If you're willing to donate money to benefit animal charities, please make your local animal rescue tops on the list.

Animal rescues take in animals doomed to be euthanized at animal shelters, and give them a chance at life. They also take in sick, injured, and emaciated animals, and spend their time, labor, and money rehabilitating them.

When you donate to an animal rescue, your money goes directly towards the animals in need, and not towards advertising campaigns and political lobbyists.

The Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League (MAGDRL) is example of such an organization, taking in abandoned Great Danes, rehabilitating them, and giving them a permanent home until someone adopts them.

Pictured here is "Rocco", who was found abandoned in an apartment building. Rocco's owner moved out, and left him locked inside. By the time a neighbor discovered him, Rocco had become a bag of bones. He's now with MAGDRL, and is on the road to recovery.

But MAGDRL, like all other animal rescues need funds and supplies from animal lovers to continue their operations. If you'd like to help the cause of animals, help the animal rescues!

Click here for a list of rescues in your area.