If you’re an animal-lover like us and you want to do something about the many beautiful species populating the United States, then read this article. We are going to discuss some persistent issues relating to abandoned pets and endangered wild animals, and then we will tell you about some of the charitable organizations that are trying to make a change.
Current Issues Relating to Animal Welfare in the US
The United States is an example of a country that takes care of stray animals. You cannot see any on the streets, because they are promptly placed in shelters. While this is good to note, unfortunately, many of them are killed every year.
It’s estimated that 6.3 million dogs and cats end up in shelters every year, and 920,000 of them are euthanized. This is a really worrying stat, which undoes most of the good things that the shelters do.
The situation is slowly getting better; the number of animals in shelters has decreased by 1 million in the past 10 years, and the number of euthanized animals has also decreased 1.7 million. Still, we believe something should be done to make these numbers even lower.
For instance, many more people are willing to adopt an animal, rather than buy it from a breeder these days, which is why the number of sheltered animals has decreased. This process, however, might take too long and research has shown that families with children are often denied adoption, because shelters prefer people with more free time (young adults, elders).
Shelters must think of the animal’s welfare before they approve someone for adoption, but if the alternative for that animal is euthanasia, then the regulations should be less strict. In addition, these shelters should receive more funding in order to give proper temporary homes to their inhabitants and decrease the number of euthanized animals.
In terms of its wild animals, the United States does a lot to protect them. There was a great piece of legislature, the 1973 Endangered Species Act, which seeks animals whose population have dropped significantly.
The act is said to have a 99% efficiency in protecting species from going extinct, yet the US Fish and Wildlife Service announced in 2021 that a further 23 animal species have gone extinct in the country. The main reason, as with many other endangered animals in the world, is the loss of habitat.
The growing American population requires more food and housing, among other things, which leads to lands being used for developmental projects and agriculture, thus destroying dozens of ecosystems. Climate change is also playing its part in all of this; rising temperatures and sea levels will likely see more animals being added to the endangered list.
Therefore, the federal and state governments should look for more holistic approaches to offer better living conditions to its wild animals. This can include tighter regulations around hunting and fishing, sensible climate policies, and sustainable farming practices.
Charities
We will now list a few charities that you can support by donating or by volunteering for them. Without further ado, here they are:
- ASPCA – The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, founded in 1866, seeks to end animal cruelty and offer guidance to people who care for animals, be they pets or farm animals. The organization, for instance, saves thousands of animals from so-called puppy mills. ASPCA is also regularly lobbying the government into amending its law concerning animal welfare.
- Abandoned Pet Project – The Abandoned Pet Project aims to help abandoned animals by providing them food, shelter, and medical care. They have so far saved thousands of animals from euthanasia and they have rehomed many of them. The organization also provides affordable medical care to homed pets.
- LCA – Last Chance for Animals is an organization that uncovers businesses and practices that harm animals such as puppy mills, fur companies, illegal dog fights, dog meat industries, and many more. They do so by going undercover and then sharing their findings. They have so far saved many animals that way.
- Best Friends Animal Society – The Best Friends Animal Society has the ambitious goal of ending the practice of euthanizing shelter animals. They work tirelessly to rehome animals on euthanasia lists and they also educate pet owners into the benefits of neutering and spaying to prevent more animals on the streets.
- Animal Defense Legal Defense Fund – The Animal Defense Legal Defense Fund is a pro-bono legal organization that seeks to defend those with no voice – our dear animals.
- Greenpeace USA – You’ve probably heard of Greenpeace; it’s a global organization that does tons for nature and its animals. If you want to help protect endangered species in the US, they have programs for that as well.
- Defenders of Wildlife – The Defenders of Wildlife work hard to protect North American wild animals like wolves, whales, and polar bears through advocacy and head-on wildlife management. 97% of all donations go directly to conservation efforts.
- National Wildlife Federation – The National Wildlife Federation, established in 1936, works to bring all Americans together in the conservation of nature and its precious inhabitants. Their long-term mission is to increase the population of wild animals and ensure their habitats remain intact.