Do you want to help animals more effectively in your daily life?

Maybe you are wondering how to add impact to what you are already doing?

Luckily for you, we have put together a practical 10-step guide to do just that, after surveying several prominent animal activists around the globe. These are their best tips that will allow everyone to make a difference for so many animals! 

Whether you have a lot of time on your hands, or you are on a tight schedule (and/or a tight budget).

1. Practice ‘Mindfulness Meditation’ 

This might look like a weird first tip, but listen up! ‘Mindfulness Meditation’ is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we are doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what is going on around us. By practicing this simple habit every day, we can learn to see our thoughts, emotions and thus the outside world more clearly. With a calm and balanced mind we can then approach helping animals from a place of effective decisions.

You can find plenty of free mindfulness courses and information on YouTube; the App Headspace is also a great guided tool to learn how to meditate.

2. Follow the news

Keeping up to date on what is happening around us and in the world gives us a better insight on our place in the global community, and it definitely gives us a better idea on how we impact animals. Additionally, keeping up with progress around the world shows us that our actions do make a difference. Apart from mainstream news, check out the foundational Animal Liberation: The Definitive Classic of the Animal Movement by Peter Singer. Most importantly, follow Open Cages on social media!

3. Vote on animal-related matters

Having our voice heard is a fundamental aspect of being part of a community; but voting might seem a little daunting, especially if you are new to the animal advocacy voting scene. However, as we learn more about the condition of animals, we will feel  increasingly comfortable voting on them and trying to change their conditions when the time to vote arrives. Open Cages will always keep you updated on which parties are making which promises for animals. So, don’t be scared, start voting to make a difference!

4. Write to your MP

Because why not? They work FOR you, and can have significant influence on national laws and policies that help animals. Additionally, gaining the confidence to write to your MP is a valuable skill to have, not only for animal rights but also for yourself. If you need any help doing this, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

5. Learning how to communicate

By studying and practicing communication skills, you will be far better in your conversations when speaking up for animals. It doesn’t matter if you’re right if the other person doesn’t listen. 

Let’s take for example a company like Tesco: they are much more likely to listen to your concerns about their chicken farming practices if you communicate effectively.

If you are already actively helping animals in an organisation, learning some storytelling skills is also super important: story is everything for social animals!

There are plenty of free online courses, like this one that will help you develop your storytelling skills to better affect social change. Check out this very informative YouTube video too: Strategic communication in order to veganize the world – Tobias Leenaert.

6. Support Open Cages

By supporting organisations that believe in the same causes as you, you can help make a difference for animals. You can do things like signing petitions, writing to companies or becoming a monthly donor. Organisations cannot function without this support. You can fuel impactful work like investigations by simply becoming a donor or by taking part in any other actions of organisations.

7. Use your career

Anyone can bring value to a cause. If you feel that you can help out with your career or skills, animal advocacy organisations will greatly appreciate it. Solicitors, Government policy specialists, animal welfare researchers – these are roles that can have great impact for animals. Additionally, they may be very sought after in the non-profit animal advocacy world. On this important topic, check out Peter Singer’s The Most Good You Can Do: How Effective Altruism is Changing Ideas About Living Ethically, and Will Macaskill’s Doing Good Better: Effective Altruism and a Radical New Way to Make a Difference. You can also reach out to 80’000 hours, AAC (Animal Advocacy Careers), or us if you are in need of advice on this. 

8. Join Open Cages as a volunteer 

Animal advocacy organisations always need willing volunteers to help out in any way that they can, and for the most part hands-on experience within the cause can deepen your understanding of the cause itself. Additionally, these organisations are experts on how to help animals with resources, connections and knowledge – and we are far far more effective together!

Start with the more practical and less intrusive habits, and build up to the more demanding ones over time. You will make a difference for animals on day one, and the more you progress, the more you will become aware of the huge impact that your daily habits have and can have on their lives. 

9. Think about changing your diet and/or your purchasing habits  

You don’t have to become a Vegan from one day to another, less is more in this case. Start small, try to eat meat maybe only twice a week, then maybe only once a week and then progressively once a month and so on, until you replace it completely. Do the same with other problematic food items such as eggs and milk, and your diet will look much more animal-friendly in no time. Additionally, this can coincide with generally learning about a healthier lifestyle and opting to buy second hand clothes or even choosing synthetic options when it comes to clothing made from animal products. We can impact other causes while at the same time bettering ourselves.

10. Earning to give

This is the heroic act of deliberately pursuing a high-earning career for the purpose of donating a significant portion of earned income. Organisations have plenty of enthusiastic activists but what they often lack are funds. Giving to animal advocacy organisations greatly helps them achieve multiple goals and spreads awareness of the cause. On this fascinating topic, be sure to check out The Founders Pledge and Kasia’s blog where she explains why she made a major donation to Open Cages. If that inspires you, be sure to contact us and we will provide you with many more reasons to donate to Open Cages, and all the guidance you need.

Some concluding remarks…

Start with the more practical and less intrusive habits, and build up to the more demanding ones over time. You will make a difference for animals on day one, and the more you progress, the more you will become aware of the huge impact that your daily habits have and can have on their lives.

Let us know what you think of these 10 tips and be sure to share them with your family and friends!

Together we can change the lives of animals for the better!