Animal protection and preservation has been a hot topic for some time now, and in the recent years, it seems like more and more people are becoming aware of this issue but do not know exactly what realistic things they can do to help animals. Hopefully, this short article will give you some inspiration to make some changes in your everyday life that will contribute to the well-being of animals both big and small.

Have you ever noticed that when we as humans watch a television show, movie, or video online that has to do with animals, we are always on the animal’s side? We never want them to be harmed or in pain or any kind of distress. We cringe when we see a video of a stray dog that has been abandoned for so long it barely looks like a dog anymore. We smile at our screens when that dog has been nursed back to health by humans that were willing to take on the challenge.

We want Dory to find her parents in "Finding Dory" instead of being put on display in an aquarium for human entertainment. The list of examples could go on and on of films that revolve around animals or videos posted on social media that are about animals. Just about every person reading this can probably think of an instance when they remember cheering for the animals or thinking of the other humans as evil and I think that in itself proves something.

Human beings are not meant to hurt animals. We are not supposed to be okay with animals being tortured and having miserable lives because of us. We do not like to see animals being hurt or mistreated but we continue to support this behavior anyway. Why? Well, of course, we do not usually think about the cow that had to be killed to make our leather goods or remember that animals of all kinds are supposed to live out in the wild, not in zoos or other forms of captivity. Most people do not mean to be putting these animals in danger but are doing it subconsciously. Because of this, changes can easily be made. You don’t have to become a vegan to save the animals (although veganism is awesome if that is for you), there are plenty of other ways to be on the animal’s side in real life and not just behind a computer or television screen.

So what are these changes, you may ask? Well, of course, there is the option of cutting animal products out of your diet, which is becoming more and more popular every day, but this option may not be practical for everybody. An alternative to this could be reducing the amount of meat you eat on a weekly basis. Another animal-life saving strategy could be to adopt your next pet instead of buying one from a breeder. Finding other weekend activities besides visiting your local zoo or aquarium could also benefit the animals we share this world with.

No matter what step you take, either small or large, you can make a difference in an animal’s life and not only help them but help the world around you. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone showed their passion for saving animals through their daily decisions instead of merely sharing a video that exposes animal cruelty on Facebook? Do what you can and make an effort to be on the animal’s side as often as possible.