Our Battle Against Animal Cruelty
Woof Wicks teams up with animal shelters and people against animal cruelty.
Woof Wicks is committed to fighting animal cruelty and supporting shelters that help rescue and find forever homes for animals.
We've teamed up with a few excellent animal shelters to provide support and drive awareness:
The mission of Muddy Paws Rescue is to build and support a thriving community of dog-loving humans dedicated to ending unnecessary euthanasia of companion dogs.
Sam and Ted | TikTok | Instagram
Sam spreads awareness about animal testing, which Ted (her dog) was in for the first 5 years of his life. Researching companies and sharing information on those that are indeed animal cruelty free, those that are questionable, plus laws and regulations.
There’s no doubt that we all love our pets and are grateful to have them in our lives. We do everything that we can to care for and pamper them that it’s easy to overlook the fact that not all animals are as lucky.
Unfortunately, thousands of animals—dogs especially—experience neglect, abuse, and even torture every year.
The History of Animal Cruelty
In the 1800s, Americans had a vastly different relationship with animals as they do today. Workhorses and beasts of burden were commonly whipped and overworked to the point of collapse. It was also a time when cockfighting and dogfighting were accepted forms of entertainment.
Animal rights in the United States would not be where it is today if not for the heroic effort of Henry Bergh, the New Yorker who founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in 1866. The ASPCA was the first animal rights organization in the country.
Their mission then was as it is today: to uphold the respectful treatment of all animals and guarantee their protection by influencing legislation.
Thanks to the ASPCA and the hundreds of other organizations that it has undoubtedly inspired, the country has definitely come a long way in how animals are treated, valued, and respect. However, every year, about 3.3 million dogs still enter American shelters.
Because resources are scarce, over 20% of them end up being euthanized, supposedly as a humane means to prevent suffering. That’s approximately 670,000 dogs that are killed each year, all because they could find homes to take them in.
Furthermore, criminal animal cruelty is still rife in America today. In 2015, the FBI began recording incidents of cruelty to animals in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Although reports were only gathered from 29 states by 2018, the system had recorded 5,201 incidents of animal cruelty that year.
Of the total recorded animal cruelty incidents in 2018, approximately 68% were cases of neglect while as much as 29% involved intentional physical harm and violence. The remaining 3% were split between sexual abuse, animal fighting, and other types of cruelty.
How you can help
No matter what your current circumstances are or where you’re located, there’s always something you can do to help. If you’re keen on supporting these causes, here are a few things for you to consider:
Adopt
The most commitment but rewarding thing is to adopt a dog. Do not take this choice lightly and take your time finding the right dog for you. They are out there!
You would be surprised what breeds you can end up coming across in a shelter.
If there’s space in your heart and home for a new pup, consider adopting from reputable shelters. You’ll get the privilege of giving a dog a new lease on life. Plus, you’ll help free up space and resources so shelters can continue saving more animals.
Foster
If adopting a dog is too much of a commitment, consider opening up your home to fosters. Foster dogs are typically rescues that need help getting ready for adoption.
Sometimes, they need some medical attention like dressing wounds or some physical rehabilitation. But most often, all they need is a place where they can learn to open up to people and even other animals.
Fostering a shelter dog is a great way to play a part in rescuing a life. It is an excellent way to socialize the foster as well as your own pup. In some cases, these programs might even lead to more permanent arrangements.
Donate
A shelter operation involves many costs. There are expenses for rescuing animals as well as providing for their medical care, food, and training requirements.
They also have overhead costs involving the lease of space, staffing, and supplies. To cover all these, they typically rely on donations.
Any amount you can spare for a shelter will go a long way in helping animals in need. Nevertheless, helpful donations aren’t necessarily in monetary form.
Often, shelters might need something you already have to spare, like towels, blankets, and toys that animals might need to get settled. They might also find cleaning products or even office supplies useful. Make sure you check your local shelter for things you might be able to donate in kind.
Volunteer
Many shelters rely on volunteers for the day-to-day essentials of caring for rescued animals. You’ll get to work directly with cats and dogs, and help keep their spaces clean and comfortable.
Among the most important contributions you can make as a volunteer is to help walk, play, and socialize animals so they have better chances of getting adopted.
Additionally, volunteering your time to support a shelter doesn’t necessarily involve working with the animals. You can help with administrative work or even volunteer any other skills you might have to raise funds or promote adoptions.
Educate
You don’t need to work with shelters directly to help improve the lives of animals across the country. It already helps to keep yourself informed and take every opportunity to educate others in your network.
Most importantly, spread awareness about signs of animal abuse, and educate on dog breeds, plus companies that use animals to test on.
By taking a stand and speaking out against animal abuse and helping guide people on how to adopt properly, you give others the confidence to do the same.
So many selfless people and generous organizations are working to rescue and rehabilitate animals. However, they can’t do it alone and every ounce of help we can offer will make all the difference to these innocent and precious beings.
