All of us can make a difference for animals in our everyday lives, whether it's by adopting a pet, choosing products not tested on animals, eating a humane diet or engaging your community in animal protection issues. With so many widespread problems facing animals, it takes all of our collective efforts to confront these cruelties and change things for the better.
Here are 50 ideas for ways you can help animals in your community and across the country. Please share this list with any of your friends and family members who are also interested in advocating for animal protection.
Support our campaigns and programs
Connect with us
1. Sign up for email alerts to get the latest news and quick, simple actions to help animals straight to your inbox.
2. Sign up to receive text message alerts to do the same right from your cell phone.
3. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
4. Share our videos on your website, blog or social networking page.
5. Subscribe to our blog for the latest animal news.
6. Attend Animal Care Expo (location varies), Taking Action for Animals in Washington, D.C., or one of our many other events.
Be an advocate and spread the word
7. Write letters to the editor on our issues.
8. Urge family and friends to consider adopting from a shelter or rescue.
9. Post flyers in your neighborhood and local places of business.
10. Distribute flyers at events.
11. Encourage radio and television talk shows to discuss animal issues.
12. Sponsor a “Stop Puppy Mills” billboard in your community.
13. Ask your local restaurants and grocery stores to switch to cage-free eggs and to protect seals by boycotting Canadian seafood.
14. Join us in applauding pet stores that have taken a stand against puppy mills—support the more than 1,000 stores that have joined our Puppy-Friendly Pet Stores initiative. Encourage local stores that do sell puppies to stop.
15. Organize a World Spay Day event in your community.
16. Arrange coffee or lunch dates to introduce our fights to people who care about animals.
17. Work to get your local universities or your child's schools to participate in Meatless Mondays or add vegetarian options to their menu.
18. Book and sponsor our subject matter experts for lectures at schools and universities—contact us if you're interested!
19. Sponsor a local classroom and recommend our Nose-to-Tail program for elementary students or a young animal lover you may know.
Raise funds for our work
20. See how you can raise funds for animals at MyHumane.
21. Make a special one-time gift or support all animals all year round with an automatic monthly gift.
22. Make a memorial gift in honor of a friend or animal companion or give gift memberships to friends or family members.
23. Host a house party and have an executive or subject matter expert speak to your guests.
24. Ensure the HSUS is eligible for giving programs at your workplace and explore matching gifts from your employer.
25. Donate your used vehicle to benefit the HSUS.
26. Include the HSUS as a beneficiary in your will.
27. Shop our Amazon storefront for branded apparel that lets you wear your support on your sleeve.
28. Purchase pet health insurance from Petplan and receive a 5% discount—and with each completed application, Petplan will make a $20 donation to our Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association's Rural Area Veterinary Services program. Use code HSUS20.
29. Purchase or renew a subscription to All Animals magazine.
30. Order personal checks and create custom gifts from Zazzle.
31. Shop with our other corporate supporters and help animals with every purchase—coffee, flowers, wine, jewelry, and more.
32. Check out what people are selling to benefit us when you shop on eBay.
What you can do on your own
Help animals in your everyday life
33. Purchase cruelty-free cosmetics and household products.
34. Participate in Meatless Mondays and find delicious plant-based recipes for your next meal.
35. Adopt a pet from a local animal shelter or rescue group.
36. Support fur-free fashion by consulting the HSUS's humane shopping guide.
37. Encourage your office to implement dog-friendly policies. Our book, Dogs at Work: A Practical Guide to Creating Dog-Friendly Workplaces, provides step-by-step advice.
38. Turn your outdoor space into a backyard sanctuary and find humane ways to coexist with wildlife.
39. ID your animals and encourage others to do the same—and keep your cats safe indoors.
40. Prepare a disaster plan for your animals.
41. Learn what legislation is now pending in Congress and how you can help.
Get involved in your community
42. Learn how to help outdoor cats in your neighborhood.
43. Encourage your local officials to find long-lasting, nonlethal solutions to conflicts with wildlife such as bats, coyotes, deer and more.
44. Provide for your animals’ future in case you can’t care for them.
45. Participate in Animal Rescue Team training and sign up to help animals in crisis.
46. Attend Humane Lobby Day for the opportunity to talk to state legislators about passing laws that protect animals.
47. Develop humane outreach programs in your community.
48. Determine which elected officials represent you at local, state, and federal levels. Attend lawmakers’ town meetings to urge them to support our fights.
49. Work for the passage of local ordinances in your community, for example, to protect chained dogs or improve the lives of dogs in puppy mills.
50. Volunteer!