Why This Exists
I’m building Shop for Shelters because I got tired of watching amazing animals wait in shelters while people who genuinely care didn’t know how to help beyond the occasional donation.
All of my rescue dogs changed my life. They came from different shelters, different circumstances, but the same story: overlooked, waiting, hoping someone would see them. When you’ve watched a dog’s face light up when they realize they’re finally going home, you can’t forget it. And you can’t stop thinking about all the others still waiting.
The Problem I Kept Seeing
I work in sales in the hospitality and spirits industry, so I talk to people all day. And here’s what I noticed: almost everyone I meet loves their pets. They spend money on food, toys, vet care, treats. But that money rarely connects back to helping shelter animals, even when people wish it could.
The gap isn’t about caring. It’s about awareness and access. People don’t know which brands give back. They don’t have time to research it. And shelters are constantly struggling for funding while we’re all already buying pet products anyway.
I kept thinking: there has to be a better way.
What We’re Building
Shop for Shelters is my attempt at that better way. But here’s what matters: this isn’t just about me or my idea. It’s about celebrating and connecting the people already doing the hard work.
There are incredible people showing up every single day at shelters across the country. Cleaning kennels, socializing scared dogs, bottle-feeding kittens at 2am, making the heartbreaking decisions when resources run out. They’re the real heroes, and they deserve more support and more recognition.
And there are businesses out there creating genuinely great products who are already committed to giving back to animal welfare. They’re putting their money where their values are, but not enough people know about them.
Shop for Shelters exists to shine a light on both. To connect conscious pet owners with brands that care, and to funnel more resources to the shelters doing life-saving work every day.
How We Generate Revenue (And Support Shelters)
We’re building a sustainable business through three approaches, and a portion of revenue from all three supports animal welfare:
Product Recommendations: When you purchase pet products through our affiliate links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we believe in from brands aligned with animal welfare values.
Brand Partnerships: We partner with pet companies that share our mission, featuring their products and stories through sponsored content. These partnerships allow us to highlight businesses doing good work while generating revenue to support shelters.
Digital Resources: We create helpful guides and toolkits for rescue pet owners—things like adoption guides, foster resources, and training materials. These optional paid products help fund our mission while providing real value to the rescue community.
This three-part approach allows us to build something sustainable. A portion of all revenue—from every source—goes to supporting the animal shelters and rescue organizations we partner with.
I’m not a tech person or a marketing guru. I’m someone who knows how to connect people with what they need, who happens to care deeply about rescue animals. I’m building this one partnership, one shelter profile, one brand feature at a time.
Our Commitment
We believe in transparency and authenticity. As we grow and reach meaningful milestones, we’ll share updates about the shelters we’ve been able to support and the impact we’re making together. No vague claims, no corporate speak. Just honest progress reports as this mission develops.
Right now, we’re small. Scrappy. Just getting started. Building the foundation to make real contributions as our community grows. Every big movement starts with someone deciding to try. This is me trying.
Why I Think This Can Work
Because I believe most people want to help, they just need an easy way to do it. And I believe the pet industry is big enough that even small percentages can add up to real support for shelters doing incredible work.
If you’re reading this, you probably already care about animals. Maybe you have a rescue pet too. Maybe you’ve thought about fostering or volunteering but life gets busy. This is a way to make a difference without changing your routine, just changing where you click.
That’s it. That’s the mission.
Thanks for being here. Thanks for caring. And if you know a shelter doing great work that should be featured here, please reach out. We’re building this together.
The Shop for Shelters Team