Support wildlife, preserve wild spaces and prevent animal cruelty.
Join other great minds in following an animal-lovers’ purpose to help eliminate cruelty to all animals. Here is what a few great minds have said:
“Animals are my friends and I don’t eat my friends.”
George Bernard Shaw
“Only if we understand will we care, only if we care will we help, only if we help, shall all be saved.”
Jane Goodall
“The purpose of human life is to serve and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
Albert Schweitzer
For most of us, it is too easy to inadvertently contribute to the suffering of animals. Who me? I like animals you might say. Learning to be more mindful about the ways animals impact our lives for the better is an area where each of us can improve. We can act to protect animals in small and large ways, from not eating them to becoming an advocate for animal welfare on a legislative level.
Below are tips to become more knowledgeable and mindful, as well as ways to become involved in worthy causes on behalf of our animal fellows.
- Check out animal rescue and welfare organizations by reading the organization’s mission statement. See if it is bona fide before donating your funds.
- Consider adopting a plant-based lifestyle.
- Explore relevant websites to learn what is happening locally and globally on behalf of animal protection.
- Leave animal welfare organizations in your Will.
- Participate in events and drives that promote animal safety.
- With your pets, ensure animal safety at home and when going out.
- Sign petitions and pledges to support animal welfare programs.
- Start an animal-welfare club in your neighborhood or at a school.
- When considering going on vacation, research ahead how and where to enjoy plant-based restaurants and animal-friendly attractions.
- When feasible, walk rather than drive to observe nature, including wildlife.
- Stay at animal-friendly Airbnbs.
- Report animal hoarders.
- Get involved with animal welfare groups such as the Big Cat Society, Heifer International.
- Boycott all organizations (such as Groupon) which profit from and turn a blind eye to animal abuse.
- Boycott companies that sell leather goods, including clothing, furniture.
- Avoid buying cosmetics, household cleansers, etc. that test on animals.
- Petition Petco and Petsmart to stop selling reptiles and amphibians as pets.
WEBSITES TO CONSIDER:
- World Animal Protection
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to animals (ASPCA)
- AKWildlife.org; wildlife animal rescue
- Paws with a Cause (PAWS)
For added inspiration in your quest to protect animals, consider the following movies and TV shows:
Holiday in the Wild, Babe, Charlotte’s Web, A Street Cat Named Bob, Heartland (TV series), Life of Pi, The Secret Life of Pets, A Dog’s Purpose, 101 Dalmations, Lassie Come Home, Old Yeller, The Fox and the Hound, Lady and the Tramp, many more.