Be Kind to Animals Week

By Karin Krisher

It’s Be Kind to Animals Week, and we think there’s no better time to give our favorite tips on how to best celebrate our furry friends.

The focus of this week, a tradition since 1915, is adoption. Shelters across America are leveraging several resources to encourage people to consider adoption rather than breed-specific purchases. Check out our post on animal/human matchmaking for an interesting option.

Aside from adoption, though, what types of action can you take to promote humane treatment? The American Humane Association outlines several, and we’ve added some of our own:

Report animal abuse. If you are aware of any suspicious activity concerning domestic mistreatment or neglect of animals (yelling followed by a pained whelp next door, a dog you always see stuck in the car in the heat, etc.), reporting the incident is one surefire way to help. Getting personally involved can have negative consequences, so take the one step you can and contact your local humane society, animal control department, or police department as soon as possible.

Pay attention to developments in the animal world. Especially today, when pet ownership is on the rise, legal battles over animal rights are waged often and with great force, but without a lot of publicity. Staying up-to-date on current and upcoming legislative decisions about animal wellness is an important way to be kind to animals year-round. Get involved if you care about the issue—write your congressmen and take action in your own community.

Take time out to celebrate those animals who don’t share our homes. Be Kind to Animals Week is about more than just pampering your cat, dog or horse. It’s about appreciating all animals for their individual worth. Sitting outside and observing wildlife, even twittering back at birds, is a simple and effective way to do so.

Treat the Earth like you would want the Earth to treat you. Hey, it’s their habitat too. By recycling and being a part of sustainability initiatives, you are ensuring a better world for yourself and all of the other animals that call the great big world their home.

Whatever you choose to do this week to show your love of animals, stick with it. Even if you’re not the biggest activist out there, faking it til you make it can really work. Start recycling today (with our Pet Naturals bags!) and next time you suspect animal abuse or neglect, report it. You might be uncomfortable with these acts at first, but over time, they will become second nature, and you’ll be one of the upstanding humans we can thank for being kind to animals 100 percent of the time.