The furs are cut into an appropriate size for the animal, whether it be a chipmunk, raccoon, squirrel, or opossum, and placed inside the animal's enclosure. The furry blanket becomes a surrogate mother to orphaned animals, reducing stress and giving comfort. One rehabilitator told us about a restless orphaned river otter who chirped constantly. Once she was given a fur blanket, she settled right down. Turning the sleeve of a fur coat inside out, a rehabilitator can create a warm nest for a burrowing animal such as an opossum.
Some animals adopt a piece of fur as a playmate, jumping on it and wrestling with it.
Once it has arrived, you will be sent a letter thanking you. Please save this letter if you want to claim a tax deduction for your donation. If you itemize deductions, you can claim the fair market value of your donation. This is a judgment call you will have to make for yourself, based on the condition and type of the fur. You must have this appraisal performed before you donate the fur.