How to Become an Advocate for Animals

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Animals are unable to speak out for themselves. Unfortunately they are often treated inhumanely. They are often abused and treated cruelly at the hands of those who have been given charge over their care. Some animals have been hunted to the point of extinction because of their fur, tusks or other reasons. They have been used for trophies and have been exploited far too long. Illegal poaching, whaling and exploitation of their natural habitats have forced them to move into areas occupied by humans making them even easier targets to be taken advantage of and abused.

Instructions

1. Get informed about the issues that affect the animal species of our planet and stay informed. Spread the word to family and friends. The first step toward helping animals is to know the issues and understand them.

2. Learn about laboratory practices and techniques used in scientific research. Do some research of your own to find out which companies use animals in laboratory research and which do not. Find out what these practices and techniques consist of regarding the treatment of such laboratory animals.

3. Lobby state and federal legislatures to pass laws to improve animal treatment and welfare for abused animals, such as dogs in puppy mills or poor farming practices.

4. Speak out against issues such as poaching and illegal whaling.

5. Donate money and time to organizations that are working toward the protection of endangered species and their natural habitat and to organizations that rescue domestic animals from their abusers.

6. Sign petitions to help protect earth's animals.

7. Do yourself and farm animals a favor by becoming a vegetarian.

Tips & Warnings

• Before supporting any groups, find out what their underlying agenda is. Many groups are overly extreme in advocating animal rights to the point where they would have people not owning pets and would have the world be a vegetarian. These types of groups have been known to tell people they are "rescuing" animals, but will, in fact euthanize a pet immediately, rather than placing it in a loving, caring home.