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Animal welfare in everyday life - How to help animals

Animal welfare in everyday life - 18 ideas how you can help animals

Do you want Help animals and stand up for the protection of animals in your everyday life? That's just great! Whether it's guide dogs and avalanche dogs, horse and dolphin therapy or the relaxing velvet paws of a cat: animals help us humans. And every day we have the chance to give something back to them. Cruelty to animals is unfortunately a massive problem in our society and has many causes. Peer pressure, hatred or greed. Animals are exploited for our clothes, our food, our entertainment or for laboratory experiments.

In this article, I would therefore like to present 18 ideas on how you can protect animals in your everyday life and actively or passively help animals.

Tip: At animal welfare blog you will constantly get new inspiration to help animals even more in everyday life.

Helping animals - 18 ways to protect animals in everyday life

Help animals in everyday life - pigs factory farming
A typical picture of pigs in factory farming / Image source: PETA Deutschland e.V.

I'm very sorry to start with a picture like this. But it is by no means the worst photo I have available. But if you have the opportunity to show these pictures in the spirit of education, you should do it. Perhaps they will motivate you even more to want to help animals in your everyday life. Otherwise, scroll down a little further, because now it's time for the animal welfare tips for everyday life.

1. eat a plant-based diet

Our Eating habits are to blame for the picture you just saw. Factory farming and the increased consumption of meat in itself unfortunately also contribute massively to the environmental problems of our time. Whether climate change, Water shortage or Deforestation.

By giving up meat or eating a completely vegan diet, you can help cows, pigs, sheep and chickens in particular, but also many other farm animals, and save them from mental and emotional suffering.

Here are some articles to get you off to a good start:

2. avoid clothing with fur, down and feathers

Real fur and fake fur are hard to tell apart. (see Fur industry)

In addition, many Garments made from down (the lower plumage of ducks and geese) or feathers. All of this causes animal suffering.

If you want to help animals, you can consume sustainable fashion and take care of your clothes so that they last as long as possible.

Tip: You can also find out more about this in the article on decelerated Slow Fashion.

3. check your cosmetic products

In many cosmetic products hide not only Microplastics, but also animal componentssuch as fish scales, milk and eggs. Palm oil is also contained in many products and thus costs the orangutan its own habitat, for example. In addition many products torturously tested on animals, before they go to market.

Pay attention to ingredients and seals on the back of cosmetics - the PETA logo on the packaging, for example, is an indication that you are not supporting animal suffering with your purchase.

4. work as a volunteer at the animal shelter

German animal shelters are in a state of chaos - support is basically needed everywhere. If you want to help animals, you can volunteer at an animal shelter near you. Be it by Clean cages or dogs, cats and other animals simply your Attention you give. Dog walkers and cat carers are always wanted!

Tip: You might even find a permanent job in animal welfare at the sustainable job portal. Take a look!

5. adopt animals

Dogs - Rescuing animals in everyday life
Before you buy a pet from a breed, you can also take it from the shelter / Image source: PETA Deutschland e.V.

Anyone who has ever been to an animal shelter knows how much the animals long for a new home. If you are also longing for a pet, then just pop into your nearest animal shelter, instead of looking for a breeding. There is no better feeling than seeing a shy, sad animal suddenly happy and cheerful again.

6. report and rescue injured or orphaned animals

If you observe direct or indirect cruelty to animals, you should report your observations to the responsible Veterinary office or an animal welfare organization. If you see an injured wild animal (for example after a wildlife accident), report it immediately to the police or directly to the responsible game warden.

7. make your garden a paradise full of life

A garden pond, a bee hotel, a few piles of leaves and dead wood, lots of wildflowers - these are the ingredients for a Mecca of biodiversity on your own property. Provide shelter and food for insects, frogs, birds and many other native animals. In this way, you help animals and benefit from the soothing sound of birdsong every day.

You can find out more about this in the articles Garden sustainable design and Bee pasture garden.

Tip: You may also be interested in the environmental problem of the Species extinction. Because this is a consequence of human overexploitation of nature.

8. support animal welfare organizations with a donation

Non-profit organizations such as animal welfare associations receive unfortunately hardly any massive state subsidies. That's why they rely on every penny to finance their work. You can help animals with just a small donation.

You can find a nice overview and the relevant explanations in the article about the best animal welfare organizations.

9. take on an animal sponsorship

Self, if you do not have the time and moneyIn order to keep a pet, you can help animals with a simple animal sponsorship, for example. For example, you can support an animal shelter in the care and maintenance of a particular animal.

Notice: Do you already know what a flight sponsor is? You can be one. Namely, by taking over a short sponsorship for an animal on a return flight after a vacation abroad that is rescued from poor conditions and handed over to an animal welfare association after arrival.

10. observe wild animals instead of disturbing them

Help animals and do not interfere with nature

Just because a little fox cub is sitting alone in the tall grass doesn't mean it needs help. As long as the animal is not orphaned or injuredyou can assume that it is waiting there for its mother. So don't interfere with nature unnecessarily, but rather observe what is happening from a safe distance.

11. don't believe everything hunters say

Not all hunters are the same - and not all are as knowledgeable about what happens in nature as they think they are. So here are a few typical and quickly uttered arguments from hunters that are simply not true:

  • "Animals do not suffer when they are shot": This cannot be said across the board. Some animals flee when shot and suffer an agonizing death in the hours or days that follow.
  • "Hunting is essential for disease control": As hunting destroys family groups, there is increased migration and thus also faster disease transmission of animals. It is therefore an instrument of promotion rather than control.
  • "Without hunting, the number of wild animals would degenerate": In fact, the number of wild animals would even decrease without hunters. Regular hunting even causes wild animals to reproduce faster, as life expectancy decreases.

Is hunting animals still in keeping with the times? It can definitely make sense to simply question what purpose hunting still serves today.

12. go to animal welfare demonstrations

Demonstrations are a good way of campaigning for the protection of animals. For example, support the "Alliance - Berlin against animal testing" or make at the "Animal Rights March" and give the animals a voice.

Just as well you can simply Organize an event yourselfto help animals. This can be a vegan stall at the village festival but also a concert or a movie night with vegan documentaries be

13. bring animals through the winter

Birds such as blue tits and robins, for example, need our help in frosty times, as not enough food can be found is. Therefore, create a feeding and drinking water station that you fill up regularly. It's so easy to actively help animals.

14 Inform yourself before you act wrongly

Animal welfare in everyday life also means informing yourself in case of uncertainty before you inadvertently do the wrong thing. A healthy fawn hiding in the grass you should leave alone, since the mother will probably be back soon. You should not feed ducksas they could die of suffocation from swollen bread. And You must not put milk for hedgehogsbecause they are lactose intolerant, which can lead to diarrhea and even death.

If you inform yourself in advance to be on the safe side, you can help animals and possibly save their lives.

15. start and sign petitions

If you want to make a difference and get a lot of people involved, you should have a Launch online petition. Such a signature campaign works particularly well if you are committed to the animal world. For example, get involved against the Mistreatment of animals for entertaining performances in zoos. Or make sure that Pigs in factory farming larger crates get

16. refrain from animal activities and souvenirs when traveling

Animals are often misused as tourist attractions. Monkey tamers, elephant riding or snake charmers, for example. Help the animals by not supporting such things in the first place and, if necessary, reporting them to the relevant organizations.

You also need to take a closer look at the souvenirs. In many places, ivory necklaces or crocodile leather bags are sold. This is usually illegal and importing such items can land you in prison. You can find out more about this in the article about sustainable souvenirs.

17. collect waste from nature

Have you ever thought about it collecting garbage on vacation? Or simply picking up a few things that don't belong there while walking in the forest? You can also help many animals by doing this. For example, you prevent birds from building a nest out of plastic threads and strangling themselves with it. Or that turtles eat plastic bags and die from them. Plastic waste in the environment is a massive problem - but every little act that counteracts this is great and can be implemented very easily and almost incidentally.

Tip: I have a Worldwide Facebook group for CleanUps where people all over the world collect waste from the environment and share their actions with others. Come and join us! Here you can see the organizers and are also happy to support you on vacation.

18. point out potential for improvement to manufacturers

If you use products with animal ingredients or Animal Testing Background don't just walk away. Each of us has the chance to actively help, Redesign products. In such a case, you can simply write a friendly e-mail to the manufacturer stating that you would have bought the product without animal involvement. A phone call can also help. The more often people point this out to a manufacturer, the more likely they are to change something.

Tip: By the way, when it comes to avoiding plastic, this works really well with the Replace Plastic App. You use it to scan a barcode of products that are unnecessarily packaged in plastic or contain microplastics. When enough scans have been collected, the manufacturer is informed by the association "Küste gegen Plastik e.V.", which launched this app.

Helping animals is human

Dogs - helping animals in everyday life

You really can help animals in many different ways. Avoid entertainment shows with animals, eat less or no meat, don't buy clothes made from animal material and take care of animals that need help. Animal welfare in everyday life is the most humane side you can show. Because Animals are also just emotional creatures, like us.

Do you have questions or suggestions about animal welfare in everyday life? Then just write me a comment.

Stay animal-friendly,

Christoph from CareElite - Plastic-free living

PS.: I have given you a List with animal protection quotes that will surely motivate you even more. Take a look.

References:
₁ PETA Deutschland e.V.: The 10 biggest misconceptions about hunting (as of May 2019), available at https://www.peta.de/jagdirrtuemer. [24.03.2020].

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* Links with asterisks are so-called Affiliate linksIf you click on it and buy something, you automatically and actively support my work with CareElite.de, as I receive a small share of the proceeds - and of course nothing changes in the product price. Many thanks for your support and best regards, Christoph!

Christoph Schulz

Christoph Schulz

I'm Christoph, an environmental scientist and author - and here at CareElite I'm campaigning against plastic waste in the environment, climate change and all the other major environmental problems of our time. Together with other environmentally conscious bloggers, I want to give you tips & tricks for a naturally healthy, sustainable life as well as your personal development.

3 thoughts on “Tierschutz im Alltag – 18 Ideen, wie du Tieren helfen kannst”

  1. Hello, I have a question. I would love to build something with which I can help animals! Animals who are in need or in itself need a shelter. I myself have grown up with animals, and find the way our world has become really cruel, and sad. Where do I start best? I can even imagine working with animals for the rest of my life. They give you so much in return. Mfg Nadine Zeller

    1. Hi Nadine! That's such a great attitude - check out our sustainable job portal under the filter "Help animals" - there you will surely find jobs where you come into contact with animals on a daily basis and make their lives more livable.
      Basically, I advise you to deal with animal shelters or animal welfare organizations and to go to fairs or events around the topic of animal welfare. You'll get endless inspiration there. It has already helped me to blog about such heart topics to make many new contacts and to find a way to be able to deal with it permanently and also professionally.
      I wish you much success!
      Best regards
      Christoph

  2. Hello Christoph,
    I have been an animal rights activist ever since I can remember. Animals are for me the most important thing there is. Therefore, I often have a big problem with homo sapiens. I do not understand what people can do emotionless, inconceivable and unbearable. By the way, I am a veterinarian's daughter, unfortunately he no longer exists. However, my regional, also sometimes supraregional animal protection is not sufficient for me, I would like to shake up the whole world. But I am also aware that this is unfortunately not possible with the multitude of psychopaths and sociopaths. But I would like to shake up the world at the united nations, but everything is not possible! I think all day about what I can do really great. Thanks to "my very special friend Mrs. Julia Klöckner" everything has gotten incredibly worse. I can't stand her! After all, as a large-scale farmer, she once said that factory farming must be worthwhile. I only hope that this former religion teacher simply disappears into oblivion after the election!? My question or an idea, what can I really do big? I have been active for years with one of the biggest and most famous animal rights activists, but I want more. The worldwide exploitation of our fellow creatures makes me extremely uncomfortable every day.
    With kind regards Ingrid

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