Ways to #livekinder for domestic animals
What if we started living a little kinder?
This year we are encouraging everyone to #LiveKinder and tread a little lighter – especially when it comes to our relationship with animals. With a few small changes we can all #LiveKinder - let’s be kinder in what we eat, kinder in what we do and kinder in how we treat animals and the planet. Every little action can have a huge impact, and collectively we have the power to protect animals and the planet. Whilst we all are still living with the fallout of COVID-19 we are becoming increasingly aware of the link between the way we treat animals and the planet, and the subsequent emergence of global pandemics. Over 75% of pandemics have come from animals, including wildlife and farmed animals. The message is clear - we need to change the way we live. Are you prepared to #LiveKinder?
These changes do not need to be big to make a significant impact. Even a few small steps in the right direction can, and will, make a big difference.
Click here if you would like to know more about the link between animal welfare and pandemics.
#LiveKinder for domestic animals
Shop till you drop - on behalf of your local animal shelter
Order pet food, tick and flea treatment, dewormers, pet toys and more from your favourite online shopping platform and have the goods delivered directly to them.
Take me to the dog wash!
Rope in some friends and help your local shelter to give a few furry friends a good old bath. Shelters might sometimes need help in keeping up with the large volume of intake. Good hygiene is essential in disease prevention, and you can make the world’s difference by helping in this way.
Adopt don’t shop
When you adopt from an animal shelter and not buying a pet from a breeder you are saving a life, helping to break the cycle of pet overpopulation, and helping to end cruel backyard breeding and mass breeding facilities. Read more here.
Be a responsible pet owner
Download our ‘How to be a responsible pet owner’ leaflet and use it to educate yourself, your kids, family, friends, and neighbours about what it means to be a responsible pet owner.
Be wise - sterilise
Being a responsible pet owner means sterilising your pets. Why? Sterilisation saves lives as there are less unwanted litters and fewer animals who end up in the welfare system needing to be rehomed. Contact your nearest animal welfare and sponsor a sterilisation of a needy pet.
Volunteer at your local animal shelter
Many animal shelters have volunteer programs or small tasks that can easily be done with the help of volunteers: you can walk and play with caged dogs, clean up after the animals and help clean their cages, refill water bowls, make handmade treats and toys, or spend time with cats handing out head scratches or just provide a nice lap for them to sleep in.
Foster a friend
There are many dogs and cats who are in need of a safe temporary home while they await their fur-ever home, or recover from an illness or injury after being rescued. Fostering literally saves lives and here animals can learn they’re loved – and safe, and get use to home and family life – making them much more adoptable! Being in a shelter can be extremely stressful for many animals, and are often not a place they can thrive in. Plus, shelters fill up fast and most welfares only have a certain amount of cages and facilities to house animals. Most shelters pay for food and vet bills, and even provide you with a collar, lead and bed for your foster friend, so fostering really doesn’t have to be expensive. It can also be a great ‘solution’ if you cant commit to a pet of your own at the moment for whatever reason, but like the occasional company and responsibility of caring for a pet.
Fill up some hungry bellies
67 bags or 67 tins of pet food can fill up quite a few hungry bellies. Shelters, especially in low-income areas or small rural towns, often struggle to have enough pet food to feed the ever growing influx of pets who are abandoned at their doors. Often struggling pet owners will also ask these welfares to assist them with feeding their pets at home. Get a group together and organise 67 bags or 67 tins of pet food, drop it off at a needy pet shelter or organisation, and watch how happy and thankful the staff are, knowing they have food to feed the cats and dogs in their care.