The Ruff Toy Project, started by Northeast Philadelphia animal lover Caitlin Parylak, refurbishes old toys and donates them to shelter dogs and cats, writes Rita Giordano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“I’m a big repurpose kind of person,” she said. “When I first had my foster dogs a couple years ago, they would go through toys like no one’s business. I figured it was a good way to repurpose. Plus it’s a win-win for everybody. People feel good when they get to donate their toys.”

Months ago, Parylak posted a call for unwanted, in-need-of-repair pet toys on Facebook, and Philadelphians delivered.

Before long, she created her own island of pet toys, a one-woman workshop that has so far rehabbed about 300 toys with more on the way.

Parylak has donated the majority of the toys to ACCT-Philly and the Pennsylvania SPCA.

She is also sort of a Secret Santa, going around putting her completed toys in the shelters’ donation bins or giving them to friends to drop off.

“I’m not a limelight person,” she said.

Pet owners who have contributed to the Ruff Toy Project say they are grateful for the opportunity to help animals in need.

Read more about the Ruff Toy Project in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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