Carole Hambleton-Moser On How You Can Help an Animal in Need

Many people sympathize with animal-related issues and feel the urge to help, but aren't sure where to start. Every day another abuse case is exposed, whether it's a dog fighting ring, slaughterhouse cruelty, or other abhorrent crimes inflicted on innocent lives. With so much to battle, how does anyone even begin to make a difference? There are a number of ways even the busiest person can lend a hand to furry, feathered, and scaly neighbors.

The sad truth is that abuse often occurs quietly under the nose of the law. If you suspect an animal is being abused, you can help by reporting the incident to welfare organizations or the police. This is made easier with such tools as the ICE BlackBox app. Witnesses can use the app to document crimes and anonymously send the information to the authorities. As it's illegal and potentially dangerous to rescue an at-risk animal yourself, you can instead serve as the victim's eyes and voice to ensure it receives the help that could save its life.

There are many ways to protect animals' rights and speak up when they cannot. Discourage companies from prioritizing production efficiency over animal welfare by boycotting brands known to treat their livestock inhumanely. Refuse to give your money to questionable services, such as pet store chains that buy their stock from backyard breeders and puppy mills. Educate yourself on local state laws so you can recognize signs of abuse, and be prepared to speak out when an animal is being mistreated. Tolerance, unwitting or not, will only encourage systemic animal cruelty.

Eyes, words, and wallets are essential tools to use in the fight against animal cruelty. However, if you want to engage in a hands-on approach and have the time and energy to spare, consider volunteering at an animal shelter. From there, you can work to find loving homes for adoptable pets, educate the public on proper care, treat and rehabilitate rescues, foster animals in need of a place to stay, and most of all, give animals a second chance. Even volunteering once or twice a week, or fostering puppies and kittens until they find a forever home, can make all the difference in the world to the life you're helping.

You don't need extensive experience with animals, nor do you need unlimited resources to support them. With so many methods at your fingertips, you can always lend a helping hand. It doesn't matter whether you avoid inhumane companies, donate your time to a shelter, or just provide your pet with love and care; to an animal in need, every ally counts. If just one more person steps in to offer support, there will be one less homeless, helpless animal in the world. And that's the best reward anyone could ask for.

About: Carole Hambleton-Moser helps young people, animals, and entrepreneurs progress around the world. She is on the Board of Eseltjiesrus Donkey Sanctuary, a place where mistreated donkeys are cared for and also one that promotes donkey-human interaction for psychological healing.