Recycle Old Clothes into Puppy Toys for Shelters

The Mission: Combat Textile Waste and Save Puppies

Want to help shelter dogs while protecting our Earth? Every year, 92 million tons of fabric end up in landfills, creating a massive global waste crisis. Through "Pupcycled At Home," you can directly combat this environmental issue by upcycling old textiles into eco-friendly puppy toys. This is a flexible, eco-friendly role that lets you make a direct environmental impact, help reduce waste, and support environmental sustainability!

About Pupcycled

Pupcycled turns donated clothing into enrichment toys for shelter puppies across the U.S. Instead of old fabric ending up in landfills (92 million tons every year), it becomes something that keeps a shelter pup calmer, happier, and more adoptable. We operate through volunteer-led chapters, an at-home toy making program, animal shelter partnerships, and community events. In just last year, we donated 3,000+ toys, organized 23 events, partnered with 60+ animal shelters & nonprofits, and grew to 889 volunteers.

Role Description

We are looking for volunteers to make dog toys from home using materials they already have, such as old towels, bedsheets, T-shirts, or jeans. This flexible role is perfect for anyone who wants to support shelter puppies through a simple, creative, and hands-on volunteer opportunity from home in their free time.

Volunteers can choose between two toy-making options: a no-sew toy made by cutting fabric into strips and braiding or weaving it together, or a sewn plush toy in shapes like a bone or heart for those with sewing experience and a sewing machine. Pupcycled provides all instructions and tutorials.

Here are the steps:

1. Find any unused fabric lying around your house (durable, won't unwind when cut, no hard or sharp objects). Think t-shirts, jeans, bedsheets!
2. Make dog toys from home using upcycled fabric following Pupcycled’s tutorials and instructions.
3. Donate completed toys to a local shelter near you! If you are near a Pupcycled chapter, you can opt to drop off toys with that chapter. If not, Pupcycled can help connect you with a shelter near you.
4. Submit your impact and photos of your toys! Volunteer hours can be provided as well.