This Christmas, we’re asking our wonderful supporters to help us make the season special for the dogs and cats spending Christmas at Teckels Animal Sanctuaries.
Our annual Shoebox Appeal is one of our favourite festive traditions.
Each year, animal lovers from across Gloucestershire and beyond fill shoeboxes with goodies for our rescue cats and dogs – everything from toys and treats to food and chews. These simple gifts help us bring a touch of Christmas joy to every animal waiting for their forever home.
Beyond just Christmas Day…
Your donations don’t just make tails wag on Christmas morning. We carefully spread out the gifts throughout the year to keep our animals happy, entertained, and mentally stimulated while they wait for adoption.
From toys and chews that encourage play, to tasty snacks that make training more fun, every box helps us provide enrichment and variety – the key ingredients in keeping rescue animals content and confident. We even reuse some boxes as enrichment puzzles, turning them into games to keep clever noses and paws busy!
What to include in your shoebox
Every gift, no matter how small, makes a difference.
Here are some of the things our animals love most:
🐾 Tasty treats and tinned food:
- Tinned hot dogs (perfect for helping shy dogs build trust)
- Tinned tuna or sardines (a favourite for our feline residents)
- Soft training treats
- Long-lasting chews like Nylabones, Jumbones or pigs’ ears (no rawhide please)
🎾 Toys and enrichment:
- Hardwearing dog toys – we have some very bouncy breeds who love to play!
- Cat toys, especially interactive ones
- Catnip and food puzzles to keep their minds active
- Collars and pet shop vouchers
🧡 Soothing extras:
- Rescue remedy sprays or plug-ins
- Cosy blankets or comforting items to make kennels and catteries feel like home
Where to drop off your shoebox
You can drop your filled shoeboxes at:
📍 Teckels Animal Sanctuaries (Bristol Road, Whitminster)
📍 Teckels Charity Shop, Russell Street, Stroud
📍 Any supermarket collection point displaying our Teckels food donation boxes
Whether you’re donating as a family, a business, a school group or simply as an animal lover, your kindness helps brighten the lives of the animals in our care.
Every box tells a story
Every donation – no matter how small – has a lasting impact. For a nervous rescue dog, a tasty treat can help build trust. For a curious cat, a new toy can transform a dull day into an adventure. And for our hardworking staff and volunteers, your support reminds us that our community truly cares.
Together, we can make sure every paw at Teckels has something to unwrap this Christmas – and joy to last all year round.
Thank you for supporting Teckels this Christmas.
Your generosity helps us care for, enrich and rehome hundreds of animals every year.
