'Presents for Paws' Has a Laguna Niguel Drop Off Location

Desperate Paws of Orange County Dog Club has added two additional locations—Natural Pet Foods in Anaheim and French Connection in Corona Del Mar—to help gather more blankets and toys for shelter animals in need of some tender loving care. Locally, residents can drop items at the at 30232 Crown Valley Pkwy.

Island Tan Salons is helping even further with this drive by providing FREE tanning to anyone who donates three items at one of their tanning salons for the Presents for Paws Drive. It can be three blankets, three toys or a combination of these items but it must be three to get the free tanning. 

It's been a week since the club began seeking gift donations for shelter animals in need of some tender loving care, and a lot more help is needed.

So far, the collection has been off to a slow start currently only gathering 100 blankets and 40 toys.

 "We have a long way to go to reach our goal of 10,000 blankets and 1,000 dog/cat toys but hopefully we will make it," said Stephen Terry, co-founder of the group.

The collection will run through Monday, Dec. 5. Terry said an important reason the group wants to make sure its goal is met, is because providing items for the shelter animals gets them further away from euthanasia and closer to adoption.

"With a donation, people are making it possible for the dogs to stay warm in the winter and helps both the dogs and cats to be active and playful, thus making it more likely they will be adopted," he explained.

With the addition of the new collection sites, there are now 17 drop off locations throughout Orange County. 

"We have a few people who are even collecting at their work from co-workers and friends.  It is really catching on in the spirit of helping and giving," Terry said.

Last year, the group collected more than 400 toys, but this year, with the help of local businesses participating as drop-off locations, the hope is to collect a lot more.

Drop-off locations:

• French Connection - Corona del Mar 

• Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grills - Newport Beach, Aliso Viejo, Irvine and Tustin

• Beach Pit BBQ - Aliso Viejo, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Orange and Tustin

Fred's Mexican Cafe - Huntington Beach

• Camp Bow Wow - Anaheim

• Paws at the Coffee Mill - Huntington Beach

• Anaheim Feed and Pet Supply - Anaheim

Call, 714.833.1021 for more information.