Area animal rescue workers are hoping that Brookhaven arearesidents will remember their furry friends as Christmasapproaches, especially now that it’s more convenient to drop offdonations.

Brookhaven Animal Rescue League volunteer Rusty Adcock said theshelter has a need for animal supply donations at this time of theyear, even though animal dropoffs haven’t been as frequent asrescue league officials has expected with the economy in adownturn.

“Surprisingly, dropoffs haven’t been as bad as we’ve beenthinking they would be, even though our adoptions are down,” Adcocksaid. “But it’s good that people understand they can’t reallyafford a new pet now. We’re glad they’re not taking animals andreturning them (after) realizing that they can’t take care of themnow.”

He said BARL has established dropoff points at Brookway AutoBrokers, Porter’s Body Shop and Rusty’s Family Restaurant wherepeople who might not be able to make it out to the BARL shelternear the Keystone ball field can donate dog food, cat food, kittylitter and other animal toys and treats.

For those who can make it to the shelter, but not during regularbusiness hours, there is also a garbage can at the end of thedriveway where donations can be deposited. Adcock said shelter petsgo through things like toys at the same rate as other animals, sothe more durable the toy donation the better.

“We’d love for people to bring us toys, in particular those hardrubber ‘kongs,'” he said. “We really like to have those becausethey’re durable, more than any other toys.”

Kongs are a hard rubber toy in which a dog treat can be hidden,and it will keep the animals entertained for hours.

Adcock said the shelter is also in need of scoopable cat litterrather than the clay kind, as well as cat and dog food. Anotherneed, he said, is bedding, especially for the younger animals.

“We do need blankets and bedding, because what we have getsdirty quick,” he said. “We do have a washer and dryer and we usethings as long as we can, but bedding is always welcome so that wecan keep them warm, especially when we have puppies.”

For more information on donating to BARL, call (601)757-4360.