knitter, traditional washable blankets are also welcomed by shelters.)
In my area, the Knit n’ Purl for Pets Knitting Workshop meets regularly to knit pet mats at Petropolis in suburban St. Louis. Some volunteers knit pet mats at home and drop them off at Petropolis for donation.
Petropolis’ basic guidelines are:
- Use only washable acrylic yarn
- Some shelters have specific size requirements, but others gratefully accept any size mat
- Beginners may find it easier to start with needles a size or two larger than #9
- Knit with two strands of yarn to make an extra-cushiony mat
There may be a group in your area that knits for shelter animals. How do you find one?
- Call your local animal shelter or rescue groups to inquire
- Check your local newspaper in the calendar, pet or lifestyle section for announcements
- Ask at local pet businesses
- Search Google or Google News with keywords such as your location, knit, crochet, pets, dog, shelter, blanket, rug. Try just a few words at a time. You may need to do some juggling of keywords to find a local group (I did).
If there are no established knitting groups in your area, why not start one?
- Find shelters or rescue groups that would welcome the donation of pet mats
- Start with the basic guidelines above, and adjust for your shelter’s needs
- Find volunteers to help knit or crochet mats:
- Put up flyers in local craft shops and pet-friendly shops (with permission)
- Write a short announcement and put in your town’s calendar section of the newspaper
- Contact local dog clubs and ask them to put your announcement in their newsletters
Finally, if you have washable, acrylic yarn you can spare, groups that knit for shelter animals will gratefully accept your donation.