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Ten ways you can help animals

Click on the links below to learn more about each way you can help make the world a better place for animals.

1. Help reduce animal overpopulation
2. Report animal cruelty
3. Live in harmony with your wild neighbors
4. Make more humane food choices
5. Use the power of the purse
6. Live light on the land
7. Be a compassionate traveler
8. Avoid establishments that keep wild animals in captivity
9. Be prepared for disaster
10. Support international recognition of the importance of animal welfare

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1. Help reduce animal overpopulation

The Problem:

Everyyear, between 6 and 8 million dogs and cats enter shelters in the U.S.Sadly, about half of these animals are euthanized because there are notenough homes for them. This problem is made worse by “factory-style”dog-breeding facilities known as puppy mills, which put profit abovethe welfare of animals. Most dogs raised in puppy mills are housed inshockingly poor conditions and receive little, if any, medical care.Animal over-population often leads to hungry, aggressive, and unhealthystrays that can compromise their welfare and threaten public health.

The Solution:

• Adopt your next new friend from an animal shelter or rescue group instead of buying from a breeder or pet store.
• Make sure your new friend is spayed or neutered.
• Research different breeds to ensure you find one that's right for you and your family.

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2. Report animal cruelty

The Problem:

Despitethe fact that animal cruelty is illegal in all 50 states, it remainsshockingly prevalent in our society and often goes unreported. Crueltyto animals can take many forms, including direct acts of violence (e.g.beating or mutilating) or negligence (e.g. denying adequate food,water, or shelter). Not only do these acts cause severe animalsuffering, they are often linked to a pattern of other violent actswithin families and society.

The Solution:

• Learnhow to recognize signs of abuse or neglect, such as extremely thinanimals, wounds on the body, and animals who cower in fear whenapproached by their owners.
• Report abuse immediately to your local humane society, animal control or law enforcement agency.
• Educate yourself and others about how to properly train and care for companion animals.
• Neverparticipate in animal fighting, including dogfighting, cockfighting, orhog-dog fighting. This is a particularly insidious form of animalcruelty that should be reported to authorities immediately.

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3. Live in harmony with your wild neighbors

The Problem:

Asurban development continues to destroy wild habitat, animals are forcedto live in closer proximity to humans. People frequently encounter avariety of wildlife species, including deer, bats, squirrels, raccoons,and mice in their everyday lives. Conflicts can arise when theseanimals enter our homes or backyards looking for food and shelter.Unfortunately, many people use cruel and environmentally irresponsiblemethods to deal with human-wildlife conflicts.

The Solution:

• Preventconflicts with wildlife before they occur by doing such things assecuring garbage cans, feeding companion animals indoors, blockingholes and filling cracks in your home.
• Control nuisanceanimals humanely with motion activated sprinklers, acoustical alarms,or visual deterrents (e.g. scarecrows, reflectors).
• If yourequire outside assistance, make sure your ‘Animal Problem ControlOfficer' does not use inhumane methods like poisoning, drowning, orshooting.
• Keep your cat inside. They are predatory by nature and are capable of killing numerous wild species.
• Ifyou find an orphaned or injured animal, contact your local wildliferehabilitator, police department, or animal control officer. Neverapproach or try to handle a wild animal.
• Create a haven forwildlife in your backyard by planting trees or shrubs, providing awater source and limiting your use of toxic pesticides.

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4. Make more humane food choices

The Problem

Billionsof farm animals are raised and killed for human consumption each year.A majority of these animals are subjected to various forms of crueltybehind the closed doors of factory farms, where animals are treated aslittle more than meat-making machines. They are crammed into extremelysmall spaces, denied the ability to perform natural behaviors, andpushed beyond their physical limits.

The Solution

• Chooseonly free range or organic meat, milk and eggs, or products certifiedas coming from humanely raised animals. U.S. humane food certificationprograms include “Certified Humane,” “Free Farmed,” and “Animal WelfareApproved.”
• Beware of misleading labels such as “natural,”which have no meaning in terms of animal welfare and may be placed onproducts from animals raised on factory farms.
• Ask your local markets and restaurants to offer more free-range, organic, and humane certified foods.
• Make healthy food choices by adding more fruits and veggies to your diet and reducing your consumption of meat.

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5. Use the power of the purse

The Problem:

Everyyear, untold numbers of animals are subjected to painful procedures insafety testing for cosmetic and household products. Animals used inproduct tests may endure cruel skin and eye irritation tests, as wellas lethal oral poisoning experiments. Toxicity tests involveforce-feeding products to animals to observe reactions (e.g.convulsions, skin eruptions, and diarrhea) until a certain percentageof the animals die. During testing, little veterinary care is providedto the animals and the use of anesthetics is rare.

The Solution:

• Shopwith compassion. Choose only products that have not been tested onanimals. Look for the Leaping Bunny Logo – the highest level ofassurance that a company is cruelty-free.
• Be wary of productsclaiming to be “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals.” Somecompanies state that they do not test on animals, when in fact theymerely contract someone else to do the testing.
• Write or call companies to let them know you will not be purchasing their products until they stop testing on animals.
• Inform others. Most people aren't aware that many household products depend on animal suffering.

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6. Live light on the land

The Problem:

Pollutionposes a threat to animals in many forms. Discarded trash, includingplastic six-pack rings, can become entangled around the necks ofanimals, causing injury or death. Plastic grocery bags and wraps can belethal to wild animals who often mistake it for food. Industrialpollution (from heavy metals, PCBs, and other pollutants) also takes aheavy toll on animals as it degrades the environment and destroysprecious habitat.

The Solution:

• Reduce. Don't use "throw-away" products like paper plates, napkins, and plastic silverware.
• Reuse. Take your own bags to stores to carry home your groceries and shopping.
• Recycle.Rinse all recyclable glass and plastic containers to remove foodremnants that might attract animals and remember to cut apart each ringin plastic six-pack carriers before you discard them.

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7. Be a compassionate traveler

The Problem:

Theexploitation of animals is a common by-product of the tourism industry.Cruelty, confinement, neglect and abuse is the price millions ofanimals worldwide pay for tourist entertainment. Performing animals andanimals used for rides or photos are placed under enormous stress andare often drugged or beaten to ensure they remain submissive aroundhuman spectators. The trade in animal products for gifts or souvenirsalso contributes to severe animal suffering and threatens the survivalof endangered species.

The Solution:

• Thenumber one way travelers can protect animals is through theirpocketbooks. Support animal-friendly services and avoid those thatexploit animals.
• Don't accept culture as a justification for cruelty; boycott bullfights and festivals using animals.
• Never pose for a photo with a wild animal.
• Never use animal rides or transport that could cause animal suffering.
• Neverbuy wildlife souvenirs or products that may have endangered or causedsuffering to animals, such as ivory, tortoiseshell, fur, and horns.

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8. Avoid establishments that keep wild animals in captivity

The Problem:

Thepublic display industry exacts a heavy physical and mental toll on wildanimals. Captive animals are forced to live in artificial, stressful,cramped conditions, away from their family and friends. Meeting thecomplex needs of wild animals is nearly impossible in captivesituations. For example, dolphins in the wild may travel many miles aday foraging for food, socializing with pod mates, or exploring theirvast underwater world. These natural instincts are completely stifledin captivity, causing a great deal of stress to the animals.

The Solution:

• Don't visit marine parks, zoos, or other establishments that hold wild animals in captivity.
• Ifyou want to observe these magnificent animals, visit places that allowpeople to view animals in natural and humane conditions (nationalparks, nature reserves, animal sanctuaries, rehabilitation centers).
• Trywild dolphin or whale watching. These eco-friendly excursions enabletourists to become immersed in the natural world of marine mammalswithout threatening the health and welfare of wild species.

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9. Be prepared for disaster

The Problem:

Disasters,such as tornadoes, earthquakes, or hurricanes, can strike at any time,with little or no notice. Without an easy-to-execute plan, families aresometimes forced to choose between their own safety and the safety oftheir beloved animals. During Hurricane Katrina, tens of thousands ofanimals became homeless or died. Many animal guardians lost their livesalongside their companions because they could not bear to abandon them.

The Solution:

• Be prepared! Take the time to make a plan and assemble an emergency kit for you and your companion animals.
• Evacuate early, if you can, before a mandatory evacuation order is issued.
• Takeyour companion animals with you. They can easily be lost, injured, orkilled if they are left behind to fend for themselves.

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10. Support international recognition of the importance of animal welfare

The Problem:

Billionsof animals around the world are affected by humans, and rely on peopleto treat them with compassion. Sadly, in many countries there is littlenational and no international protection for animals. WSPA believesthat an international agreement on welfare standards should become akey goal for the animal welfare movement in the 21st century.

The Solution:

Secure a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations, which would:

• Recognize animals as sentient beings, capable of suffering and experiencing pain.
• Recognize that animal welfare is an issue of importance as a part of the social development of nations.
• Act as a catalyst for better animal welfare provisions worldwide.
• You can help by signing the petition!Reaching our goal of 10 million signatures worldwide will raise publicand government awareness about animals and the importance ofconsidering their welfare.

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Check out ten more ways you can help make the world a better place for animals