Take the time to understand the role you can play in preventing animal cruelty. Here are 5 ways you can start:
- Educate yourself on reporting animal cruelty – Create a list of who to contact should you need to report an incidence. This list should include phone numbers and names of your local humane law enforcement office, your veterinarian, and local rescue shelters. Understand the role each person on your list plays in the investigation, as it varies state to state. Knowing who to call will help ensure that action is taken immediately. Don’t be scared to make the call. Reports from concerned neighbors and citizens save animal’s lives every day.
- Get involved at an animal shelter – Shelters are dependent on volunteers who care about the welfare of animals. Whether you sign up to foster an abused animal, or simply spare an hour or two a week to clean cages, animal shelters are always looking for compassionate people to help make a difference.
- Organize a neighborhood watch – Invite your neighbors to join you in raising awareness of companion animals in your neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with your local pet population, and educate one another on reporting any signs of abuse, neglect, or suspicious behavior.
- Become an advocate for spaying and neutering – Raise awareness of the millions of cats and dogs that are euthanized every year by encouraging friends, neighbors, and family to spay and neuter their pets. Make sure your animals are spayed and neutered, and be aware of any local strays that appear to be on the prowl for potential mates. You may also want to consider adoption when considering adding a pet to your family.
- Set the standard – Love and care for your pets in a way that serves as an example to others. If you have children, make sure to teach them to respect animals and treat them with kindness. And remember, being a responsible pet owner goes beyond the primary needs of your animal, extending to proper exercise, affection, and health care.
Additional Resources:
www.aspca.org/fight-animal-cruelty
www.americanhumane.org/animals/stop-animal-abuse
www.petside.com/article/5-simple-ways-prevent-animal-cruelty
