Ways to Protect Animals

Did you know that there are many ways that you can help animals from the comfort of your own home?  Well, here are some ideas.

Move Your Bird Feeders Away From Your Windows. 

Many bird lovers want to view birds from the comfort of their homes, so in their minds they are helping the birds by providing them with food, but they are placing it near the window.  This is actually a bad idea because one of the leading causes of death in the wild bird population is the birds flying into glass windows.  It is estimated that 100 million birds die each year due to colliding into glass windows of homes and businesses.  The windows actually reflect a bird’s natural surroundings, which makes the presence of the window undetectable by a flying bird.  The window can cause the bird to break its neck, killing it, or it can stun the bird temporarily, which can make it vulnerable to its predators. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  One way that you can reduce the chance of a bird colliding with your windows is to place your bird feeders in other locations throughout your yard, away from any windows.  This takes little time at all, but will help save the lives of wild birds.

Stop Using Pesticides in Your Garden. 

Pesticides harm humans and animals.  Many pesticides are known to be carcinogens, which are cancer causing chemicals.  These can be dangerous for both humans and animals.  Pesticides pollute lakes, rivers, and streams.  These pesticides can be lethal to amphibians. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Use organic pesticides to help solve this problem.  Inform your friends, family, and community members by sending out letters or calling them.  You can even post a blog on the internet.  Just let people know of the dangers.

Avoid Products That Are Animal Tested. 

The idea for animal testing is to avoid potential injury to humans by first testing the safety of new products on animals instead.  As a result, there are millions of animals that are forced to be subjected to experimental products.  Many of these animals include rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, and rats.  They may be forced to be subjected to very poor treatment and even may be euthanized. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Only purchase products from companies that do not test on animals.  If you are interested in a list of companies that produce cruelty-free products, you can get that information from PETA.  Spread the word.  You can distribute the list to your friends and family too. 

Throw Trash Away the Right Way. 

Did you know that Americans throw away more than 200 million tons of trash every year?  You may not realize that your trash can cause animals to die.  Raccoons, skunks, birds, and squirrels are likely to be attracted to the smell of remainders of food in your trash.  This trash can be deadly for them.  Plastic and glass bottles can be traps for small animals.  Six pack plastic rings can be especially deadly, as they can cause strangulation.  Plastic wrap can cause fatal intestinal blockages in animals.  Fishing line that has been discarded is especially dangerous, as it often ensnares animals and can even cause amputation.  Broken glass can also cut animals. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Wildlife-proofing your trash will take a few extra minutes on your part, but it may save the lives of animals.  You should begin by rinsing and recycling your trash, such as recyclable plastic, glass, and aluminum containers.  Be sure to rinse them well in order to eliminate any food remnants and odors that may attract wildlife.  It is also best if you crush plastic and aluminum containers before disposing them so that a wild animal will not get its head stuck.  For six pack plastic rings, you should snip them in order to eliminate chances of trapping and strangulation.  It is also a good idea to cut all fishing line and string into six inch pieces before disposing of them.  Be sure that your trash is stored in a plastic or metal trash can that has a secure lid before disposal.  You should be sure to rinse plastic wrap and place it in a garbage bag that is closed before you throw it out.  Don’t stop with just your own trash.  Talk to your neighbors, send out information to your community members, make phone calls, or even help your neighbors wildlife-proof their trash. 

Help a Chained Dog.

Dogs are very social animals and need to have some freedom and some interaction.  It must be a horrible life for a dog to be chained to the same spot day after day.  It is clearly not an ideal situation for a dog. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  First you can try speaking to the owner and find out if there is an underlying cause of the treatment.  If you are willing, you can volunteer to help the owner build a fence or even volunteer to take the dog for a walk every day.  Volunteering does not have to be something that you do for a designated charity.  There are always animals in our neighborhoods that we can help too. 

Spay or Neuter Your Pet. 

Spaying or neutering your pet can prevent the death of many more animals.  As stated earlier, half of the pets that are taken to animal shelters are being euthanized.  Spaying, which is the procedure for female animals, and neutering, which is the procedure for male animals, are two common surgical procedures that are performed on cats and dogs.  Additionally spaying or neutering can have other benefits too, such as eliminating the risk of uterine infections and reducing the incidences of mammary cancer in females, and for males, eliminating the risk of testicular cancer and decreasing the chance that your pet will have prostate disease.  The facts are nearly unbelievable.  One unsprayed cat, along with her offspring, can produce 420,000 kittens in a period of only seven years, while a dog and her offspring have the capability of producing 67,000 puppies in six years.  Approximately 28 percent of dogs and 16 percent of owned cats are not spayed and neutered.  When we do not spay and neuter our animals, we are costing taxpayers and private agencies and people millions of dollars a year, due to the costs of capturing strays, impounding them, and euthanizing them. 

Volunteer Opportunity:  Spay or neuter your own pet.  Then get the word out about spaying and neutering.  Stuff envelopes, make phone calls, or talk to the people in your neighborhood about how important it is to spay and neuter our pets. 

Ways to Help Animals in Your Community >