From Dog Treats to Sleep Treats: Best Neck Pillow for Side Sleepers That Gives Back to Animals

I’ll be honest — I wasn’t actively looking for a new pillow.

I was shopping for a leash, actually. Then I somehow ended up browsing home stuff (as one does) and found myself staring at a website I hadn’t heard of before: DonaHöna. It wasn’t even the pillow photos that stopped me. It was a sentence, tucked quietly at the bottom of the checkout page:

“Every purchase helps support animal protection efforts.”

That’s all it took.

As someone who shares her life with a 4-year-old Labrador named River — aka my muddy, tail-wagging shadow — I don’t take these kinds of promises lightly. I clicked back through the site and started reading, and the more I read, the more it felt like… this brand gets it.

They weren’t shouting about their donations. There were no flashy partnerships or rescue photos plastered everywhere. It was just part of their model — thoughtful design, conscious production, and a genuine commitment to helping animals. That quiet compassion spoke volumes.

So yeah. I bought the pillow.

I Wasn’t Expecting to Love It

Like I said, I wasn’t looking for a pillow. I’d been using the same one for years — the kind that came in a bulk 2-pack at a home goods store. Nothing special. But I figured, worst case, I was supporting a company doing something good. And best case? Maybe my neck would hurt a little less in the morning.

The one I ordered was their adjustable Luna pillow, and when it arrived, I was instantly impressed by how… calm it looked. No garish branding, no weird shapes. Just this clean, crescent-like design with a removable inner layer — which I realized lets you customize the height based on how you sleep.

Game. Changer.

I took out the middle layer since I’m a side sleeper who prefers a thin pillow with just enough neck support to keep my spine in line. The result? I sunk in gently, but not too far. No cricked neck. No waking up feeling like I did a headstand in my dreams.

It was genuinely one of the best cervical pillows for side sleepers I’d ever tried — and that was before I realized how breathable it was, even with River tucked up next to me on the bed like the giant lapdog he thinks he is.

Comfort with a Conscience

I’ve talked about ethical brands before on my blog. Some get it right. Others… just slap on a green label and hope for clicks. But DonaHöna doesn’t feel like a marketing ploy. It feels intentional.

They design everything in California, keeping their materials clean and their manufacturing small-scale. Their packaging is minimal, recyclable, and completely free of excess plastic — something I wish more companies would think about.

And the animal donation part? It’s quiet on purpose. They don’t name specific organizations, and I like that. It means they’re protecting the privacy of the rescues and shelters they work with, while still doing the work behind the scenes. My purchase may have helped provide food, medical care, or shelter for an animal who didn’t get lucky the first time. That means something.

I even got an email a week later, not trying to upsell me, but thanking me for being part of their mission.

Would I Recommend It?

To be honest? Yes. Absolutely. Even if the donation element wasn’t part of the picture, I’d still recommend it — because it’s just a good pillow. A really good one. Especially if you, like me, are picky about height, shape, and how it molds to your sleeping position.

But the fact that it is part of the picture? That the comfort I get each night also echoes outward in some small, compassionate way?

That’s what makes it a no-brainer.

River may never know that the pillow beneath my head is helping animals like him. But every time he curls up next to me, and I reach over and run my hand down his soft, sun-warmed back, I think about how many other dogs — just as loyal, just as deserving — don’t get that same safety.

And I think: if something as small as choosing the right pillow neck pillow can make even a small difference?

Then that’s exactly the kind of brand I want on my bed.