5 Simple Ways to Prevent Animal Cruelty
| Print | By Petside Team | March 31, 2009 10:04 AM

5 Simple Ways to Prevent Animal Cruelty

April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty Month, but there are simple things you can do every day of the year to prevent cruelty. In just minutes, you can help save pets from abuse and make a difference in your community.

1. Speak for animals

Animals can't speak up when they are being abused, so when you see something, say something. If you witness an act of animal cruelty in your neighborhood, contact the authorities immediately. Report the incident to your local police department, animal control or humane society. Animal cruelty, neglect and abuse is illegal in every state in the nation under the Animal Welfare Act.

2. Teach children to respect animals

Be a role model to your children and show them how to properly take care of and handle animals. To reach even more kids, talk to your children's school or neighborhood community center and see if you can arrange an assembly on responsible pet ownership. Respecting animals needs to start young because acts of violence towards pets can sometimes be an indicator of violence towards people later in life.

3. Vote!

Put politicians in office that support animal protection legislation. Check out candidates' websites or call their headquarters and find out how they plan to help protect pets in your area. You can also write to your current representatives and ask them to support laws that increase punishment for animal abusers or increase the number animal control officers.

4. Say NO to puppy mills

Puppy mills are a horrible reality of the pet industry. Refuse to buy pets or supplies from any store or website that sell animals. While you may think buying a puppy mill pet is saving an animal, it is only encouraging these mills to stay in business by keeping up the demand for their product. Only adopt from shelters or buy from reputable breeders and tell your friends to do the same.

5. Volunteer or donate

Volunteer your time and talents to a worthy cause. Even a few hours a week holding and petting animals at a shelter increases their chance of being adopted by making them more people friendly. If you are a writer, offer to help write the newsletter or lend your design skills to their website and advertisements. If you don't have the time to volunteer, you can still make a difference by donating to an animal rights organization in your community.

Comments (15)

Anonymous January 26, 2009 12:13 PM

VERY GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

shannon April 2, 2009 9:30 AM

my anunts dog is pucking and he is not eating he is not moving is it pavro

Lana April 2, 2009 10:52 AM

Your aunt should probably take her dog to the vet. Vomiting and lethargy could mean a number of problems.

Potts April 10, 2009 3:11 PM

If the dog stops drinking water drop everything and go to the vet NOW!! If its Sunday and the vets closed go to the expensive emergency!The dog WILL die

Jody April 10, 2009 7:51 PM

Great tips!!! Thank you for spreading the word on such an important issue!

barbara April 11, 2009 3:06 AM

I think to stop abuse of animals, we need to have a basic respect for all life. Children need to be teach to treat animals and other people with respect. Children need to be treated with respect. Our children need to be taught to deal with anger and frustration in better ways than to hit each other or something. It is a lesson that many adults need to learn themselves.

Mary Kay April 11, 2009 9:22 AM

I try to do my part, I have an on line pet store and donate 10% of my proceeds to NO KILL SHELTERS and to rescues and the wonderful people who foster animal untill they get a good home. I also donate personally to our local Humane Society, I wish I could volenteer my services but I get very depressed when I go to visit, I would be bringing them all home, so I do my part through the web site.
www.thebestpamperedpet.com

Sara Bajger April 11, 2009 4:02 PM

We also need to crack down on home breeders,I know of a lady who is a breeder of Poodle and Yorkies, I have a feeling that this lady is in breeding. It seems that her puppies all have some sort of defect, she keeps them in cages for months end now I have not seen this but I heard the stories. I know this lady and Im torn between contacting Animal Control or Not. But my love for animals is much greater then my friendship with her, and Im doing it for those animals not her. I you were in my situation what would you do.

Nick April 11, 2009 4:33 PM

Thanks!!!

------------MY--Dogs------------
http://www.epiclosers.com/load/4

Elizabeth April 11, 2009 5:24 PM

I love all animals however especially dogs & cats~ I hope to open my own shelter someday! Until then, I will do ALL of the 5 suggestions above! Thank you for this site~ Also please use 'dogpile' for your for your computer search engine. They donate money to animal shelters etc. everytime you do a search` Awesome!

Deborah April 11, 2009 11:42 PM

Please let's report puppy mills and abuse. So many people see their neighbors or friends abuse their pet and they need to be turned in!! I donate to the Humane Society and the SPCA. There are too many animals in the world that are being abused. It makes me so mad.. I love animals and I am glad I found this site.

Joanne April 14, 2009 6:31 PM

Thats awesome Mary Kay

Mira August 19, 2009 8:50 AM

I live in Mauritius and there is a big problem of stray dogs. The MSPCA capture those poor animals and kill them.Another issue is the monkey business. People go and capture baby monkeys and sell them to labs in Europe and the USA. What can I do?

grace December 4, 2009 12:56 AM

Report any suspicious animal breeding to local rescue,non-emerg police as well as talk to other friends/neighbors to find out what they know. During hard times like these some people will do/sell most anything to get by or even call themselves starting a bussiness. There should be more control on animal breeders in this country, with any luck it might end the killing of animals for no other reason than that there aren't enough homes for them.

jade December 7, 2009 9:21 AM

i think they should stop animal cruelty because i hate animals been hurt and how do they feel been hurt and locked up

GLENYS February 7, 2010 8:15 PM
Flag

they should stop because only because they have bad lives they should not take it out on the dog or puppy

Reply

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