If you love your pet, you will want to give them the best life possible. But what about other animals like them? From Labrador retriever puppies to baby elephants, there are millions of animals in need of our help. Many people start from loving their furry companions to becoming activists that fight for the rights of all animals. If your best buddy is inspiring you to pick up the mantle of activism, here are some easy ways to get started.
Educate others about puppy mills
Puppy mills are factory-like facilities where dogs are forced to breed until they are no longer profitable. These facilities have horrible living conditions for the dogs and the dogs are often unhappy, malnourished, and sickly. As an animal lover, you would obviously never purchase a pet from a puppy mill. However, many people do not know that they exist.
One of the best ways to make an impact is to get the word out about the horrible conditions in puppy mills so that others will avoid supporting them. You can educate your friends and family, post on social media, or write an article about the issue and send it to your local paper. Every little bit of education helps! You should also approach your local pet store and strongly urge them not to sell dogs from puppy mills.
Volunteer at an animal shelter
There are so many adorable animals that are looking for forever homes. Most of the time, they ended up in a rescue shelter by no fault of their own. Many of them were born on the streets or abandoned by irresponsible owners. By volunteering at your local shelter, you can spend time giving these animals much-needed attention and help them to find new families.
Many rescue shelters have programs where you can volunteer from the comfort of your own home. You can foster young puppies or help to socialize shy dogs until they are ready for adoption. Aside from working with animals, you can also volunteer your skills by helping your local shelter design flyers and posters or driving adopted animals to new homes.
Petition lawmakers to pass animal protection laws
Many laws govern and guide the welfare of animals in the United States. Unfortunately, many of these laws are weak or poorly enforced. This means that many animals suffer unnecessarily.
You can help to change this by petitioning your local and legislators to support laws that will protect animals from abuse or exploitation. Once these bills are passed, they will be signed into law. You can also work with other members of your community or animal welfare organizations to educate the public and collect signatures in support of these bills.
Hold a fundraiser for a good cause
Animal welfare organizations are always short of funds. From bake sales to car washes, there are plenty of ways that you can fundraise for them. One of the best ways to do this is to host a charity dinner event where a portion of the proceeds are donated to an animal protection organization of your choice. You could also collaborate with local businesses to put on a raffle or a silent auction to encourage people to donate.
If you prefer to do something on a smaller scale, why not put up a lemonade stand or offer to mow the lawns of your neighbors for a donation? By organizing a fundraiser, you will not only raise money for a good cause but also educate the public about animal welfare issues along the way.
Donate old blankets, towels, and sheets
Thousands of animals are sent to shelters every year and they all need a warm place to sleep, especially during the colder months. If you have some old blankets, towels, or sheets that you no longer use, you could donate them to your local animal shelter.
If you want to maximize your impact, you can ask your friends and family to donate their old blankets and linens as well. You can even talk to local hotels or bed and breakfasts and ask if they may be willing to donate their used linens. Most establishments would be more than happy for someone to come and dispose of their old linens for them.
Be a responsible tourist
We all love to travel, but this unfortunately can come at a cost. Many tourist attractions exploit animals to make a profit and your holiday snap could actually be a picture of suffering. For instance, baby elephants are used for begging in Thailand and their parents are forced to provide rides or perform tricks.
When you are planning a holiday, be sure to research all the possible animal attractions in the area ahead of time so you can find out more about their ethics and values. Before taking the word of any animal attraction at face value, check with animal welfare organizations in their region to make sure that you make an informed decision.
You love your pet and wish that all other animals will be able to live a safe and happy life. The good news is that you can make a difference without having to go out of your way or spend a ton of money. By educating others about animal welfare issues and supporting the work of animal protection organizations, you can make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of all animals.
