Comfort for Critters

         Fall 2025

   ~ Critter News ~

Welcome to Autumn!

Where has the year gone? I just can't believe we're starting the final quarter, and can't believe that we've already donated over 16,000 blankets this year to animal shelters in every US state. Thank you ALL for all that crafting and ALL that caring! Now more than ever, that sort of kindness is needed & appreciated.

Now that we've created all those blankets, we find ourselves  running low on supplies at our home base in Illinois. We have plenty of fleece, but could really use more yarn. We can't store any additional white, gray or black yarn, since we only use it when combining it with a bright color. We can however, accept any other color, both full skeins and partials. 

I'll be posting on our social media requests for yarn donations, throughout October. It would be immensely helpful if you liked our Facebook page (not just join the Facebook Group) and then shared those posts with your friends and family. So many people have leftover yarn hanging around that they are thrilled to donate to a mission that comforts homeless pets. Thank you!

You may also want to check out our current Shelters Supported list since there are many changes! Some shelters, which we were not able to support, were deleted and at least a couple were added each and every month this year. If there hasn't been a shelter near where you work, live or travel to...there may be now!

I've been blessed to lead CFC since 2007 (when it was just me!), but I feel exponentially grateful this year. With all the challenging news that hits us each day, I'm grateful to be able to escape into crochet, reading notes from volunteers and connecting with great shelter people. It truly is my "happy place". I hope CFC has been, and will always be, a positive island for you too!

With gratitude this holiday season,

Linda

"Thank you so much for the blankets. The quality control specialists (pictured above) are all rescues. Catsby is the yellow Tabby. Today is the 5th anniversary of his "death" from being frozen. I revived him with CPR. He lost part of his ear, tail and some layers of his paw pads, but he's definitely a survivor. 

The buff/white kitten had injuries from a trap and the Calico kitten was attacked by dogs, resulting in many stitches making it hard to even hold her. All of them have healed and are enjoying life, especially when they can check out each new blanket!  They love to cuddle up with their blankets. Thank you and all your donors. You are changing lives and are greatly appreciated!"

~ Quailwings Rescue in Cut Bank, MT ~

* Edited to take out some graphic details, but the essence of the story remains unchanged.

Comfort for Critters was created to help animal shelter pets, and clearly this remains our overriding mission. As a goal, it doesn’t get much simpler, and hasn’t changed a bit since the first blanket was stitched in 2007. We endeavor to comfort all the pets we can’t adopt (but wish we could!).

However, it’s become clear that God had more blessings in mind, when the seed for CFC was planted 18 years ago. I’ve heard numerous stories about how “crafting to comfort pets” has brought comfort to the person holding the yarn! I’m not sure if “yarn therapy” is actually a thing, but after doing a bit of research it seems its effects are real.

I’d like to share my findings with current volunteers, as a way of validating what they already know. I’d also like to share them with those considering a helping CFC, or any similar group. Your desire to help others is to be applauded and listened to. It may be your mind’s way of getting you some of these amazing benefits. Maybe you even know someone who could benefit from a bit of “yarn therapy”? If they love animals, it may be a sneaky way of securing for them some of these blessings!

These studies are available in their entirety on the internet, but each one has a bottom line that’s heart-warming to us crafters:

• The Mayo Clinic has reported that senior citizens who participate in crafts (in this case, knitting), are 30-50% less likely to experience “mild cognitive impairment,” or memory loss, than those seniors who did not. Another study shows that the two-handed and repetitive aspects of knitting, combined with the tactile and visual stimulation, make it an especially helpful therapy for the brain.
• Carrie and Alton Barron explain in their book, “The Creativity Cure: Building Happiness With Your Own Two Hands,” how crafting is a great tool for alleviating anxiety and depression. “The rhythmic, mathematical nature of knitting and crocheting keep the mind absorbed in a healthy way, providing an escape from stressful thoughts but allowing for internal reflection,” says Barron.
• A study in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences showed that cutting down on TV time and increasing time spent on crafts (such as knitting) decreased the odds of memory loss, later in life, by 30-50% (backing up the Mayo Clinic). It also promoted the development of new neural pathways in the brain.
• Herbert Benson, a leader in mind/body medicine, reports that the repetitive nature of needlework creates a “relaxed state” in a person. This state is similar to what’s achieved by meditation and yoga.

I’ve personally heard from numerous volunteers that the act of knitting or crocheting has helped them tremendously in a few of these challenges they have faced. I've left off the names, but these are all from active volunteers!

• Trying to lose weight (crafting, instead of snacking, in front of the TV).
• Trying to quit smoking (crafting instead of “lighting up” after a meal).
• A way to “keep busy” during times of high-stress. It’s used as a way of channeling down time into something productive.
• To provide a productive feeling after a job loss or during prolonged unemployment.
• To give a feeling of pride and confidence, during difficult times in life, by creating something beautiful.
• It eases the sense of helplessness during a period of recovery from injury or illness (yourself or others).
• It’s a way to ease stress, which allows you to focus your mind on something productive and provide a distraction from concerns.
• A great way to ease loneliness by meeting people with similar interests. Knitting and crocheting can be done almost anywhere, requires minimal, portable supplies, and is a great conversation starter.
• Rehabilitation exercise after a traumatic brain injury.
• A way to channel grief over the loss of a pet or a person, into something productive and meaningful.
• A means to “give back,” in a tangible way, during retirement.
• One way to ease frustration over not being able to adopt a pet.
• A way to do something “social” in a retirement home that involves skill and creativity, yet spurs conversation and sharing.
• A way of bonding with someone with different life experiences, but who shares a love for animals or crafting.
• Something to keep kids busy, while teaching them the value of “giving back” to society and caring for those who can never pay you back.

So even though CFC started as a way to help pets, I’ve come to realize that helping people is in our DNA too. Crafting a pet blanket may put you on the road to feeling even better, even if you already feel great. So forget the “apple a day” and try a row or two a day. Crafting may just be what the doctor ordered!                       

Together we donated 1,705 blankets in July, 2,307 blankets in August and another 1,752 in September! A full 5,764 homeless pets were helped in the quarter! These pets were at 135 shelters in 36 different states! Here are the lucky shelters who received your beautiful creations during this past quarter:

The Packer Project, which kicked off in August, is run by the Brain Injury Resource Center of Wisconsin. Their Executive Director, and Co-Founder, reached out to me over the summer and I was thrilled to learn about the great work of this organization.

Their goal is to "help survivors of brain injury, and their families, find answers to all of their questions and assist survivors enter the 'what now' phase of their lives, post-brain injury." A mother-daughter team of Lois York-Lewis and Bari Reith, started the resource center after Bari was in a serious car accident and sustained a traumatic brain injury. As this team dealt with this horrific situation, they saw that brain-injury survivors receive a lot of support immediately after their injury, but over time there is far less assistance in finding the resources they need. They work to solve this problem by providing information on the many resources that are available, and helping Wisconsin families work through the entire process of building their new lives.

The Packer Project is a monthly workshop, held by this group, that brings together brain injury survivors, along with their support persons, to work on a project together. During the workshop, they are now creating fleece blankets and tug toys for homeless pets. Of course the fellowship and bonding that happen at these workshops is beyond priceless.

Their adorable creations are donated to a local shelter, which the group chose. During their fist meeting in August they crafted seven lovely blankets and 22 tug toys! According to Lois, "everyone had an awesome time and we are meeting monthly as a group to continue going forward."  I feel blessed to learn about this group and welcome them into our family of caring volunteers!

The ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center keeps an updated list of the most common toxins that are reported to them in the previous year. This amazing agency helps hundreds of thousands of pets every year, by providing their pet parents with life-saving information. As you do your fall cleanup this year, be sure to watch for these items.

• #1 Over-the-Counter Human Medication – This includes common pain relievers and herbal products which are often tasty to pets.
• #2 Prescription Human Medications – The most common were heart medicine, antidepressants and pain medications.
• #3 People Food – A common toxin found in “people food” is Xylitol, which is used as a sugar substitute. It can cause seizures and liver failure in dogs. The most common people food that pets ingest is chocolate. If enough is eaten, it causes vomiting, diarrhea, high heart rate and seizures.
• #4 Chocolate - Although it's clearly "people food", they call chocolate out separately, since it's so common and so appealing to dogs. They report there are 76 cases every day of chocolate exposure in pets! 
• #5 Bouquets & Plants – Plants are more of a problem for cats than dogs. It’s wise to check out the complete list of toxic plants (www.aspca.org) if you have a cat, and check the list for whatever you bring into your home.
• #6 Household Products – These range from fire logs to cleaning products. Sometimes they are poisonous, other times they cause a blockage when eaten.
• #7 Rodenticides – Rodenticides are especially dangerous to cats when sprayed around your yard and home. In addition, baits set for mice, often end up catching a resourceful cat or dog!
• #8 Veterinary Products/Medications – These are typically flavored to make them more attractive to pets, but this makes them more dangerous if left out.
• #9 Insecticides - This category includes ant baits and bug sprays, both of which are commonly used. They suggest using pet-friendly alternatives!
• #10 Lawn and Garden Products – The smell of fertilizer is very attractive to pets, and so it results in numerous calls to the APCC.

If you ever wonder if your pet has gotten into something they shouldn’t, put your fears to rest and call the APCC right away at 1-888-426-4435. They are available 24/7 and just may be the help you and your pet needs!

One important way to combat “Black Pet Syndrome”* is to be loud and proud about the black cats and dogs which share our home. Posting pictures of your beautiful black kitty on Facebook, or Tweeting out shots of your black Lab are great ideas, with one problem - black pets are some of the most difficult to photograph!

There are a few easy “tricks” that will help you show off your black pet in the best light possible.

#1 Find the focal point -

The focal point of the photograph should be the most striking aspect of the pet. With a black pet, this is often the eyes, since they are often the only color to be seen. Try to catch the expression in their eyes! As an alternative, use the texture of the coat as the focal point. To do this, lighting is especially important (read on!).

#2 Get the light, right -

First of all, turn off the “auto” feature on your camera, as it will almost always underexpose a black pet, resulting in a dark photograph. Try a photograph with, and then without, a flash. The flash will greatly change the texture of the pet’s coat. You may, or may not, like the result!

A great place to photograph your black pet is in a shady spot, somewhere away from direct light. Choose a room that has lots of light, but light that does not directly shine on the subject. A large window, with light pouring in, just behind you (the photographer) is just perfect.

#3 Consider the background -

It’s always best to place your black pet on a background that is uncluttered. Since a photograph of a solid black pet can easily lose its detail, you need to make sure that the background doesn't distract any further. A background light in color is also a good idea. Place your pet well in advance of the background, rather than right in front of a wall or sofa, for instance. This helps the background blur a bit and your pet really stand out!

#4 Add a pop of color -

The beauty of a black coat is often shown off by a contrasting pop of color. Put a bright red bandana on your dog or a yellow catnip mouse at your kitty’s feet. Maybe even a brand new, colorful collar is in order! This splash of color will make the richness of their black coat look even better.

Even though it can be a bit of a challenge, the resulting photograph can be a real work of art and well worth the trouble. Try out a few of these ideas as you highlight your little companion. Let’s fight BPS together!

* Statistics show that black cats and dogs are often passed over and sometimes remain in the shelter for twice as long as their non-black companions. Even online services, which match pets to people, indicate that black pets remain on their “available” list four times as long as pets of other colors. All this data unfortunately means that the black dogs and cats are also the first to be euthanized in shelters without a “no-kill” policy.                              

We are now donating 1,500+ blankets  regularly every month, which is awesome! It's also A LOT of blankets to filter in and out of my house every month. 

With this in mind, we're asking all out-of-state volunteers to please donate your blankets directly to a shelter right in your own state!

I can help you find a shelter near you, and will do all the work getting them signed up. If you choose a shelter from our website list, I can promise you that in-state shipping will be less costly than sending them to me. I do ask though that you let me know....so that I can update my records!

Benefits of donating your blankets locally:

• Cheaper than shipping them to Illinois (if you're out of state)!
• You can email them for a tax receipt and possibly write off the donation (please check with your tax professional).​​
• You'll also get to hear just how much the shelter staff appreciates the blankets. Thank you!!!

If you'd like to keep up-to-date on our mission, follow us on Facebook and join our Facebook Group, "The Comfort for Critters Team".  We share what we're working on, pet & craft humor, and tip & tricks for making beautiful blankets. It's a private group that stays 100% positive, 100% of the time! 

Please join us!

Once you make blankets:

• Local volunteers are welcome to drop off their blankets to a shelter near them or to CFC's headquarters in Glen Ellyn, IL. Please leave your name and email on whatever you drop off to me, so that I can send a thank you note.
• If you're outside of our area, please check our "Animal Shelters We Support" page to find a shelter in your state. Then ship your blankets directly to the shelter or drop them off. Please let me know how many you donate, via email or by using our website form.
• Patience is a plus! CFC is a small organization, with just one staff member! I do reply to every email, but it may take me a few days. Thank you!

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       3s139 Sequoia Drive ~ Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

Linda Kastiel Kozlowski Founder & Owner

Info@ComfortForCritters.org

~ Our Mission ~

To comfort all the animal shelter pets we can't adopt (but wish we could),

and to be a blessing in the lives of every volunteer, supporter & shelter worker.

223,292 blankets donated so far!

Support our mission with the purchase of our pattern books: Crochet for Critters & Crochet for Your Comfort. Each book has 30 crochet patterns that are perfect for pet blankets. They also tell the story of CFC and why crafting helps the crafter, along with the pet! 

E-books here!

Paperback "Crochet for Critters" on Amazon!

Paperback "Crochet for Your Comfort" on Amazon!

Or check out a fun T-Shirt!

"We are so appreciative of you! Last week, we received a mix of quilted blankets and crocheted blankets! We actually had very few cats in the shelter but, at the time, we had four 2-day old kittens (see photo). At that age, they cannot appreciate the time and effort to make the blankets but approved of them to be given to the adopted cats!

We are honored to be listed as one of the many shelters that your organization supports! The animals give you four paws up. Thank you!"

~ Orange County Animal Services  in Orlando, FL ~

This is one of my favorite stitches, and favorite patterns! The individual stitches are quite large, so it can be worked with just one strand of yarn. Despite that, the puffs make this blanket nice and thick. They are just perfect for a homeless pet to curl up on!

Click here to download the free pattern. Enjoy!

I did a lot of trimming on the list of shelters we support this quarter, but also managed to add a few new ones.

All these new shelters have local support, which is key to keeping them stocked up on blankets. Thank you for suggesting great shelters that are convenient for you to help!

Conroe Animal Shelter Conroe, TX

Our Farm Sanctuary

Tipp City, OH

St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice

South Venice, FL

Tabby Town

Blasdell, NY

Ten Lives Club

Blasdell, NY

I'm excited to be able to share these awesome thank you notes with you. They are a result of the boxes I ship out each week, filled with your beautiful creations. I receive these "thank you's" but they're really for you. Enjoy!

• "We just wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude. Without you and your heartfelt donation of blankets we would not be able to do what we do! Thank you!" ~ Scruffy Tails Humane Society in Crookston, MN

• "We want to thank you so much for the lovely cozy blankets you have sent to our animals. They will go home with them when they are adopted, in their adoption bags. Thank you again!"         ~ Prattville/Autauga Humane Society in Prattville, AL

• "Thank you so much for your generous donation to our animal shelter! Your donation and your support is crucial to our success, and by donating, you directly contribute to our lifesaving efforts." ~ Baltimore Humane Society in Reisterstown, MD

• "We would like to express our gratitude to you for your thoughtfulness in donating hand-made blankets to comfort our cats. Because of you, we can continue to show cats entrusted to us a little bit of extra comfort and care, as they await adoption to live in a new and loving home. We also send each cat home with their special blanket!"                      ~ Montgomery County SPCA in Conshohocken, PA

• "Thank you for your donation of the beautifully hand sewn comforters and toys for our cats and kittens waiting for their forever homes. These comforters and toys are very much appreciated. The cats (and their human caretakers) love them. Thank you also for your organization and the special gifts you provide. They are such special gifts to these animals. Cats in rescue are well cared for until they find their permanent home, but rarely get anything so special, to call their own. Miss Fannie's is very grateful for all you do." ~ Miss Fannie's Friends in Wichita Falls, TX

• ​"On behalf of all of us, we thank you for your generous donation of handmade blankets. They will certainly bring comfort and warmth to our animals and are greatly appreciated. We are so lucky to have you as a donor and are incredibly grateful to you for supporting our mission of providing care to homeless animals. Your blankets will go to good use in allowing us to better the lives of our animals, and inevitably be able to rehome them. Thank you again for your kindness."         ~ Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, IL​

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One of my favorite parts of Comfort for Critters is reading the comments left by volunteers who have donated their blankets directly to shelters. They tell me why they create blankets, and what ultimately motivates them to help homeless pets. I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I do! Thank you to everyone for helping!

• "I have always loved cats and would take in more if I had the room. So it makes me feel good to give the animals in shelters a little comfort. I like to keep my hands busy so making blankets for these sweet babies not only gives me something to work on, but gives me a good feeling too." ~ Maggie S. in OH

• "We had two shelter cats. One for 18 years and the other for 12 years. We dearly loved them. It has been 2 years since they are gone. If I can make the life of a shelter pet a little better, I'm happy to do it." ~ Debbie R. in CO​

• "They call me 'the blanket lady' and I love it. Getting a call from the shelter I help, saying that they are almost out of blankets is a thrill to me. It means Fur Babies have found forever homes and that makes me happy. I love being a part of the 'team' helping give comfort to them. Warms my heart!" ~ Linda R. in OH

• "My cat came through the doggie door one day and stole my heart. She had picked her forever home. She unexpectedly had to be put down a couple weeks ago. She would always try to sit in my lap whenever I was sewing. She was always into whatever I was creating at that time. I made these blankets in memory of her, so other pets have some comfort while they are in the shelter before they find their forever home." ~ Anna L. in IL

• "I crochet to relieve stress and anxiety. Therefore, I find that making smaller sized afghans is best to keep my attention! It motivates me to comfort homeless pets!" ~ Riley D in PA

• "I have always loved animals. They spread so much warmth and happiness to me and to countless other humans. It upsets me greatly to think of animals scared, uncomfort-able, and without a loving home that gives them the same happiness in return. I am so grateful to be able to use my skills to help these critters!" ~ Bree B. in TX

• "Love for all critters great and small is what motivates me to make blankets. If just one blanket will give comfort, that makes it all worthwhile." ~ Maria T. in CA

• "I love crocheting and donating blankets to provide a little extra comfort to cats and dogs waiting for new families and I believe that taking their own blanket with them to their new home, truly does give them a little extra comfort as they settle into their new surroundings. Just like the name of our group says!" ~ Barbara B. in TN

• "It is such a joy to be able to crochet blankets for shelter animals. I currently have two rescued dogs that bring so much love and joy to our home. I would love to be able to adopt more but it's not feasible at this time, so I'm grateful Comfort for Critters gives me the opportunity to help in another way." ~ Pam W. in AZ

• "If I could personally be there to hold, cuddle, pet and comfort every animal in a shelter, I would! Making these blankets is the next best thing I can do." ~ Cindy B in IL

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Have questions? Check out our new FAQ page!

• Updates on our mission
• Craft ideas & patterns
• Pet information
• Animal shelter updates
• Easy ways to help pets
• Lots of "thank you's"!