| Becoming an animal advocate is a choice many | | | | simply because there are not enough homes for |
| people make when they see abuse or hear about | | | | them. Yet 25% of dogs in shelters are purebreds. |
| animals in need. Watching television shows on | | | | When you adopt a dog or cat from a shelter you |
| Animal Planet, or finding animal news websites, | | | | are saving their life. |
| can inspire people to become active in fighting for | | | | 4. Boycott circuses and aquarium shows. Every |
| their welfare. And for people who have rescued | | | | US circus company featuring animals has been |
| animals or adopted from shelters, making the | | | | cited for violating care standards under the |
| decision to volunteer to help animals is made | | | | USDA's Animal Welfare Act law. Whether they |
| easier once they become familiar with their local | | | | are performing or traveling to a new venue, |
| humane society or SPCA. | | | | elephants, lions, and other exotics used in circuses |
| Once you have decided you wish to devote time | | | | endure extreme suffering from abusive training |
| to help animals, here are five easy steps you can | | | | techniques and confinement in trailers and railroad |
| take today that will save lives. | | | | cars. Visit circuses such as Cirque du Soleil where |
| 1. Change what you eat. It is a fact that 10 billion | | | | the performers entertain audiences through |
| farmed animals die each year to become meat | | | | amazing feats of human abilities. |
| products for the American public. On average, | | | | 5. Refuse to buy products made from fur or skin. |
| each American eats 31 animals per year. By giving | | | | In 2006, the annual Canadian seal hunt killed |
| up meat and becoming a vegetarian, you are in | | | | 350,000 baby seals which were used to make |
| essence saving 31 lives each year. | | | | seal skin products. In the US, 30 million mink, |
| 2. Avoid products and drugs tested on animals. | | | | foxes and chinchilla's are killed by electrocution and |
| More than 25 million animals are used in laboratory | | | | other inhumane methods to produce fur coats for |
| testing in the United States each year. Despite | | | | humans. Purchase leather and fur-free clothing and |
| this, dozens of drugs tested on animals and | | | | footwear from cruelty free websites such as |
| approved by the FDA are taken off the market | | | | Alternative Outfitters and The Vegan Store. |
| after they show harm to humans. Buy products | | | | By making changes such as eliminating meat and |
| labeled "not tested on animals" or from companies | | | | animal products from your diet and wardrobe, not |
| who refuse to do such testing such as The Body | | | | attending circuses or aquariums, avoiding products |
| Shop and Kiss My Face. | | | | tested on animals and by adopting homeless dogs |
| 3. Adopt shelter dogs and cats rather than buying | | | | and cats instead of buying purebreds, you can |
| purebreds from breeders. Over 4 million healthy | | | | become an activist for animals without ever |
| dogs and cats are killed in shelters each year | | | | visiting a protest demonstration. |