Imagine the changes we could make as a society if every single person chose one act of human kindness towards this amazing planet we call home. Here is a list of 10 things you can do to help the planet and be an angel for animals!
1. Take the pledge to go veg! Whether you are vegan, vegetarian or add Meatless Mondays to your weekly meal planning, not eating meat is a great way to stand up for our feathered and furry friends. Adopt a meatless diet for a month and see how you feel - you may be pleasantly surprised!
2. Buy cruelty free! One of the easiest ways to take a stand against animal abuse is to support companies that don't condone animal testing. All you have to do while you're browsing the shampoo isle is check the label! Most companies that do not test their products on animals are proud to announce themselves as cruelty free. For a complete list of companies that do and do not test on animals, visit www.leapingbunny.org
3. Adopt! There are so many animals in shelters waiting to find their forever homes. Sure, puppies are cute.. and unfortunately that is one of the biggest reasons animal shelters are so overcrowded and often have to resort to euthanasia. Not many people are in the market for a brand new teenager. But here's the reality: they don't stay little forever. After a few months, many animals are full grown and no longer have that same "baby face" their owners fell in love with. So why not give an adult dog a second chance and adopt from your local humane society. The bonus? Many adult dogs are already trained and you can skip the dreaded task of potty training!
4. Be comfortable in your own skin! Avoid leather, fur, wool, etc. There are sooooo many synthetic alternatives to animal skin & fur and they are soooo much cheaper! Enough said.
5. Recycle, reduce, reuse! By recycling items or finding a new use for something old, you can greatly decrease the amount of waste in landfills. Use proper waste and recycling recepticals instead of tossing your litter on the ground. You may not think that tossing a bottle cap into the river is harmful, but for the unsuspecting fish that comes along and gobbles it up, it could be lethal.
6. Spread the love! Why not host a fundraiser to raise money for your favourite animal charity? Or host a pet food drive or volunteer at your local animal shelter? Easy peasy and not only will you be making a huge difference in the life of an animal, but you will also feel the warm fuzzies :)
7. Boycott the zoo/animal theme parks! This is sometimes a heated topic for debate. Yes in most cases the animals are cared for, fed and have regular vet checkups. However, it is not natural for lions and tigers to have to adapt to cold climates of North America, not can any zoo provide enough space to truly mimic the African Savannah. Instead of supporting the zoo, try visiting an animal sanctuary. They provide refuge to endangered animals, medical care to the injured and prepare them to be released back into the wild where they belong. Plus, they are local animals native to the area and do not have to adjust to a new climate.
8. Spread the word! Host a veggie party ad invite your friends, set up an information table at your school, start a blog - whatever you can do to help spread the word about any animal cause. You'd be surprised who else may join you in taking action!
9. Cut out dissection! There are so many alternatives to dissection and most schools have adopted this new technology, however, there are still many college and university professors who believe that a hands-on approach is still the most effective teaching method. Schools are obligated to honour your religious and cultural beliefs.. so talk to your teacher and see what alternative arrangements can be made.
10. Boycott animal circuses! Elephants, whales, dolphins and many other wild animals are put through rigourous and exhausting training to perform tricks that they are not meant to perform. In some cases the animals are kept in small cages behind the scenes and beaten if they do not comform to twit trainers expectations. If you want a real show, check out any of the Cirque de Soleil shows. Simply breathtaking and all of the shows participants are well paid and performing at their own will.
