As a pet lover, chances are you understand how important animal shelters are, and since they operate heavily on the generosity of others, any donation is sure to be graciously accepted. Even if not everyone can offer up a home to one of their pets, or to agree to foster one until they can be permanently placed, you can still help out.

Here are a few items you probably have lying around the house that your local shelter would be happy to take off your hands.

1. Blankets

Many animal shelters are bare-bones and less than comfortable for the pets living there, so a few blankets to help make their crate more inviting will always be appreciated, even if they are a bit ratty.

2. Towels

Even shelter pets need the occasional bath, and when they do, they'll need towels, too. Also, towels can be used to line a crate just like a blanket. Double duty!

3. Detergent

Dogs and cats appreciate clean linens as much as anyone else, and shelters can use a considerable amount of detergent. Help them provide these pets in need with the luxury of a clean bed or towel by giving them some bleach or detergent.

4. Plastic Bags

Instead of throwing away or hoarding all those plastic bags you get from the grocery, why not give a few to the local shelter? It may not seem like much, but for a place that has to clean up after dozens of dogs every day, a surplus is a good thing.

5. Cleaning Supplies

Since shelters house dozens, if not hundreds, of pets, it goes without saying that things get messy. If you have any extra cleaning supplies (brooms, mops, buckets, sponges, rubber gloves, etc.) the local shelter would certainly thank you for the donation.

6. Newspaper

Instead of simply recycling yesterday's news, why not have it sent over to the shelter? They can use it to line crates, helping make cleanup a ton easier.

7. Hand sanitizer

For a group of people handling dozens of pets (and pet related substances) every day, having a bottle of sanitizer on hand can help make the job a lot nicer.

8. Office supplies

There is a lot of paperwork and administration that goes along with running an animal shelter, so if you have any extra pens, pencils, notepads, staples, or printer paper, your local shelter would love to take them off your hands.

9. Toys

Have you ever bought your pet a toy that they simply refused to play with? For whatever reason, some dogs or cats simply don’t find certain toys entertaining. And what are you going to do with a squeaky chew toy? You can bet there is a dog or cat in a shelter nearby who would get some mileage out of it.

What other items would make great donations?

Tell us in the comments below!