As we prepare to enter the holiday season, there will be many opportunities to give to others in our community through food drives, toy drives and more.

While we have much of the holiday season to focus on helping our neighbors, there are six weeks coming up that focus on helping the animals in need in our community.

Each year from Oct. 15 to Nov. 30 a pet advocacy group called Wishbones for Pets promotes donations to help pet-related charities.

Wishbones for Pets is recognized at the start of the holiday season because it is typically a season, was and started 15 years ago by a pet sitter. Since then it has become an international charity drive aimed to helping our furry friends.

There are numerous animal charities you could donate to during this drive, but we would encourage our readers to look for opportunities to help local animal welfare organizations.

Three particular organizations stand out as great ways to help the animals in our community: Clark County CARES, FairyTails Pet Adoptions and Friends of the Clark County Animal Shelter.

According to the organization, “Clark County CARES has provided funding for the new Clark County shelter, medical needs, adoption sponsorships, transport fees, food, equipment, supplies and low income spay/neuter vouchers. Volunteers are involved in tasks such as fostering, adopting, transporting, rescue coordinating, transport coordinating, promoting the shelter through media, organizing events to promote the shelter animals, grant writing and fundraising.”

FairyTails Pet Adoptions serves the community by rescuing dogs either from the streets, from deplorable living conditions with another owner or even from the local animal shelter. The dogs are then cared for by dedicated volunteers and then placed for adoption through the agency, which has helped place dozens of dogs into loving new homes over the years.

Friends of the Clark County Animal Shelter is a recently-formed nonprofit that aims to raise funds to help transfer animals from the local shelter to rescues in other parts of the country to avoid overcrowding and reduce the need for euthanasia. The agency also supports the animal shelter in other capacities.

These are just some of the many animal welfare organizations out there, but we think it would be great to support those in our community who are making a difference in the lives of needy animals locally.

Of course, donations can also be made directly to the Clark County Animal Shelter, which is always in need of dog and cat food, clump-free cat litter, cleaning supplies, toys, blankets and towels and more. A quick call to the shelter at 737-0053 would be all it takes to set up an opportunity to make a donation.

We encourage you to consider what ways you can help during this campaign, whether big or small. Added up, the acts of kindness will make a tremendous difference.

Editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s editorial board. The board is comprised of publisher Michael Caldwell and Bluegrass Newsmedia editors Whitney Leggett and Ben Kleppinger. To inquire about a meeting with the board, contact Caldwell at 759-0095.