Five Animal Welfare Organizations That You Should Know About

W hen it comes to charity, people often do not give the same attention to animal welfare as other causes.

Yet, animal welfare is just as important a social cause as any other; as we move into the sixth great extinction and deal with stray animal overpopulation in many parts of the world, welfare for both domesticated and wild animals is more important than ever.

If you'd like to learn more about some animal welfare organizations and the work they're doing all over the world, keep on reading.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The ivory trade has been marked by centuries of violence and bloodshed; innocent elephants have been killed by poachers for their precious tusks. Despite being outlawed, the illegal ivory trade is still active and continues to flourish in places like China.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an animal welfare organization that aims to deal with the consequences of the illegal wildlife trade. Founded in 1977 by Daphne Sheldrick, the organization runs a rescue program and sanctuary for orphaned elephants.

Key Projects

The core mission of Sheldrick Trust is to deal with the consequences of the illegal ivory trade and poaching. This includes rehabilitating and fostering orphaned and injured elephants, as well as anti-poaching measures such as aerial surveillance, canine detection of ivory products, and an active anti-poaching team.

Other than rescuing elephant calves, Sheldrick Wildlife Trust helps to rehabilitate other wild animals that are a target for poachers. These include rhinos, which poachers target for their horns, and giraffes, which are threatened by the illegal bushmeat trade.

Oceana

The oceans are home to incredible biodiversity; unfortunately, human activity puts many sea-faring species at risk.

Oceana, founded in 2001, is committed to cleaning up and restoring the oceans. By doing so, they aim to not only protect one of our planet’s most valuable natural resources but also protect the thousands of lifeforms that inhabit the oceans.

Key Projects

Oceana helps vulnerable sea and oceanic animal species flourish. These marine life forms include sea turtles, fish, whales, and even coral reefs.

Whether it’s cleaning up plastic from the ocean, preventing overfishing, or campaigning to introduce more sustainable laws that protect the oceans, Oceana covers it all.

Dogs Trust Worldwide

Rabies is an entirely preventable disease as humans have long discovered its vaccine. That said, cases of rabies are still rampant in developing countries such as Colombia, Kenya, and India.

Dogs Trust Worldwide aims to not only curb the rabies epidemic but also improve the lives of millions of stray dogs who continue to suffer all over the world.

Key Projects

Dogs Trust Worldwide aims to protect both humans and stray dogs through its global vaccination, neuter, and release programs. Stray dog culling does not help reduce their overall population; neutering and spaying them is better for both stray dogs and humans in the long run.

Once a stray dog has been spayed and neutered, Dogs Trust Worldwide also vaccinates them to prevent rabies outbreaks among humans and canines alike. They also help rehome rescued dogs from developing countries in the UK.

Four Paws International

Whether wild or domesticated, it is no secret that mammals are the most popular animals worldwide. Unfortunately, for this reason, they are also some of the most neglected and abused animals.

Four Paws International, founded in 1988 by Heli Dungler, helps protect and rescue animals under the human influence; mostly mammals.

Key Projects

Key projects include campaigns for improving the living conditions of livestock, curbing the dog and cat meat trade, preventing the big cat trade in South Africa, and campaigning to end bear fighting.

Four Paws International also helps rehabilitate neglected zoo animals, such as Kaavan the elephant who was formerly kept in Pakistan’s Islamabad zoo. Additionally, they sponsor and help run several animal sanctuaries, such as the Felida Big Cat Sanctuary in the Netherlands.

Humane Society International

It is no secret that humans enjoy eating meat in all its forms. In some parts of the world, however, cat and dog meat is also widely consumed and enjoyed.

Humane Society International, founded in 1991, is committed to improving the living conditions of all animals, especially those consumed for their meat.

Key Projects

Humane Society International’s major projects include initiatives to put a stop to the cat and dog meat industry in parts of the world. They also seek to improve the conditions of farm animals and livestock in the agriculture industries.

Beyond preventing meat consumption, the organization also actively campaigns against animal testing, animal cruelty in entertainment, dogfighting, trophy hunting, and shark finning and whaling, just to name a few.

Animal Welfare is a huge area with many categories. By supporting just one of these organizations, you can help make a difference in reducing the suffering of many animals worldwide.