Have you ever seen a stray dog or cat searching for food?

Have you ever visited a zoo or factory farm where calves, pigs, or chickens are in cages?

Have you ever wondered whether the products you are using have been tested on rabbits, mice, or monkeys?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you have a warm heart! Perhaps you would like to volunteer to help animals live better lives.

Humans have designated five general classifications of animals:

• Entertainment (animals used in TV shows, movies, circuses, and zoos)
• Laboratory (animals used for research and product testing)
• Wild (animals subject to predation and hunting, as well as habitat encroachment by humans)
• Companion (domesticated animals, mostly cats, dogs, and birds)
• Farmed (animals who are bred and raised for food, including cows, pigs, chickens, calves, turkeys, ducks and geese).

Animals in each of these categories need help. Many lead lives of confinement with little or no exercise, play, or joy. If you envision yourself:

• walking dogs at a shelter
• assisting a mobile spay/neuter van to reduce the number of homeless animals
• bringing a cat to a nursing home to comfort an elderly person
• educating the public about purchasing non-animal tested products

then consider volunteering for animals!

There are many ways you can help. Please visit a list of ideas by clicking here

Many people and organizations are already committed to helping animals. Register here to begin searching for an organization you can assist by volunteering.

*Special Thanks to Jessica Cassady Davis and Virginia Hoverman for their animal expertise, revisions, and suggestions.*

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