Readers Respond: How Do You Help Animals

Responses: 33

By Doris Lin, About.com Guide

We live in a apartment. I feed and give plenty of water to the stray cats and dogs outside the apartment and take care of them. If they are injured or sick I try to help them out or take them to a vet.
—RA1

I am a Vegetarian and have been for over 1 year now. I try to buy cruelty free products, i am a lively activist, i have informed lots of my friends about the Vegetarian diet and 3 have followed in my foot steps, and yeah :) i love animals.
—Guest Daniel Moller

I am good to our two pets, a cat and dog that have been a part of our family for 15+ years and counting. I am kind to our neighbor's dogs who are left outside with no attention whatsoever. I try to daily go out and give them some affection and treats. I became a fishetarian when I accepted a challenge from Peta during the whole Vick thing that happened a few years ago. Although being sensitive makes it difficult for me to read details or watch commercials about it, I love and respect all animals and would help them anytime.
—Guest Cindy

I do my part in feeding the ferals,I'm hoping soon to get a 501 (c3) Permit so I can start a TNR Program in my community.
—keltic_kat

i help animals by feeding them, giveing them water, and a place too poo and pee.
—Guest jasmine

I am totally vegan, I have abbandoned all animal based clothing as well as animal based food, I try and inform those who have more money and power thn me about the dire situation that animals suffer. I give small donations to various organizations but I live on a mental disability pension which is very little. I also have my family against me who say they will give me no more help if I continue to fight the cause of the animals. This surprised me a bit as my father is a vegan, but unfortunately he is in favour of vivisection and is only a vegan for health reasons. Oh well , life is like that.
—Guest Julian Abbott

I live vegan (I don't use animals in any way) and I tell others to do so through speaking, keeping blogs, websites and leaflets about veganism.
—Guest alternocrat

i think about if i be animal how can i feel that time i hv this thougt alway's in my min but one more region if we help animal that time we do help themself because in word every one conacted to each other this is a chain (eco-chain)any one in this break we get definatele loos. so plz try don't distrroy this.
—Guest sekhar mahaal

I'd always stop my car (safely)-- even if it means getting off the next exit and turning around -- to see if the animal is really dead. MANy injured animals - even those who appear dead-- may have a heartbeat, are in terrible pain and need our help. I am now dependent on public transportation, so I can no longer do this (unless i'm in a in a car driven by a friend), but I DO carry an animal rescue kit with me (small but handy), and a phone list of rescue groups and the shelter (sometimes it's all that's there) becuz strays have literally walked up to me. Have rescued and rehomed or been able to get TNR'd: cats and one dog (and two lovebirds). All my cats have come from the shelter.. or the street. They are my best buddies. I hope they think that I am theirs too.
—Guest Ace

I have always been an animal lover and animals have always been in my family. Two years ago, when the beautiful Eight Belles broke down in the Kentucky Derby and had to be euthanized, I was determined to make my voice heard and do as much as possibe to shed light on a greedy and profligate industry that has never had its equine athletes' health and welfare as its paramount concern. During that time I have become enlightened, involved and very active in many animal welfare and rights causes. I am a member of PETA, Defenders of Wildlife, The Humane Society and I donate as I am able. Most recently I joined in a protest at the Staples Center in Los Angeles against Ringling Bros. Circus. Our purpose was to enlighten people to the abuse and expoitation of the animals, in particular, the beautiful and gentle elephants. All I have to do is look at my sweet Golden, Dixie Belle, and I know that I will always stand up and be a voice for the voiceless and I encourage everyone to do the same.
—Guest Pamela Harp Gentry

I eat vegan, have two cats that I rescued, rescued a cat for my aunts, I buy products not tested on animals ( the kind where the ingredients,formulations and final products are not tested on animals thoses products are rare), I sign petitions and send email alerts ( the kind on Peta's site, use thegoodsearch.com engine to donate to animal charities for free everytime I surf the web, donate for free at freekibble.com, therainforestsite.com and theanimalrescuesite.com, wear vegan clothes/ shoes/purses.
—VEGANSRULE

I eat vegetarian most of the time - it is better for your health and cheaper! If everyone were vegetarian, there would be more than enough food for everyone in the world. Factory farms are cruel to animals and the people who work there. The pollution they cause cost all of us, even though it isn't measured in GDP.
—US_Economy

Thank you for the article. I love the simple steps we can all take to help animals. Another super simple way to help is to get a replyforall animal rights email signature. Just by using the signature, I drive donations to ASPCA and the Petfinder.com foundation. There's an ad in the sig and advertisers pay for me to see it and then replyforall gives 50% of the money to the nonprofit partners. Each sig lets me share cool animal facts with my friends that I email. The graphics are super cute too.
—Guest Gillian Core

First off I have rescued many stray animals & either found them good homes or kept them myself. I have a disorder that prevents me from eating solid food but when I still could I was a vegan. I sign every petition I can find about animal rights. I send e-mails to people who can change the laws & pass bills. I'm open to doing just about anything to help animals. They have the right to a long, loving life. I think that anyone who abuses an animal should get a very very long jail sentence since animals are as innocent as children & child abusers get long sentences, why shouldn't animal abusers? I wish I had the money to support animal rights groups but like I said earlier I'm disabled with a very small pension. Hopefully some day that will change. The only way I donate to help animals is on several sites that have something called lunch money. You earn play money, & there are sponsors who match everything you donate. It's the best I can do right now. those sites are facebook & my yearbook
—rightsforanimals

Doris Lin
Animal Rights Guide