You may feel that because you are a kid, you are too young to make a difference.  This is NOT true!!!  There are so many things that you can do to help our animal friends.   Some of these are listed below.  You can probably think of even more ways to help animals.  Tell us your ideas by clicking here and we will add them to our list.  You can be an example to all around you by showing them how easy it is to be kind and helpful to animals. Your family, friends and neighbors will learn from watching you and soon the kindness will spread.

     The easiest way to help animals is to take special care of the animal friends who are living in your home.

If you have dogs and cats:

     Make sure they have clean water and healthy food.

     Make sure that your dog and cat wear collars with identification tags.  Tattoos or microchips are even better because they are permanent and won’t get lost.  Be sure your cat’s collar is a safety collar so that she doesn’t get caught on something.

     Don’t let your dog run loose – always keep her on a leash when you walk her.

     Don’t leave your dog alone in the yard for long periods of time.  Animals can be stolen from the yard.  This is a serious problem in many places where people steal animals to sell to laboratories for experiments.  You can even write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about this problem so that more people will learn about the problem and be careful with their animals.  The more people know about it, the better.

     Don’t ever leave your dog tied up in front of a store while you go in.  She can be stolen very easily this way.

     Keep your dogs and cats indoors, but if they have to be outside, make sure they have a safe, snug shelter.  Use straw in the doghouse, not blankets that can get wet and freeze.

     Make sure you spend time with your animals each day. Remember, they love you and need you.

     Make sure your cat’s litter box is kept clean and that your dog gets to go out at least 4 or 5 times a day.  How many times do you go to the bathroom each day???

     Don’t hit or scold your animals – use patience and kindness in training them.  Think of how you feel when you are trying to learn something and you sometimes get it wrong.

     Groom them every day if they need it.

     Don’t ever let your dog or cat have babies. T here are too many animals and not enough homes.  More than 5 million are killed each year at pounds.  Even if you can find good homes for your kittens and puppies – you are taking homes away from animals in shelters.

   Don’t forget to show them every single day that they are loved.

If you have birds:

     Make sure your bird has a companion.  In the wild, birds live in flocks – they get lonely by themselves.  Don’t buy a bird.   You will be contributing to the bird trade which is very cruel.  Instead, you can adopt one.  Visit Pet Finders to adopt an animal.

     Give your birds room to fly but make sure they can’t get outside where they couldn’t survive.

     Make sure they have lots of perches and something to sharpen their beaks on.

     Give them fresh fruit and vegetables and plenty of clean water.

     Check their seed dish – it may look full, but that could just be the leftover hulls from the seeds that they’ve eaten already.

     Give them toys to play with.

     Birds like to have some peace and quiet at night, so cover their cage in the evening with a sheet.

     Remember - these animals may be little, but they feel things just like big animals.

     Find out which animals sleep in the day and which sleep at night.  Find out which like company and which like to be alone.  Once you know these things, you can make sure to respect their needs and wishes.

     Make sure their cage is big enough for them to scamper around in.

     Don’t make them stand on a wire mesh floor – that really hurts their feet.

     Make sure they have a private space like a little box with holes cut in it.

     Give them things to climb and play in like paper towel rolls, socks, shelves, exercise wheel.  If you leave some plain, white cotton balls in your hamster’s cage in the evening, she will use them to build a little house for herself!

     Give them things to chew on so they can keep their teeth worn down.

     Hide treats like raisins in their cage for them to find – this will help keep life interesting and exciting for them.

     Clean their cages at least once a week – more if necessary.

     Keep males and females separate.

If you have rabbits:

     If their hutch is outside, make sure that it is dogproof and weatherproof and that it is on raised legs at least two feet from the ground.

Make sure it has a screened-in outdoor area as well as a snug nest box where they can curl up.

     Give them plenty of clean hay for burrowing.

     Remember, rabbits are very sensitive to dampness and changes in temperature.  Bring the hutch indoors before the cold weather comes.

     Make sure they get plenty of nutritious food and clean water.

     Spend some time with them every day.  Rabbits love the company of people.

If you have fish:

Clean the tank regularly.

     Make sure the tank is kept at the right temperature – 78-82 degrees F for fresh water and 76 to 78 degrees F for salt.  Make sure it is in a safe place but that the fishes can look out.

     Don’t keep single fish.  Most like companionship.   Don’t buy fish, but if you have a single fish, check with friends and neighbors to find another loner for adoption.  Don’t support the fish trade by going to a dealer.

Give your fish plants that provide oxygen, shelter and hiding places.