What do a cool cat artist, a wild spinner, an ACEO painter and a queen of all things green have in common?  They are all sellers who share a common mission: to give something back to animals through the Etsy for Animals Team (EFA).

EFA team members are spread around the world, and some of the team’s sellers are as exotic as the animals they love. Here’s a snapshot. Seller thefrogbag in California says, "I'm a long time crafter with a zoology degree — hence the high percentage of animals in my work! By day I work as a zoo keeper at the Playboy Mansion. I also do some writing, both fiction and non-fiction..." She loves the wonderfully strange tapirs, and donates a percentage of sales to the Tapir Preservation Fund. 

ArtbySusmitha, an artist and vegan living in India, supports the Vishakha SPCA cow sanctuary, saying “...We're all children of the same Mother Nature and they need love and respect, just like us.”  Jeanne of  MellyrnShireShop who lives "in a small apartment near Milan, Italy, with a guy, 4 cats, 2 rabbits and 6 guinea pigs," supports Vancouver Rabbit Rescue and Advocacy. All of Jeanne's animals are free to roam inside her home!


[Guinea Pig ACEO - SavageArtWorks]



[Spring chicks by VioletsNewVintage]

Not only do EFA team members have some great stores, several EFA members also run animal rescues. Amanda of  Abandoned Wild Babies Animal Rescue is a wildlife rehabilitator, and Lynn of ArfArfMeowMeow helps with Priest River Animal Rescue in Idaho.

They, and many other EFA members, donate a percentage of their profits to animal charities, either one that is close to their heart, or to the EFA Charity of the Month, announced on www.etsyforanimals.com. Together these little raindrops of cash make a shower of help, with past beneficiaries receiving considerable sums. One of the biggest fundraisers for our Charity of the Month is the official EFA shop, where kind-hearted Etsy sellers donate items, with 100% of the proceeds going to animals.  EFA's team leader, Michele of MVegan5, says that "the EFA shop welcomes donations of handmade items, vintage and supplies from any seller on Etsy who wants to help us raise funds."  (More info here!) 

[Country Poodles Cards - Hayleyshandmades]

The EFA community has a Flickr Group and a lively blog that hosts the monthly challenges, and the website run by  Hayleyshandmades. Checking out the challenge entries is a great way to see a showcase of EFA members' work and, like all the organizational work at EFA, it's run by a team of volunteers.  EFA members’ work — and pets — can also be seen on a  YouTube video made by Diane of Woodnvisions.


[Original Painting ACEO - sharonfosterarts]

New sellers will get a warm welcome to EFA and, no, it's not essential that you donate profits to charity. EFA welcomes all sellers who care for animals. Michele says, "I love that Etsy for Animals brings together artists from all over the world, helping animals, together." Ensorcelledminds sums up the EFA ethos as such:

"Because they NEED us
 To help when we can
 To give what we can
 And to understand"

Further Resources:
Etsyforanimals.com
Etsyforanimals.blogspot.com
flickr.com/groups/efa
AWBAR.com
Tapirback.com
Visakha Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Vrra.org