Category: Animal care

Most people feel uncomfortable with the odor of a smelly dog. In fact, this problem may make many pet owners think twice about either owning a dog. There are many kinds of dog odors such as flatulence, bad breath, the animal stepping or rolling in feces, and scents arising from poorly maintained fur. So, it's important to keep your fur friend smelling pleasant. Check out this article to get some ways to make your dog smell better.

Bathe your Dog

Purchase some dog shampoo

For a dog with something smelly that you don't give him a bath in for a while, it's best to bathe him for a good start. This way is essential for fixing the odor problem. The best method is purchasing a good dog shampoo instead of trying to cover them up with artificial scents.

Wet your dog completely

You need to wet him off the top of the head to the end of the tail. Remember not to apply hot water to your dog. Instead, you should use warm water. It's important to wet your dog all the way to the skin before you apply the dog shampoo.

Shampoo the dog

Apply some shampoo into your hands and then shampoo from the top of his neck to the end of his tail. You need to the outside of the legs, ears, the chest, feathering, belly, as well as the rest of his body. But, don't shampoo your dog's ears and eyes. Then, rinse the shampoo with warm water. And, do this once again for conditioner.

Allow your dog to shake the water off

It's a good idea to let him shake out as much water as possible.

Dry your dog right away

Dry your dog with a towel. If you want, you can also use a hairdryer to do this. If you let him wet, he can get many other types of bacteria. It's best to bathe your dog regularly. Also, you need to dry him as much as possible. But, avoid bathing him too much otherwise, he has to face health problems. We recommend you to visit your vet for advice. More importantly, don't allow him to roll until you make him dry completely. If you let his fur wet, this can easily get the scents.

Groom Your Dog

Clean your dog's ears

If your dog has dirty ears, he will have unpleasant dog odors. That's why you need to clean his ears once you notice the dirty inside his ears. But, avoid doing this so often in order to avoid irritation.

Comb or brush your dog every day

By this way, you can easily eliminate some of the dirt as well as debris. They may be a cause of unpleasant dog odor.

Brush your dog's teeth

Your dog odor may also be caused by a dirty mouth. So, you should brush his teeth often for the best health and odor.

Don't scent your dog

Don't spray perfume or scented household products, or deodorize on your dog. In fact, they can't able to address the cause of the dog odor. In addition, you shouldn't use them because they are not good for your dog. Also, they can make it worse or your dog get the injury.

Reduce Flatulence

Pay attention to your dog's diet

If your dog eats unhealthy foods, it can be a cause of the odor. So, you need to look into the foods you feed your dog. Remember to consider the ingredients in the dog food bag. In fact, there are many commercial foods that can lead to flatulence such as soya or grains.

Change his foods

If you are feeding your dog poor quality food, it's time to shift these foods onto better quality natural brands. These cheap brands may be a cause of the dog odor, gas, dulled coat, and bad dog breath.

Don't allow your dog to eat the trash

It's best to prevent your dog from doing this. In fact, your dog can eat inappropriate as well as spoiled food from the trash.

Make your dog do exercise regularly

One of the best method to relieve flatulence includes running, walking, as well as playing. They will help to encourage gut movement.

Handle the Anal Glands

Take your dog to a vet for an examination

Do this as soon as you notice your dog has an unpleasant smell from his anal glands. Sure, your vet will help you know if your dog may by overly full or infected.

Learn about possible psychological issues

If your dog is anxious, afraid, or excited, you need to also attend to some psychological problems. It's best to talk to your vet for more ideas. You should help him feel calmer in day-to-day life in order to reduce this problem.

Clean your Dog's Bedding

Wash cloth-bedding in the washing machine

If you want to maintain a fresher-smelling dog, you should keep his bedding clean and free of fleas. Place all cloth bedding, crate covers, as well as crate bumpers in the washing machine. Follow the instruction on the label and wash.

Dry the bedding

Use the dryer to dry your dog's bedding. In addition, you can also set his bedding out to air dry in the sun.

Make non-washable items clean

There are some non-washable items such as a large bed or his crate. It's best to rinse them with the hose. You can use a sponge or toothbrush to clean them when they are dirty. We recommend you to clean your dog's bedding weekly. Also, you can also do this biweekly depending on the level of the smell.

Overweight dogs are becoming a common problem for the most attentive pet parents. These dogs can e able to eat much, but they always feel hungry. In fact, this problem can exacerbate existing ailments. That's why you should start a weight loss program as soon as possible. Check out this article to learn about this problem.

How your Dog Becomes Overweight

Most pet owners think that the main cause of overweight dogs is chronic overfeeding as well as lack of activity. There are some breeds who can easily get overweight such as cocker spaniels, bulldogs, and golden retrievers. In fact, this problem can increase the risk of many other problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. In addition, your dog may be in the difficulty when breathing.

Dangers of Obesity for Dogs

Obesity is one of the most common problems in dogs. This condition can lead to joint damage, mobility problems, cancer, heart disease, and other health problems. If your dog is an overweight dog, he will have to suffer from a great deal of strain on his body. This problem also impacts on his quality of life. In addition, there are other consequences of this condition such as decreased exercise tolerance, difficulty breathing, digestive disorders, heat intolerance, as well as decreased immune function.

Scoring Your Dog’s Body

You can use your BMI to identify the healthy weight range for your dog's body. His weight is assessed on a scale between 1 to 9. In order to know exactly your dog’s body score, you have to perform a set of simple checks. Feel your dog's ribs. Although you can feel a layer of fat over them, you can also feel individual ribs. If you can still feel your dog's ribs, he may be too thin. On the contrary, your dog is overweight. Feel for other parts such as the spine, hips, and shoulders. Your dog is too thin if his bones protrude. On the contrary, your dog is overweight. Assess your dog's body shape from above. If you see a very extreme waist, he is too thin. And, you can't see the waist, he is overweight. Consider your dog from the side. Then, determine whether your dog has an abdominal tuck or not. If there is an extreme tuck, your dog is too thin and vice versa.

How Can You Tell

If you are wondering whether your dog is overweight, underweight, or ideal weight, you need to consult your vet for a help right away. She will help you make that judgment. But, you can also notice some signs at home. An overweight dog normally comes with no waist and no distinction between his stomach and chest. It's not hard to learn how to help him to lose weight.

What Can You Do

Nowadays, there are a lot of options available you can do to help your overweight dog. There are many lifestyle changes to make when it comes to losing your dog's weight. Just by making them, your dog still can get a healthier weight himself.

Get Moving

The first thing not only all dogs but also an overweight dog need to do is physical exercise. This is a great solution for both their mental and physical health. By doing this, your dog can improve his weight. So, it's essential to look for something he enjoys.

Schedule Portioned Feedings

If your dog is overweight, he can eat more than he needs. That's why you need make scheduled times to feed him. Also, it's important to determine exactly the amount of foods your dog eats. Then, you can slowly decrease that amount in order to keep him at a healthy weight. You may know your dog's stomach may be filled substantially by small things. In order to determine the exact size of his stomach size, you should visit your vet to confirm. In addition, you need to also know the number of treats he gets per day.

Check-in

Give your dog regular weigh-ins. For the best result, you have to monitor your dog's progress when getting your dog weight loss. It's important to determine the right amount of foods to maintain a healthy weight. In addition, you should also see a smaller number on the scale. We recommend you to take your dog to your vet regularly for regular weight checks.

Stay Strong

It's not easy to get an overweight dog according to a weight loss program. Your dog just feels happy when you give him a love. You just need to love him enough not to make him feel that you love him any less. Then, you can feed him smaller meals or fewer treats for the purpose of weight loss. You can even share snacks with play and exercise without feeling guilty. If you find it difficult to help him reach a healthy weight, it's time to visit your vet's office. Sure, your vet will help you ensure to give your dog adequate nutrition. There is a wide range of factors to handle when keeping your dog with a weight problem. If your dog's overweight, he can't avoid the dangers of chronic weight problems.

Conclusion

Keeping your dog with a healthy body weight is an important responsibility. In fact, it's hard to do. But, you just need to monitor your dog’s activity as well as his diet. But, you can get the difference between life and death for your dog by this way.

When I started grooming my puppy 2 years ago, I barely knew how important this seemingly mundane activity actually was. I simply did it out of love for my little poodle and probably because I am a meticulous person with genuine interest in caring for the ones I love. Then with time, I came to realize I should definitely make this a habit and train my dog to be familiar and comfortable with grooming. Here are the top reasons why.

Healthy routines

People usually associate grooming with “beautifying” your dog. This is not the whole picture. Grooming is about keeping your dog hygienic and healthy as well.   We are told since we were small that daily hygiene is essential. We learned how to brush our teeth, wash our face, comb our hair, and later in life, we learned to make up!   All of this is natural and so is grooming to dog. We need to get our dog familiar with daily or weekly activities like bathing, brushing and combing, trimming nails, checking ears…   It not only prevents her from diseases and infections but also gives her a good discipline to follow. Moreover, it has never been easier to take care of your dog nowadays with the help of plenty of tools and supplies in the market, like dog grooming clippers, dog dryer, dog shampoo and conditioner…  

Reduced cost

Once you are familiar with the process of dog grooming and have the proper set of tools at hand, you will be less dependent on professional dog grooming service. Detecting your dog’s abnormalities early on while grooming for your dog will also save you a lot of expenses (and worry) on bringing her to the veterinarian.  

Family welfare

This may sound a little irrelevant but come to think about it, grooming your dog will prevent excessive shedding and imagine how this can benefit all your family.   Your mom would no longer complain about a house filled with dog hair. Your allergic grandpa would live happier and healthier. And your whole family would be more approved of you keeping a hairy friend around in the house.  

Personal bond

Grooming is a great chance to strengthen the bond between you and your lovely pet. Taking care of your dog will give you more sense of responsibility and attachment. She will probably feel the affection and care she received!   If you always consider your dog as a family member or a close friend then it is totally worth investing more time and effort in giving her the care she deserves. Happiness is seeing your dog growing healthy and beautiful, isn’t it?

 HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GROOM A DOG

  Summer is coming and it's getting hot and your dog (slash your son/daughter) is in need of some grooming after a long winter of caving. So now, you need to take your dog to a pet salon to get him/her groomed. And I bet you are wondering how long does it take for your dog to get groomed. So, let me answer it for you. First of all,  you should know when you have your dog groomed at a salon, you are expecting a whole packages of bathing, pre-works and grooming so it might take a while to groom your dog. Secondly, the times also vary from one hour to even 6 hours depends on your dog and the condition of his/her coat and many other situations. Usually, if your dog is one of the small breeds such as Chihuahuas or dachshunds or Yorkies, it should only take about an hour to an hour and a half for a straight grooming service. Other kinds of dogs like Poodles, Bichons, Pomeranians are harder to groom die to their furry nature so it might take two to three hours to groom them. Of course if your dog is one big and hairy dog or has a lot of mats in his/her coat it might even take longer than that. But I can assure you that it is worth the wait because your dog deserve such care! So why does your dog “hair treatment” takes so much time, sometimes it takes more than yours. Well, as I said before, grooming your dog take a whole processes before the groomers actually groom your dogs. Usually the process goes like this: bathing (which usually need a second bath), nail trimming, sanitary, ear cleaning… grooming (depends on your dog it is trimming, cutting or stripping) and drying. Now I think you can get the picture. If the salon you and your dog go to has a rotation system, where one dog get treated after another constantly in each of every step, then the time will shorten. Another factor that affect the grooming time is the condition of your dog. If your dog get treatments often, and the coat is not too furry or matted, it won’t take a while. If your dog coat is in poor condition such as matted or knotted, the groom will take longer. Others factors such as temperament, health issues, styling requirements, and scheduling times all contribute to the answer. A docile and sweet- tempered one will help the groomer works faster and more confidently.  If your dog is too nervous and doesn’t cooperate well then the grooming process might have a temporally stagnation. And, of course your groomer, if she is a skilled groomer will work faster than a newcomer.

So here are some tips to shorten help save you time:

1. Make an appointment beforehand
2. Go to a prestige pet salon or your trusted salon at your local places.
3. Make your appointment early in the morning because that’s when they work the fastest.
4. Do get your dog groomed and treated regularly for at least every 2- 3 months
5. Be sure to know what your dog needs

Hope this article help you and your dog have a fun experience with grooming!

Your dog is one of the most faithful and loyal companions you’ll ever have. He’ll sit by your side through the good times and the bad times, and expect little in return. He’ll miss you when you are gone and show you he’s overjoyed to see you when you come home. Your dog will spend his days sleeping, eating, playing and exploring. His favorite things to do are running around and sniffing out new scents of all kinds. He also loves to get dirty and roll around in things that make him smell like he thinks a dog should. Your dog loves his food. He doesn’t know what it costs and he’ll eat just about any dog food you give him. Your food also smells good to him, and he won’t be able to resist letting you know that. He’ll beg and drool and perhaps hint very loudly that you should share the bounty. He may also develop that special look that makes you feel quite guilty about downing an entire hamburger without sharing it with your very best friend in the world! From time to time, you dog may injure himself or lose his appetite. He has no words to let you know what’s wrong, so he counts on you to figure it out—or, at least, to take him to a vet who can diagnose his condition.

Dog Care Basics

A dog’s basic needs fall into just a few categories:

• • food that includes proper nutrition and monitoring to make sure his weight is in the appropriate range for his size
  • shelter, which might be the run of the house or a doghouse in the back yard
  • medical care when your dog is sick or injured or when special needs arise during pregnancy or old age
  • grooming to keep his fur lustrous and healthy and to keep ticks and fleas away
  • regular exercise in the form of walks or a romp in the park or at the beach

a few basic supplies such as a food bowl, a water dish and a leash.

All a Dog Really Needs

• • Still confused about what a dog wants and needs from you? Go online and look up “A Dog’s Prayer,” written by Beth Norman Harris. While a human did put the prayer down in writing, it’s rumored that her dog said these exact words to her — but that’s just a rumor.

While dogs don’t require much of their owners, you can develop skills and knowledge that will help you provide a quality life for you dog. These fall into the following categories:

• an understanding of your dog’s basic nutritional needs
• knowledge of your dog’s health care needs and how to take care of emergencies
• recognizing signs of distress
• grooming and bathing techniques to reduce the trauma of bath time for both you and your dog.
• interpreting dog vocalizations to distinguish aggressive behaviors from dog play

Poodles are adorable and intelligent dogs. Their beauty should having said that not deceive you into believing which they are harmless. Poodle aggression is a habits that you should be prepared to encounter if you intend to possess a Poodle in your home as a family pet. Aggression in dogs may be motivated by several issues and it is not only when you fully grasp the animated which you will be in a really good place to get rid of doing so behavior permanently. It is additionally crucial to understand the different symptoms of aggression so that you can treat the issue earlier than it reaches worse.

Signs Of Poodle Aggression

If your Poodle is snapping and lunging at folks or various dogs, then you in all probability have a Poodle aggression lawsuit to encounter. Your dog may bully various canines and bark at them. Once folks join to your residence, these folks might bark at them and lash out using well-rounded teeth display. This is a join of aggression fueled by dread of a feeling of being threatened. This breed of aggression can be finished utilizing socialization. When you take the dog out for walks, these folks will almost certainly deliver other dogs and a lot of individuals. With time they should start being easy close to new people and the aggression could gradually disappear.

Dealing With The Aggressive Behaviors

Often remember which any dog can discover and unlearn something. This merely shows you that the delusion about the impossibility of teaching old canines new methods is merely that, a myth. Poodle aggression might be because of this of dominance associated issues. If your dog considers which these folks are the alpha in the pack, these folks will tend to be aggressive to you and to other folks and pets. They could bark at you once these folks consider you are crossing their series and doing so behavior may possibly create biting. Doing so type of aggression has a uncomplicated remedy. You will need to show your dog which you are in charge. This should be performed when your dog remains youthful so that these folks can suppose their submissive position in the pack. If you get the Poodle from a rescue shelter, the Poodle aggression should be due to historical experiences. If the dog was rescued from a home the place these folks were exposed to cruelty and becoming harm, these folks may be aggressive. They should view people as the supply of their struggling and thereby could do which they can to guard themselves. They should bark at you and hit an degree of biting if they think you are regarding to harm them. This could solely be solved by displaying them which you are welcoming and socializing them using various canines and welcoming people.

A Final Thought On Poodle Aggression

Remember that Poodles are elevated energy canines and you will not loved them once these folks direct their energy to Poodle aggression. Be positive in workout the aggressive habits from them and reward them once they are welcoming. Show your dog that you loved them and which you are in charge. This should go greatly in dealing with the aggression.

Although dental care for dogs is a relatively new idea to many dog owners, it is nonetheless becoming a significantly expanding field of medicine. This is due to the fact that people are starting to be familiar with the value of offering their beloved pets longer—and healthier—lives. If you are unskilled in the notion of dental care for your dog, or if you are a brand new dog owner, then it will profit you to have an extensive comprehension of canine dental care.

Importance of Dental Care For Your Dog

Dogs are not like us by any stretch of the imagination, but we do have a very few things in common. You acknowledge that brushing your teeth often, going to the dentist now and then, and daily oral care are essential parts of your mouth’s health.  Dogs’ mouths require the same dedication, on a daily basis just like ours. Just like ours, if a dog’s teeth are uncared for, over time, they will begin to deteriorate.  Again like us, poor dental care will cause pain, discomfort, and even illness for a dog. This generally occurs in three distinct stages:

Plaque Accumulates On The Teeth

This is basically the breakdown of sugars and other food particles on the teeth/gums, and it produces bacteria.  This is occurring continuously, but is decreased somewhat by eating particular foods, chewing, and drinking water.

Plaque Hardens Into Tartar 

Tartar is an incredibly hard, mineralized matter that sticks to the teeth.  The tartar build-up ultimately causes gingivitis, a disease distinguished by red or swollen gums, bad breath, and occasionally slightly bleeding gums.

Canine Periodontal Disease Sets In

When tartar swells to a particular stage on the teeth, it starts to spread under the gums too, allowing pockets between the teeth and gums to form.  These pockets are wonderful environments for bacteria to reproduce in. Destruction from periodontal disease is irreparable, and characteristically includes abscesses, infections, and even tooth loss. The primary danger with periodontal disease is the chance for bacteria to seep into the bloodstream.  If this happens, the dog could be subjected to infections in the cardiovascular system and kidneys.  The older a dog is, the more dangerous this condition becomes. Your dog can die from complications connected to poor dental health if the condition is left untreated.  It is for this reason that proper dental care for your dog is so vital.

How To Improve Your Dogs Dental Health

Your dog’s dental healthcare starts at home.  You ought to give your dog frequent oral exams; if at all possible each day for active dogs or dogs who chew a great deal. Search for symptoms of disease or injury: discolored or bleeding gums, chipped or fractured teeth, inflamed lips or gums, and so on. Anything unusual should be brought to your veterinarian’s attention.  Next, brush your dog’s teeth daily.  You can find materials to do this at any pet store, online, or by way of your veterinarian.  Give your dog toys and food that will assist with tartar prevention, especially snack food such as dog bone treats. Over and above frequent home exams and care, your dog needs steady visits to the veterinarian. Your vet will supply you with routine dental cleanings, which will be made up of the following: Oral exam.  More comprehensive than the daily ones we do at home. X-rays.  These will check specifically for anomalies that might not be caught otherwise, and are used to ascertain whether the teeth are healthy enough to handle thorough cleaning. Ultrasonic or manual cleaning, depending on the vet. Your dog will sleep through this due to anesthesia, but it is vital toward removing the tartar that builds up on the teeth. Polishing.  Rotary cleaner heads are responsible for polishing away scratches and imperfections in the teeth and like areas that are perfect bacterial breeding grounds. By being responsible with your dog’s dental health care, you are offering your pet a healthy and blissful life.  To support you in this commitment, health and dental insurance is offered for your dog. Make inquiries with your current insurance company, or type “Pet Health Insurance” into your preferred search engine.

Above all, don’t forget about brushing your dogs teeth!

1. Keep Animals Off Your Plate

Every year in the U.S., billions of chickens, turkeys, cows, and pigs are raised in miserable, filthy conditions—cramped together without access to the outdoors, denied their most basic instincts, mutilated without painkillers, and crudely slaughtered. Billions of fish and other aquatic animals die in fishing nets and fish farms. There are virtually no laws to protect animals raised for food, and the incredibly high demand for cheap meat, milk, and eggs makes offering individual care to billions of animals virtually impossible. But animals aren't the only ones who suffer at the hands of factory farming. Our society's consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products is directly linked to serious health problems, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, and more. Raising billions of animals for food also devastates wildlife and the environment. Millions of tons of fecal waste contribute to soil erosion, water pollution, and ozone depletion, and vast amounts of wasted grain, water, land and pesticides are expended in farming animals. Over-fishing and aquaculture are equally devastating to marine ecosystems. To get started, find some vegan (no meat, dairy, or eggs) recipes on the Internet or pick up a vegan cookbook, and try out some new foods at a local health foods store. With so many delicious vegan foods available, you'll be surprised how easy changing your diet is. Remember that each time you eat a plant-based meal, you are making a difference for animals, the environment, and your own health.

2. Choose Cruelty-Free Products

Many consumer products, from cosmetics to cleansers, are tested on animals. When we choose cruelty-free products, we support ethical companies that know pouring toilet bowl cleaner or nail polish down rabbits' throats or in their eyes is neither ethical nor reliable for establishing a product’s safety. Take a moment to look for the statements “Not tested on animals” or “Cruelty-free” on the packaging. Otherwise, assume the product was tested on animals. Visit www.idausa.org for lists of companies that do and do not test on animals.

3. Don’t Wear Animal Skins

Animals are not fabric! Animals killed for fur, leather, suede, wool, angora, down and silk suffer immensely and unnecessarily. Boycotting these items reduces the demand and withdraws financial support for industries that profit from them. Fabrics not made from animals, including comfortable, fashionable non-leather shoes, are readily available from many mainstream and specialty stores and via online cruelty-free shopping sites.

4. Be a Guardian — Not an Owner

Much animal exploitation stems from the outdated belief that animals are our property and we are their owners. A simple shift in words can combat this harmful mindset. Calling ourselves animal guardians signifies a higher level of responsibility, respect, and compassion for him or her, and brings about a more humane world by modeling respectful language and behavior. Several cities have changed their legal ordinances to reflect this important distinction. Are you an animal guardian? Spread the word. Where you see or hear the term “animal owner,” introduce the idea of animal guardianship by speaking up or by writing to columnists, editors and publishers. For more information on how your community members can become official animal guardians.

5. Rescue, Adopt, Spay and Neuter

Each year, millions of cats, dogs, rabbits and other companion animals are killed in shelters because there are far more animals than adoptive homes for them. By rescuing or adopting instead of buying from a breeder or pet store, you can make a difference for an animal in need. Prevent shelter overpopulation by spaying (for females) or neutering (for males) your animal companions to ensure that they do not reproduce. IDA’s public service announcement, “Adopt and Save a Life,” has aired on CNN and on stations across the country. Contact IDA if you’d like to get this PSA aired in your community.

6. Boycott Animal “Entertainment”

Animals in circuses are trained through pain and intimidation, and spend most their lives cramped in cages while being transported from one location to another. Cruelty to animals is the main attraction at the rodeo, where severely injured animals are often denied painkillers and taken straight to the slaughterhouse. Zoos deprive animals of their most basic social and environmental needs, teach visitors little about animals, and are ineffective at preserving endangered species. Similarly, captive dolphins and whales suffer and often live only a fraction of their natural life spans. You can make a difference by boycotting animal “entertainment” and educating others to do the same.

7. Donate to Cruelty-Free Causes

Most universities and health charities use animals in research (called “vivisection”) that causes severe pain and death, even though there are many non-animal-based technologies that are cheaper, more reliable, and more humane. Because different species respond differently to diseases and drugs, data from one species cannot be reliably applied to another. Encouraging preventative steps to promote good health and strengthening and enforcing environmental regulations would do far more good for human health. Next time you are solicited by a health charity that funds vivisection, instead of sending a gift, write a letter urging the group to switch to non-animal-based technologies.

8. Protect the Environment

Because animals live in trees, on land, and in water, they rely on a stable climate, habitat, and food chain. One cannot protect animals without also preserving their habitats. By making environmentally conscious choices, we can make a difference for all species. Taking public transportation or driving more fuel-efficient cars reduces our contribution to global warming and, along with going vegan, is the best way to lessen our impact on the environment. Since all consumer products are made from the Earth’s resources and eventually end up in a landfill, reducing the number of products we use, reusing products when we can, and recycling products we cannot reuse significantly lessens our impact on the Earth.

9. Learn More

The more you know about issues affecting animals, the more effectively you’ll advocate for them. There are many books, magazines, and websites that can bolster your commitment to animals with a philosophical framework, facts and statistics.

10. Spread the Word

Talk to your friends and family about how they can help animals. Writing concise, polite letters to newspaper and magazine editors (be sure to include your contact information), requesting more vegan options at restaurants or supermarkets, and urging companies to adopt animal-friendly policies, make a big difference. IDA would be happy to send you materials to distribute. Leaving brochures in cafes, doctors’ offices, animal shelters, or other places is easy and effective. Get involved with a local animal rights group, or consider starting your own with a few friends. Be creative! Keep your eyes and ears open for opportunities to speak out for animals at a school, festival, house of worship, or community center.

11. Lobby Your Legislators

Legislators need to know that your vote depends on their opposition to animal suffering. Local animal groups and the offices of your state representatives can tell you what bills are pending and to whom you should write. Visit the Government Guide to find your legislators’ contact information.

12. Support the Animal Protection Movement

Volunteer your time, talents, services, and funds to IDA or other animal protection organizations. In order to be successful, the Movement must have the resources to bring animal issues to the public’s attention. Contact IDA for information about volunteer opportunities and giving options such as our monthly pledge or car donation programs.