Give Them The Coat Off Your Back

Do you have an old fur coat or fur blanket lying around? Regardless of how you came by it, the Humane Society has an alternative use for it: donate it to help other animals.

In a program dubbed Coats for Cubs, the Humane Society transforms unwanted fur items into nests and beds for orphaned, injured or sick wildlife. According to an article in the Inquirer, 2687 fur items were donated in 2009. Hats are especially prized because they are round, the shape of natural nests.

"We use the discarded furs as bedding to give the animals comfort and reduce stress," says Michael Markarian, Chief Operating Officer. "The fur garments act as a surrogate mother. It is a warm and furry substitute." The bunnies above certainly look warm and cozy.

The coats are always needed, but especially in the winter, and especially in the northeast, where, in case you haven't heard, we are being bombarded by blizzards. The current drive technically ends on Earth Day, April 22, but the Humane Society will accept donations any day of the year.

You can send them to any group affiliated with the Humane Society--check local wildlife shelters for example--or turn them in to any Buffalo Exchange Store.