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How you can help stop animal cruelty Imagine being powerless to speak up against your attacker. Animals are abused every day, and they are unable to speak or stand up for themselves. That is why people like you and me need to help stop animal cruelty. You can become involved in your local animal welfare organizations through either volunteer work or donating. What is considered animal cruelty? Animal cruelty is not just one type of behavior (source). Animal cruelty includes people who neglect their pets and those who kill or maim animals. Animals have basic needs that need to be met. If you are not meeting those as a pet owner, that is considered animal cruelty. Animals need to be fed, watered, properly socialized, and receive proper veterinary care. Ways you can get involved to stop animal cruelty There are easy ways that you can help stop animal cruelty in your local area: Adopt or foster a pet 6.3 million cats and dogs enter animal shelters in the United States on an annual basis. Of these, approximately 920,000 become euthanized due to lack of space or funding (source). By adopting a pet, you can lessen the burden on these animal shelters. Of course, you should only adopt if you have the space and time to care for a pet. If you are not ready to make a long-term commitment, you can always choose to be a foster fur parent instead. Fostering an animal comes with no strings attached and frees up additional space at the animal shelter. The animal shelter will typically pay for the animal’s veterinary bills for shots or annual checkups. Keeping animals socialized in foster homes is a great way to make sure they will find a loving forever home. Donate to an animal welfare organization Local humane societies are always hurting for funding. Nonprofit organizations must survive on donations from the public or by being awarded grants. You can assist another animal in finding a safe and loving home by donating to your local humane society or fostering an animal. Your donation could make the difference between an animal finding a forever home or being euthanized. Be a responsible pet owner Having your pet neutered or spayed is the most responsible choice you could make as a pet owner. Not only are you reducing the number of puppies or kittens looking for new homes, but it is also medically beneficial. Spaying significantly reduces the chances of ovarian and breast cancer in a dogs and neutering significantly reduced the chances of your pet developing prostate cancer (source). Reduce Your carbon footprint Plastic takes centuries to degrade, and it leeches toxins into the environment as it breaks down. Plastic also harms animals in the wild if they ingest or get wrapped up in it. Reduce your carbon footprint by becoming less reliant on plastic. If you see something – say something If you know someone currently abusing an animal, you should report them to the police. Animal cruelty is not something that is taken lightly by the police. Individuals who harm animals are much more likely to cause harm to other people. You could potentially save someone’s life by issuing a report for animal cruelty. Top animal welfare organizations Thankfully, many animal welfare organizations are committed to the rescue and rehabilitation of animals. Each organization will have a different focus and mission goal. Some organizations may focus on marine animals or farm animals, while others shift their focus to cats and dogs. Nevertheless, the top animal welfare organizations include: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Best Friends Animal Society Animal Welfare Institute The Marine Mammal Center The Humane Society of the United States Top companies abusing animals Individuals are not the only ones guilty of animal cruelty. Some companies have a long history of abusing animals for money and publicity. The top companies abusing animals include: SeaWorld Marine animals can be abused as easily as land animals, and SeaWorld has made a lot of money from using dolphins, orcas, and other marine life (source). Between their forced breeding programs and small living enclosures, SeaWorld has committed its fair share of animal cruelty. Tyson Foods, Inc One of the most infamous for the mistreatment of animals is Tyson Foods. Tyson Foods has recently violated federal laws when chickens were left to die from exposure, burned to death, and drowned in boiling water. This is a small drop in the bucket for the animal cruelty that Tyson Foods has been accused of internationally. Petco Department stores like Walmart have banned the sale of live fish because they are not adequately cared for at retail locations. Live fish are often sold in small plastic cups, which are too small and cramped for the fish to thrive. Not to mention that customers have found several fish dead on their shelves.