Types Of Animal Welfare Organizations

Animals cannot advocate for themselves, so they need someone to advocate for them. Animal welfare organizations bring a multitude of resources together to collectively fight for the same goal. Animal rights are usually not a top priority for congressmen, so these organizations must bring a lot of campaigning and awareness to the table.

What do animal welfare organizations do?

Animal welfare organizations want to ensure that animals are treated humanely, no matter if the animal is a domestic animal, farm animal, or wild animal. These organizations will petition for improved animal rights legislation, provide education to the public about animal rights, and rescue animals from abuse. Animal welfare organizations are usually nonprofit organizations dedicated to using all available resources to assist animals.

What types of groups help animals?

There are a variety of organizations committed to helping animals. Some of these organizations may even be located by you! Some of these organizations include:

Humane Societies

Contrary to popular belief, humane societies are not part of 1 large organization. Humane societies are independently run, but they may apply to receive funding from larger facilities. Humane societies will typically take in domestic pets from kill shelters before they are put down. These organizations have animal transport networks behind the scenes that move animals to larger cities where they have a better chance of being adopted. Support your local humane society by donating, volunteering your time, or adopting an animal.

Animal Rescues

Animal rescues sometimes encompass humane societies. However, there are also animal rescue organizations dedicated to saving wild animals. Wild animals are impacted by human activities, such as driving or mowing. For example, when a mom rabbit is struck and killed by a lawnmower, an animal rescue organization can take in the baby rabbits to save them from dying of starvation.

Nonprofits

Organizations such as The Best Friends Animal Society or The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) are 501c3 nonprofit animal welfare organizations that bring a wealth of knowledge and support for animal rights.

Veterinarians

Your local veterinarian may point you in the right direction if you need assistance with finding a new home for an animal. Local vets will have knowledge of which humane societies are great to work with. They can also assist if you find an injured animal.

Animal Hospitals

As veterinarians, animal hospitals can help injured pets and sometimes farm animals.

What organizations Are Animal Activists?

One of the most well-known animal rights activist groups is People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA is supported by over 9 million members worldwide, and they are growing larger every year. PETA was founded in 1980 and has since achieved several animal rights reforms. For example, PETA has encouraged fashion designers not to use animal fur in their clothing lines. PETA has also gotten automobile crash testers to stop using animals during the tests.

What is the biggest animal welfare organization?

You probably have many local animal welfare organizations. However, these local organizations will be limited in scope and have access to a limited number of funds. The bigger organizations have greater access to resources. Three of the biggest animal welfare organizations include:

The ASPCA was founded in 1866 by Henry Bergh. The ASPCA was the first humane society to be founded in the United States, and its campaigning caused New York State to pass the first animal cruelty law. Today, the ASPCA is committed to helping the lives of animals nationwide. With millions of followers and access to a significant amount of funding, the ASPCA is making a difference in the lives of shelter animals.

The AHS was founded in 1877 by bringing together representatives from 27 humane organizations in 10 different states. The AHS is committed to ending the abuse and neglect of both children and animals. Throughout the years, the AHS has led initiatives, such as the “No Animals Were Harmed” program in Hollywood and the Animal Humane Farm Program. The AHS is also infamous for assisting in animal rescues after natural disasters.

The HSUS was founded in 1954, and it is committed to animal advocacy. The HSUS’s primary goal is to stop animal cruelty before it starts with education and legislature.

Conclusion

Animal rights need to be brought into the 21^st century by updating the current legislature. Animal welfare organizations are fighting every day to ensure that animals can no longer be abused or neglected. You can find your local animal welfare organization if you are interested in joining the fight.