Biodiversity is vital for a healthy and functional ecosystem, yet animals are threatened with our daily actions that contribute to the larger picture of the growing rise of industrialization. Here’s a quick reminder for when we seek entertainment, animals should stay where they belong – in nature. So let’s take care of it because we can do better!
Unfortunately, animals are abused and mistreated in so many ways by people even when it is unintentional. Some animals are being forced to become test subjects while others are simply being neglected alone on the streets. There are so many problems that animals are facing and they need us to protect them and nurse them back to health. Here are some ideas and small steps you can take to protect the animals & wildlife:
1. Spay and neuter your pets
Every year there are millions of cats and dogs that are put in animal shelters due to overpopulation. That is why they need to be spayed and neutered as well as prolong the life of that animal. Never buy animals from pet shops, always adopt them from shelters. When you are buying from breeders you are contributing to the population crisis.
2. Do your best to make your home wildlife-friendly
To avoid any issues with the wildlife outside of your home, make sure that all your garbage cans are secured close and that you feed your pets indoors as well as lock any pet doors that you might have. Do your best to reduce the use of water in both your garden and home to assure that animals that live in or near water have a better chance to survive. If you have birdbaths in your yard always make sure that they are disinfected so you prevent any diseases from spreading.
3. Keep your pets safe at home
To prevent anything from happening to your pets and them running away make sure that they have collars and tags. Another very important thing to do is to have them microchipped so if they get lost, they don’t get stranded on the streets. Even if your pet is only indoors it is still important to do it.
How to be an eco-friendly pet owner, love your dog AND the environment
4. Always purchase cruelty-free products
There are so many household products and cosmetic products that are being tested on animals before they go out for sale. All of these tests can cause animals so much pain and even tenths just to make sure that the products are safe to use. But that is not part of the product that is being advertised so people aren’t aware of that. That’s why you always need to make sure that it says that the product is cruelty-free. By having the cruelty-free mark means that it hasn’t been tested on animals.
5. Know that native plants provide food and shelter for native wildlife
Don’t ignore the importance of native plants in your yard. They are there for a reason, to attract native insects such as bees and butterflies that pollinate the plants. When you are planning non-native plants, you are not providing the native wildlife shelter. If you don’t know how to do it on your own, you can hire an environmental consultant that can help you design an orchard with native foods and other things that will not only save animals but also save the environment.
6. Encourage your workplace to become pet-friendly
As so many people have pets nowadays, we started realising that not a lot of places are pet-friendly. While some simply don’t want to become one or aren’t equipped to have pets visit on a daily basis it is important to let people know how important it is. Take the idea to your boss, educate them that there are a lot of benefits that can come from it such as relaxing and pleasing atmosphere of having an animal at work
7. Slow down when driving
There are many neighbourhoods that were built in a place where there is a lot of wildlife. One of the biggest obstacles and hazards are roads. They divide their habitat and they are a constant hazard to animals. That is why you need to drive slowly and patiently as well as wait for any animal that is trying to cross the street and even help some that don’t pose a threat to you.
8. Do not attend circuses
We are all aware that animals aren’t meant to stand on their heads, balance on balls, ride bicycles etc. In order to get them to perform they are forcing them to do physically uncomfortable tricks, they are treating them by being cruel. They are using things like whips, muzzles, eclectic collars and many other inhumane things.
9. Do not support marine theme parks
If you are supporting marine theme parks by going there, you are supporting animals being mistreated and being held in captivity. There they aren’t able to use their sonar, choose their mates or travel hundreds of miles with their families. Those animals often die from ulcers, pneumonia and other stress-related diseases. In their natural habitat, orcas can live 90 years but in captivity, they will only live until their teenage years or even less.
We hope that you now realise how important it is to be educated about how you can protect animals. Once you educate yourself make sure that you spread the knowledge to your friends and family. Realise that our natural world provides us with so many services such as clean air, water and food and that we share those resources with animals.
