The library where I work recycles our old newspapers by giving them to the city animal shelter to use as cage liners.  I looked on the shelter website and found a list of other items they always need, some of which can  be used and recycled to them, saving space in the land fills and helping our planet and the animals.  

Some such items are bed linens, bath towels, small rugs, and shirt type or gift boxes to be used as litter pans.  And if you are a crafty person, you can turn old clothing or other fabric into bandanas for dogs.  That would also be a good craft project for a Girl Scout troop.

And if you made a New Year's resolution to get fit and healthy, check with your shelter to see if they use volunteer dog walkers.  The city shelter in Plano, TX does!  This gets the dogs out of the cage for a short time each day, gives them some exercise, training, and socialization.