Q&A for How to Help Stop Cruelty Towards Animals

The depends upon the shelter or rescue group you are helping. Visit theshelterpetproject.org and enter your zip code to find a rescue group website to learn more. Some people decide to adopt the animal they foster, and some foster a series of animals, giving them a safe haven for weeks or months until they find a loving home.

You may do things like attend a rally or sign a petition. Run a great blog full of information about the issue too and write editorials for newspapers and online sites. You could also make t-shirts with messages and wear these around.

Being a vegetarian helps to stop cruelty to animals because the animal (another sentient being like you) is not being raised or killed for food. It doesn't prevent all cruelty, as there are other forms of cruelty toward animals unrelated to vegetarianism but if you broaden your perspective to seek to do no harm more generally, then your whole philosophical outlook can include prevention of cruelty to animals as part of your vegetarianism.

Go vegetarian and support local, organic eggs, dairy, honey and wool. These places may sell their animals for meat (Ahimsa is best if you have one), but you aren't buying the meat and aren't creating more demand. Encourage others to go vegetarian and buy local and organic. Make YouTube videos, blog posts etc. Consider rescuing/adopting some chickens and goats to sell your own local eggs and milk. If you do sell, label your products as a slaughter-free, vegetarian-friendly farm. That should start a conversation.

Go up to the three little dots on the corner of the screen and click on it. Click "share article," then "Facebook."

You could ask the person running the stall where they source their meat and look it up online, or you could just ask them. This will help you make your decision. You should also ask them if it's organic, because the government enforces a rule that in order to call something organic it has to be humane and free range.

They are very similar, and are really only differentiated by what people's definitions of abuse and cruelty are.

Don't order it, spread your message to those around you, and protest in front of restaurants that serve it. Talk to your local lawmakers about drafting a ban.

You could hold a protest or post on social media about other types of cruelty, such as fur farming or the dog meat trade.

Your best bet is to either call Animal Control and ask them or check the internet.

Yes, though they might not have all the ingredients you need. Vegetables at the farmer's market may be organic too, which is a plus!

No, but becoming one of the two is a way to help animals, just like donating money. However, not doing so doesn't make you cruel.

Eating meat and using dairy products isn't the only cause of animal cruelty. It's OK to still eat meat and try to stop animal cruelty.

Call your local humane society or your local SPCA. If you can, try getting a picture for evidence or keep a log of things they are doing.

Use Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and make a post about animals cruelty. You can also volunteer at companies that promote awareness, and they will give you specific instructions on how they would like you to do this.

Do not visit that country, boycott its products, and post about that country's animal cruelty on social media. You could also write a blog to bring awareness to it. Chances are that some practices are not well known outside that particular country.

Nothing has changed, and actually the protection and conservation of animals has come a long way (testing on animals, for example, is now extremely limited and strictly controlled by government regulations). It may seem like it's a bigger issue than it was in the past because there is more awareness of it. Word is more easily spread via social media, the 24 hour news cycle, etc. But in fact, the situation has improved dramatically.

If your cousin doesn't know how to take care of her pets and she won't take your advice, call the authorities or an SPCA/humane society. They may remove the pets from her custody. If this happens, depending on where you're from, your cousin can be banned from owning pets for life, imprisoned or fined.