Families can foster the value of kindness to animals when children are young.
Be Kind to Animals Week is celebrated the first full week of May each year. Launched by the American Humane Association in 1915, the commemorative week has become a springboard for helping companion animals, laboratory animals, farm animals and wild animals. Since animal advocacy begins at home, use the week to launch efforts to help animals close to where you live. Expand the reach and impact of your efforts by branching out to areas farther away from you or integrating these ideas into your daily life.
Instructions
1. Hanging bird feeders provide kids with a way to help wildlife in their own backyard.
Create a wildlife-friendly backyard with seed and nectar feeders, plants that attract butterflies and water sources for wild birds.
2. Baffles and "critter" food redirects squirrels away from raiding bird feeders.
Use humane options to deter or redirect so-called "pests," such as rabbits in your vegetable garden, moles under your lawn, squirrels on your bird feeders and mice in your home.
3. Consumers who buy cruelty-free household products help animals.
Buy cruelty-free personal care and household products. Labels on items from shampoo to cleaners reveal which choices will be animal-friendly. Consumer directories list companies that do not test on animals or include animal ingredients in development or manufacturing.
4. Vegan food choices improve the lives of farm animals.
Eat vegan foods, which do not contain any animal ingredients. Integrate vegetarian foods into your regular diet, even if it is just one meal a day or one day a week. Veggie options in supermarkets and restaurants give people a chance to try new dishes based on vegetables, beans and grains rather than meat, eggs and dairy products.
5. Animal shelters and rescue groups help people save animals' lives.
Adopt a rescued companion animal. If you cannot adopt permanently, provide temporary in-home foster care for a homeless pet awaiting adoption or volunteer in other ways with a local rescue group or animal shelter.
6. Elderly neighbors may need help with companion animal care.
Organize your neighborhood to help animals. Residents can help elderly and disabled neighbors walk dogs, clean litter boxes or transport pets to the vet. If your area has stray free-roaming cats, which may also be called feral cats, coordinate the trap-neuter-return (TNR) of a colony. This effort will help humanely prevent more unwanted litters.
7. Children benefit from positive, personal interactions with animals of all types.
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary. Invite a mature child you know to come along and interact with horses, pigs, cows and turkeys firsthand. Volunteers can help feed the animals, clean living areas and provide human attention for animals in long-term care at sanctuaries.
8. Nonprofit organizations that help animals rely on individual donors for support.
Donate money, supplies or services to an animal-related charity. Hold a benefit rummage sale or bake sale, or ask for donations in lieu of birthday or wedding gifts. You may have a favorite nonprofit locally that you would like to support, or you can search Charity Navigator.
9. Letters-to-the-editor in newspapers are widely read in print and online editions.
Writer letters to your elected officials and to the editors of local newspapers expressing your support for measures that help and protect animals. According to The Sierra Club's Activist Toolkit, letters and faxes are more effective than emails and phone calls.
10. Positive laws and policies for animals depend on civic participation.
Contact your city, county, state and federal government officials about animal issues that are important to you. Your voice as one of their constituents can affect decisions about agency policies, local ordinances and national legislation. Vote for candidates who support initiatives that help animals, and encourage others to get involved in supporting animal-friendly issues.
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