Animal Charities: How You Can Help

If you are interested in giving financial support to animal welfare, you can be sure that a large number of animal charities, animal shelters and animal rights groups would be glad to receive your donation.

The oldest established US animal charity is the American Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). This charity, founded by Henry Bergh, has been committed to "alleviating pain, fear and suffering in all animals" since 1866. Today, the ASPCA employs more than 300 staff in seven offices nationwide. The efforts of the organization cover a wide range of animal welfare issues that include fund raising, humane law enforcement and education, animal surgery, poison control, liaising with animal shelters, and adoption of pets.

Animal shelters are heavily dependent on the efforts of local volunteers. The continued need to raise funds provides a significant challenge.

Many animal shelters encourage animal sponsorship, which can be very enjoyable, particularly for children. When you visit your local animal shelter you are able to choose an animal to "adopt." In return, you make a small regular payment to help feed and care for your chosen animal.

In addition to obtaining financial support, animal shelters are often keen to take on volunteers to help out with some of their chores, such as walking the dogs or helping to keep the animal shelter's buildings and general structure well maintained.

Animal shelters are also always on the lookout for people to help with pet adoptions and to work at special events.

The animal rights movement has grown rapidly in recent years. With this growth, animal rights activists have become more vocal; and their arguments are being heard. Both at home and abroad, increasing numbers of people are questioning how animals should be treated. Several animal rights charities run campaigns to encourage the ethical treatment of pets and other animals.

The mission of most animal rights charities is to end the exploitation and abuse of animals. The use of animals in laboratories for medical and other research has become a particularly emotive subject. As a result of pressure from the animal rights lobby, some cosmetics companies have stopped testing their products on animals and others have moved the testing to countries where the use of animals is not such an issue.