Please do not release balloons into the air. They fall into our lakes and forests where they are mistaken for food and eaten by mammals, birds and fish. Ingested balloons are extremely harmful. Boycott any events in your town or city where balloon releases are held and educate the promotors and the public about the environmental concerns.

When you attend a wedding, please do not throw rice. Birds will eat the uncooked rice and eventually their bellies will EXPLODE from the expanding rice. A much better alternative is to throw bird seed. It is guaranteed to make just as much of a mess, but the birds will get fed instead of dead!

Please have your pet spayed or neutered. This process is a minor surgery, within a day or two your pet will be back to him/herself, and you get the piece of mind that you are not contributing to animal overpopulation. An added bonus is that with early spaying/neutering, you are also lessening or eliminating many hormone-related medical problems later in life.

Don't use styrofoam cups and plates. They have chemicals in them that can kill animals.

Make a bird haven in your yard. Song birds are becoming fewer and fewer because we are taking away their habitat. Plant trees and shrubs in your yard so that they will have a place to nest. Hang up bird feeders and fill them year round. Provide a bird bath for them. Some birds especially love small fountains.

If you see a turtle trying to cross the street, stop and help him to safety, but don't pick him up by his shell. Place one hand under his belly and the other hand over his shell to carry him.

Please pick up litter on the beach, especially plastic 6-pack holders. Underwater, they are invisible and birds and sea animals can get tangled up in them and die.

Call your local vet(s), newspaper, animal shelters and city pounds if you have lost or found an animal. Make up posters and hang them up in stores or any public place with a bulletin board. Don't give up after 3 days. Pets have been known to go missing for months before being found. Make sure that your pet wears his tags at all times. Write your name and number and your pets name inside the collar and check it regularly to make sure it's still there. Many rescue organizations sponsor "tattoo clinics" where the pet is permanantly tattoo'd at a minimal cost. And the money goes directly back into rescue efforts. The newest technology is having your pet micro-chipped. For a small fee, a tiny microchip is inserted under the pets skin, and all of your information is stored in a national database. Most shelters and veteranarians have scanners, which greatly increase the chances of your pet being returned home!

Boycott all circuses. Take your children for a walk through the woods or a conservation area instead. Fresh air and exercise are a much better gift to give children. Although some trainers are very humane in their methods, the majority use fear and torture to force these animals perform .

If you're thinking of adding a new pet to your family, please go to your local animal shelter to adopt a pet rather than a pet store. Thousands of animals are euthanized needlessly every year. If you must have a purebred animal, be sure to research the breed(s) you are interested in thoroughly. Breeders who are trying to improve the breed through *very* selective breeding, genetic testing (varies according to breed) and careful placement of each animal are the best source for a purebred dog. There are also rescue organizations for every breed out there. Your local shelter or veterinariancan help you locate one in your area. (I adopted a 4 month old purebred standard poodle, so yes it is possible to get younger animals through rescue!)

Buy "animal friendly" products. All makers that do not test on animals advertise this on their goods.

Bring along a containter of water when you go out with your dog. You never know how dehyadrated he can get, especially when the weather is hot and humid.

Please don't declaw your kitties. Claws are their primary protection. The risk of them getting outside and being defenseless isn't worth the risk. Also, cats that have been declawed are more likely to bite in defense. People who want to ensure that the cat won't scratch a child - - a scratch is a warning that a child is being too rough. A bite wound is serious business

Before making donations to groups that help animals, find out how they spend their money. Some organizations are spending the majority of YOUR donations on unsolicited mailings, professional promotion agencies, and inflated salaries for top officers. There is a huge difference between "animal welfare" and "animal rights".

If you have more tips that you'd like to share, please send them to me via email!
The animals of the world will thank you for it.