Why Animal Advocacy Matters, And What You Can Do To Help

Animals are sensitive creatures, as anyone who works in animal advocacy knows. For instance, they feel emotions and have distinct personalities like humans. Sure, animals don’t speak the same language as humans, but they can communicate with us through various means. These include how they act around us, and how they react and express themselves when they see something or someone new. 

For example, animals express themselves through non-verbal cues such as body postures and head movements. For domestic animals, human interactions are not something that’s alien or strange. We’re just another part of life that they understand well. As a result of living with us, animals can sense our intentions and reactions before we do or say anything. That’s why domestic animals are a great addition to a home. Organizations such as the Humane Society of New York offer people the opportunity to add wonderful animals to their lives. 

Let’s say that you’re passionate about animal welfare. Aside from adopting a pet, what if you want to do more? How can you ensure successful animal advocacy? This article will explore this topic, so let’s see what you can do.

What You Should Know Before You Start Helping Animals

There is much more to animal advocacy than just opening your home to a lost animal in need. It takes time and effort to be an effective advocate. Here are some vital things to keep in mind before you start helping animals:

• Research: Before you begin animal advocacy, learn about the animals you want to support. For instance, you may want to help shelters in your town. Or, you may decide to support organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund for conservation.
• Learn about the issues: Depending on the type of animal advocacy you want to do, find out about the issues. For example, in your town, you may have an overpopulation of animals. As a result, during local community meetings, you could speak about the topic.
• Decide how you want to advocate: You can do animal advocacy in many ways. For instance, you can go out into the community to rescue abandoned animals. However, you could also become an advocate on social media or by speaking up to the media and government. 

Don’t be a stranger to your local shelter and rescue organization

If you want to get your feet wet with animal advocacy, a great way to start is by familiarizing yourself with a nearby shelter or rescue organization. Many animal welfare organizations have an excellent reputation for caring for abandoned animals. If this sounds like something of interest, all you have to do is a quick internet search. Once you have a shortlist, visit your local humane society to see how you can support animals.

Sign up for animal advocacy updates

Signing up for animal advocacy updates is excellent if you want to remain on top of animal issues. Animal advocacy groups and shelters constantly post articles, press releases, blog posts and videos. Reading through the content gives you new ideas and information. Also, you can use these platforms to find out how to help the animals in your community and worldwide. And don’t forget, you can often find the latest news from animal groups on social media.

Volunteer and donate to an animal advocacy or humane society

If you want to help animals, consider volunteering with an animal welfare organization or humane society. These organizations often have volunteer programs that allow people to help for a few hours or days a week. Moreover, these programs can help you learn about animal welfare issues. They can give you experience interacting with animals. Also, if you want to be the change in your community, you could get elected and have a voice in the news and issues related to animal welfare laws. And, of course, something that almost anyone can do is donate. Animal rescue and humane society organizations need your financial support. 

Encourage others to take action

If you become an animal advocate, speak up. For example, if you see someone else who doesn’t know about these issues, inform and encourage that person to do something. For example, you can encourage people to adopt a pet, donate to an animal welfare organization, or spay/neuter their animals. Any one of these things can make a big difference for animals. 

In sum, you don’t have to be an expert to help animals. Being active in your community and being kind to animals can make a difference. Helping animals is a wonderful thing, but there’s always a need for volunteers and money. Still, if you get into animal advocacy, you’ll find it rewarding. And in the process, you’ll make new friends with fellow animal advocates and the animals themselves.