Since animals do so much for us, we at least should try to give some of that back. We can do so by being kind to them, taking action to help those already around us, and minimizing our individual impact on wildlife and industrial animal cruelty. 

The first obvious step we can take to improve animal welfare, as suggested by the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA), is to adopt. Many adorable creatures enter shelters every day, and they definitely deserve a second chance at having a warm, loving home. 

If you don’t have the conditions to house an animal long-term, a great alternative is pet fostering. Foster caregivers help shelters double the number of animals they can rescue by giving them the best possible place to wait for their permanent home. All a person has to do to become one is love animals and be willing to learn. No previous animal experience is needed. 

Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the longer they spend time with the animal, the harder it will be to part with them. So just keep in mind that pet fostering can end up with a furry fella in your home (but who would complain?).

In case fostering is not your cup of tea, you can try volunteering at an animal shelter. Thanks to volunteers, HRA can save 100,000 animals every year across their DC and New Jersey campuses. These contributors help with a variety of tasks, like training and caring for the animals, going for a walk in the park, helping them find new homes, and supporting community and special events. Many shelters would be very glad to have you if it’s something you might consider doing! 

A financial donation is also more than welcome. Often, animal rescues rely on the community to cover the expenses of everyday supplies and daily operations. Shelters additionally post wishlists on their website full of things they need the most at their facilities. So if you are too busy or unable to foster or volunteer, this can be a great way to help the creatures in need.

If a person already has a four-legged companion in their care, the Humane Rescue Alliance stresses that they have identification. This can help in case the animal gets lost, as identification tags or microchips allow them to get home quickly and safely if they ever accidentally wander from home. Encouraging others to do the same ensures that owners aren’t separated from their beloved pets and prevents them from ending up in shelters by mistake.

In addition, it’s important to have a disaster plan for your pet in case of an emergency, whether it’s a natural disaster or a serious illness. Leaving a pet in a rush of disaster can result in them getting lost, injured, or even killed. This can all be avoided by having a plan of action and a pet emergency kit. For some tips on how to create them, make sure to check out HRA’s website.

For animals that freely roam outside, we should provide them with native pollinator and bird-friendly plants by planting them in our gardens. For example, sunflowers are great multipurpose plants that are great for pollinators for their blooms and birds can enjoy the seeds after that. It’s also recommended to avoid using pesticides when gardening, too, as these chemicals are harmful to insects and other animals. 

In urban and suburban areas, make sure to put out fresh water, as it can be hard for wildlife to find places to quench their thirst. Make your neighborhood more animal-friendly by giving up cruel forms of traps and avoiding single-use plastics that end up littering the streets. When ingested, pollutants like plastic bags and straws can strangle and kill wildlife.

Additional tips on improving animal welfare include choosing products that haven’t been tested on animals or made out of real fur. Eating more plants and sharing these tips with others can make our society kinder towards other creatures and make their living conditions better.