Ways to #LiveKinder for Domestic Animals
What if we started living a little kinder?
This year, we're encouraging everyone to #LiveKinder and tread a little lighter on the planet, especially when it comes to our relationship with animals.
Pets can be our lifelines and dependable companions during challenging times, and few periods have been more demanding than the COVID-19 pandemic. While many people found comfort and support in their pets, this global crisis affected animals too.
The pandemic also highlighted the important connection between human health, animal welfare, and the environment. As awareness grows around the causes of emerging diseases, it has become clear that how we treat animals and the natural world matters more than ever.
Small lifestyle changes can make a big difference. By being kinder in what we eat, what we do, and how we care for animals, we can help create a healthier and more sustainable future.
Every action counts. When we work together, even the smallest steps can have a powerful impact on animal welfare, environmental protection, and the wellbeing of future generations.
Scientists estimate that more than 75% of emerging infectious diseases originate from animals, including wildlife and farmed animals. The message is clear: we need to rethink the way we live and interact with the natural world.
The good news is that meaningful change doesn't require drastic action. A few simple, everyday choices can help protect animals, support a healthier planet, and create lasting positive change.
Are you ready to #LiveKinder?
Want to learn more about the link between animal welfare and pandemics?
Click here to find out more and discover how you can make a difference.
Shop till you drop - on behalf of your local animal shelter
Order pet food, tick and flea treatment, dewormers, pet toys and more from your favourite online shopping platform and have the goods delivered directly to them.
Take me to the dog wash!
Rope in some friends and help your local shelter to give a few furry friends a good old bath. Shelters might sometimes need help in keeping up with the large volume of intake. Good hygiene is essential in disease prevention, and you can make the world’s difference by helping in this way.
Adopt don’t shop
When you adopt from an animal shelter and do not buy a pet from a breeder, you are saving a life, helping to break the cycle of pet overpopulation, and helping to end cruel backyard breeding and mass breeding facilities. Read more here.
Be a responsible pet owner
Download our ‘How to be a responsible pet owner’ leaflet and use it to educate yourself, your kids, family, friends, and neighbours about what it means to be a responsible pet owner.
Be wise - sterilise
Being a responsible pet owner means sterilising your pets. Why? Sterilisation saves lives, as there are fewer unwanted litters and fewer animals that end up in the welfare system needing to be rehomed. Contact your nearest animal welfare organisation and sponsor a sterilisation of a needy pet.
Volunteer at your local animal shelter
Many animal shelters have volunteer programs or small tasks that can easily be done with the help of volunteers: you can walk and play with caged dogs, clean up after the animals and help clean their cages, refill water bowls, make handmade treats and toys, or spend time with cats, handing out head scratches or just providing a nice lap for them to sleep on.
Foster a friend
Many dogs and cats need safe, temporary homes while they wait for their forever families or recover from illness or injury. Fostering saves lives by giving animals a loving home environment where they can feel safe, build confidence, and become more adoptable. Shelters often face space constraints, making foster homes essential for rescued animals. Most welfare organisations cover food and veterinary costs and may even provide essentials like a bed, collar, and lead. If you're not ready for a long-term commitment, fostering is a rewarding way to enjoy the companionship of a pet while making a real difference.
Fill up some hungry bellies
67 bags or 67 tins of pet food can go a long way in helping hungry animals. Many shelters, particularly those in low-income communities and rural areas, struggle to keep up with the growing number of abandoned and vulnerable pets in their care. Some also support pet owners who are facing difficult circumstances and need help feeding their animals at home. Why not gather a group of friends, family, or colleagues and donate 67 bags or 67 tins of pet food to a local animal welfare organisation? Your contribution can help ensure that cats and dogs receive the nutrition they need while they wait for a second chance at a better life. A simple act of kindness can make a meaningful difference to both the animals and the dedicated staff who care for them every day.
