What should we do with toys, food or accessories not used by our pets? Rather than throwing them away, the Bonapatte.com site allows you to make donations between individuals to offer or receive animal products. An environmental and solidarity initiative.
When we live with a petwe can end up with unused products. This may be the case if your dog no longer wants to eat his kibbleif your cat does not support the new harness that you bought from him, if he loses interest in his cat treeif your hamster grows in a cage too small or even if your pet does not use the many toys that you bought from him.
For all these reasons, we may find ourselves with an opened packet of kibble at the bottom of a cupboard, unused toys and accessories like new. In this situation, we may be tempted to to throw them while they are still consumable and in good condition.
To avoid this, Salim Boulaïch decided to create the site Bonapatte.com, the objective of which is to allow individuals to give or receive animal productsall free. Since its creation in February 2023this platform already brings together more than 10,000 members.
“I shared my life with my dog and I wanted please him and change his kibble by purchasing a 12 kg package of insect-based croquettes in order to reduce the consumption of products derived from the meat industry. Unfortunately, it was a real failure since my dog has absolutely not touched them and I ended up with a brand new package. I kept the kibble too long in the hope of donate them to an association, except that I was seriously short of time and the only association that was near my house only took care of cats. I'm ashamed to say it but I ended up throwing the package away because it remained open for several months and the kibbles were no longer edible. A real waste”Salim Boulaïch told us.
A site to donate animal products
Following this mishap, Salim Boulaïch decided to act by creating Bonapatte.com. On this free and easy-to-use platformyou can give or receive toys, accessories or food for your cat, dog, rabbit, hamster or other pet.
“Faced with these issues and in a inflationary context, the alternative of donation turns out to be extremely interesting but no donation platform or application dedicated to animal products has not been thought of until now, quite simply because we are not interested in the waste linked to the products of our life companions”said Salim Boulaïch in a press release.
This initiative makes it possible to make a gesture for the environment since it aims to reduce waste. Every year, several tens of thousands of accessories are thrown away because they can't find a buyer. Food products such as kibbles and treats also end up in the trash while they are still good for consumption. Thanks to this site, instead of being thrown away while they are still usable, animal products have a second life.
Helping people in need
This initiative is united : she permits to help the most vulnerable people take care of their pets. Indeed, living with an animal can require a large budgetespecially to pay veterinary careand some families may have struggling to make ends meet when it comes to buying kibble or toys for your dog.
Free, without subsidy and independent for 10 years, we need you to continue this work in 2024. Feel free to activate a voluntary subscription on this link by offering tea to the team. Thank you so much.
“Products for animals have also experienced strong increases exceeding 20% on certain products. The idea came to me by comparing these two elements, food waste and waste that pet owners know, and life that costs more and moreso much so that people and associations struggle to provide for their animals. I wanted to create the first space where you, as animal owners, can give and collect free items and food for our little ones »Salim explained to us.
An easy-to-use site
Lregistration is free. Once registered, it is possible to to research to find the necessary product, view donation requests Or post an ad in just a few seconds. The site will be able to display donation announcements in a 40 km perimeter maximum around the requested area.
A internal messaging is available to allow individuals to easily exchange and transmit their contact details securely to arrange an appointment to collect the item. Since the creation of the site, already 1600 donations have been done.
–Lisa Guinot
Cover photo by Marc Pell on Unsplash
