10 Things You Can Do to Help Animals Yes, animal activism can be for everyone. Here is a list of 10 things you can do to incorporate animal rights into your everyday living. If you decide to share your life with a companion animal, make sure his or her physical and emotional needs are fully met. Adopt from an animal shelter or rescue group rather than purchasing an animal from a breeder or pet store that may be stocking animals from puppy mills. Avoid keeping animals as pets that are considered "exotic," such as caged birds, tropical fish, reptiles, wolf-dog hybrids, sugar gliders, hedgehogs or other wild animals. Spay or neuter your companion animal, to prevent pet overpopulation, and feed your pet cruelty-free pet food. Choose cosmetics, personal care items, household cleaners and other consumer products that have not been tested on laboratory animals. The federal government does not require these tests, and alternatives do exist. Read product labels to avoid animal ingredients. Choose clothing that is not made from fur, leather, wool or silk. 3. Choose Cruelty-Free Entertainment Make humane choices when it comes to entertainment for you and your family. Avoid entertainment venues that exploit animals, such as circuses with animal acts, rodeos, zoos and aquariums, greyhound racing, horse racing and other events. Seek humane alternatives, such as movies that have been certified humane and non-animal circuses like Circus du Soleil. 4. Live in Harmony with Nature Appreciate wildlife and nature while creating minimal disturbances for our wild neighbors. Use humane and non-lethal pest control methods to control bugs and rodents. Shoot animals with digital cameras, not weapons. Oppose pollution, development and other uses that ruin habitat for wildlife. 5. Report Animal Cruelty The first step in stopping animal abuse is reporting it to the proper authorities charged with investigating and prosecuting existing laws. Find out what agencies in your community handle animal enforcement, and keep contact numbers handy.6. Go Vegetarian Of all the animal rights issues, factory farming affects more animals than any other. Cruelty to farm animals in intensive confinement and slaughter is one of the primary reasons some people choose to become vegetarian or vegan. Incorporating vegetarian meals into your diet is easier than you might think, and there are many resources available to help, from cookbooks and natural foods grocery stores to local vegetarian societies and support groups. 7. Get Politically Active Educate yourself about which candidates are animal-friendly and which are not. Some nonprofit organizations publish legislative scorecards to help voters assess their elected officials. Contact your elected officials about animal issues that are important to you, and always vote when election time rolls around. 8. Write Letters to the EditorWhen you read about animal-related issues in the media, take a moment to write a letter to the editor. Whether the story was positive or negative for animals, letters to the editor are a great way to inform others about the animal rights perspective. Helping animals takes people power. Many animal-related groups do not have the resources to hire paid staff, so volunteer labor is essential to their operations. Find an organization that you like and contribute time doing what you love - whether it's cuddling cats, walking dogs, helping plan special events or leading guided nature walks so people can appreciate wildlife. 10. Donate to Charitable Organizations Animal-related charities generally receive less financial support than health and human services organizations. Consider making a donation to your favorite animal-related nonprofit so it has the resources to implement programs that are important to you. Avoid donating to charities that fund animal experimentation.
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