17th June – 23rd June is Animal Rights Awareness Week, an opportunity for us to learn how we can help to end animal abuse. All animals, both big and small, enrich our lives in many ways, yet we often don’t treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve.
Below are 5 ways you can be kind to animals this week.
Buy organic and free-range meat and dairy products
Conventionally farmed animals are often treated very poorly. They rarely get to go outside, are housed in confined spaces and are injected with hormones and chemicals. Organically raised animals, on the otherhand, live in a healthier environment. They spend time outside, have much better living conditions and are free from hormones and chemicals, so are healthier for us.
You could also try adopting a vegan diet for the week and abstain from the use of all animal products or see our 10 tips for ethical eating in our AnimalKind section.
Volunteer or fundraise for you favourite animal charity
Many people around the world work hard to protect animals. Consider donating your time as a volunteer or supporting the charity financially by organising a bake sale or walkathon. Find out more about the work we do and how you can help us fight for the animals on our campaign’s website.
Buy cruelty-free products
To prevent animal testing, buy products marked as vegan or cruelty-free. Read our post on cosmetic testing for more information or see our AnimlKind pages for ideas on cruelty-free shopping.
Adopt don’t shop
Every year we euthanise millions of dogs and cats around the world as people opt to shop rather than adopt. When you buy a dog from a pet shop, they have often come from a puppy farm. A puppy farm is an inhumane commercial breeding facility that breeds puppies for sale. The dogs there live in terrible conditions, often without enough food and water. By adopting an animal, you’re saving a life and helping fight these harmful breeding practices.
Educate your local community
Teach your family and friends about the importance of spaying and neutering their dogs and cats. There are thousands of puppies and kittens born every day and nowhere near enough homes for them. By spreading the word to your community, this could help reduce the number of homeless animals around the world. Why not also spread the word by liking and sharing our new OneKind Planet facebook page?
Blog post by OneKind Planet volunteer Amelia McKinlay.