All kinds of animals enrich our lives. Animals can be our friends or inspire our imagination. Whether domestic pets like cats, domesticated animals like horses, or even wild animals like owls or alligators, all animals deserve human kindness. By caring for pets and domesticated animals and appreciating the animals that live in the wild, you can show kindness to all kinds of animals.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Caring for Pets or Domesticated Animals
Step 1. Make a lifelong commitment
No matter how old your pet is, make sure you're ready to take care of him for the rest of his life-or for the rest of your life. Animals have feelings and bond with their “mother”, so not taking this commitment seriously could harm the animal. Don't buy your pet at a pet store or other animal breeding factory by relying on a trusted breeder or animal lover group. Ask yourself the following questions before raising an animal to make sure it's the right choice for you:
- Why do I want a pet?
- Do I have enough time to raise animals?
- Will the animal be suitable to live in my house? Can I keep animals in my rental house?
- Who will take care of my pet if I am gone, sick or died?
Step 2. Take care of your pet's health
Healthy pets are happy pets. Caring for your pet or keeping it healthy with regular visits to the vet and watching for signs of illness can help support the animal's health and well-being and show your kindness to them.
- Make sure your animals receive annual vaccinations against rabies and other diseases. Schedule vaccinations as your pet's annual visit to the vet.
- Take care of the grooming of the animal as needed based on the species. For example, brush your horses, dogs and cats regularly.
- Check for fleas and other pests such as ear mites and treat as appropriate.
Step 3. Give the animal time to be alone
Like humans, pets and other domesticated animals like horses love sleep, alone time, play, and cleanliness. Making time for your pet and cleaning it shows your kindness and can help create a strong bond between the two of you.
- Prepare a comfortable bed with items such as a toy bed, a box with blankets, or a clean pile of hay. Put personal items in that place to alert the animal to your scent.
- Make a place for animals to eat, play, and defecate. Keep the distance from where to eat and defecate as far as possible because many animals do not want to eat near the toilet.
- Let smaller animals like dogs and cats stay in the house with you.
- Make sure the smaller, tame animals that live outside have good shelter. For example, all animals need a roof to protect them from rain, snow, or other bad weather. This is especially important for smaller animals because they will not be able to adjust their body temperature in very hot or cold weather.
- Keep your pet's place clean. For example, if you have turtles or fish, clean the tank once a week. Likewise with a kitten litter box. You have to clean it every day.
Step 4. Feed the animal regularly
Part of animal health is providing food and water every day. Feeding times also show your kindness and help build a bond with the animal.
- Give food at the same time each day to establish a routine. Ask your vet or do some online research to find out how often you should feed your pet for optimal health.
- Feed the animals with food appropriate to their species. For example, give cats and dogs a mix of wet and dry food, while for pigs, give vegetables and fruits. You can ask your vet or pet store or do some online research to find out what brand or type of food is best for you. Try to get the best quality food you can buy to support your pet's health.
- Make sure pets and other animals always have a bowl of clean and fresh water in addition to their food bowl. Change the water at least once a day and more often if the pet is drinking it or food has fallen into the bowl.
- Do not give leftover food and human food, such as chocolate, to such tame pets or animals because it can be dangerous to their health and can even be fatal. Talk to your vet about the types of food your pet should avoid.
- Reward your pet with treats when he is being nice. Be sure not to give yourself too many snacks, which are often high in sugar and can contribute to unhealthy weight gain.
Step 5. Interact at the right time
Like humans, animals like to have some alone time. Let your pet sleep peacefully so he can trust you and show your kindness.
- Do not move or play with animals while they are sleeping, eating, or drinking, and cleaning yourself. By doing so, you can frighten, stress, or annoy the animals, which may cause an unpleasant reaction.
- Don't chase your pet because it can scare him. While you may be tempted to show your love for the animal by following and picking it up or interacting with it, this is contrary to animal behavior. Let pets and other animals approach you whenever they want.
- Position yourself at the animal's height so that he will feel you are less threatening. This can calm him down and make sure his pet is comfortable with getting your attention.
Step 6. Show love
Always show how much you love him by being gentle and affectionate. This will help build trust and make them more likely to approach and seek quality time with you.
- Caress and lift the animal gently. Do not squeeze the animal or pull its tail when you pet it.
- Respond to any affection your animal shows. This will help form a bond of trust and love between you and the animal. Part of this includes talking to the pet and calling it by a name.
- Play with animals. Most pets and animals in general are playful by nature and must play to stay happy and healthy. Give them toys, take them for walks, so do different kinds of activities that your pet enjoys.
- Be patient with the animal if it makes a mistake. Don't yell, hit or do anything else to "negotiate" with him. Cats learn more easily from positive responses and can learn to fear you if you scream or hit them.
Step 7. Report potentially abused animals
Unfortunately, not everyone is kind to animals. If you feel that someone is torturing an animal, report it to the authorities afterwards. This is one way to show your kindness to the animals. Some signs of abuse include:
- Animals kept outside and in chains without proper food, water and shelter.
- Hitting or kicking an animal, or even yelling at it.
Part 2 of 3: Holding Animals with Love
Step 1. Do not force any animal
Chasing or forcing an animal to approach you when it barks, whines, or hisses at you can harm you and traumatize the animal. The same goes for trying to scratch, kick, or bite you. Move away to calm the animal.
- Consider putting yourself on the same level as the animal to help it calm down. Kneel down in front of a small animal such as a dog, cat, rabbit, or turtle. Do not put your face directly in front of the animal's face as this will stress and harm you.
- Remember that animals respond to you according to how you treat them.
Step 2. Approach him slowly
Animals are more sensitive to behavior and smells than humans. Approach any kind of animal-a horse, cat, dog, turtle, or bird-slowly and calmly so as not to frighten or stress him out.
- Do not approach the animal from its blind spot as this may startle it. This will traumatize the animal and may injure you.
- Let dogs, cats, and other animals sniff you before handling them. Reach out and let him sniff you. The animal will decide if you can approach it any further. Consider washing your hands if you touch a variety of animals, as some pets don't like the smell of other animals.
- Allow a few seconds or minutes for the animal to approach you. Some animals may be timid by nature and may take a little longer to get used to your presence. Approaching him before the animal shows that he wants your attention can be stressful.
Step 3. Pick up the animal calmly
If your pet approaches you for attention or you want to show love by picking him up, move slowly and calmly toward him. If the body appears calm, lift it using appropriate methods to support the body and prevent harm.
- Place your hands under the animal's legs or on its legs and belly. That way, you can create a stable base so he will feel secure. You can also support the animal with your arms if it is large. Remember to stay calm and patient so you don't startle the animal. If the animal shows signs of not wanting to be picked up, let it go and try again next time.
- Use the appropriate method for larger animals. For example, if you have to lift a horse, cow, or pig, make sure you have the proper equipment such as a leg, head and belly support machine.
- Stand up slowly after you pick up the pet. This can reduce the risk of startling him and traumatizing him.
- Do not lift the animal by the head, one leg, or tail. There are no exceptions to this as you could hurt and traumatize the animal.
Step 4. Hold the animal steady
After you pick up your pet, be sure to calm him down by keeping you steady. This can ensure both of you have a pleasant self-approach time.
- Maintain balance when lifting the animal so it feels safe. Do not turn the animal over, which will not only traumatize it, but injure it as well.
- Consider sitting with your pet to help both of you calm down. This will make the animal roll up close to you and create a further bond of trust. Make sure you talk to your pet and pet him when you hold him.
Part 3 of 3: Appreciating Wild Animals
Step 1. Remember that wild animals are wild
Everyone who spends near the wilderness will likely like to see the creatures that inhabit empty areas. Although animals such as raccoons, foxes, and alligators look cute and adorable, these animals live in the wild and exhibit untamed animal behaviors such as killing prey and things that are considered a threat.
- Be aware that many animal species, such as alligators, cannot be tamed and you should never try to tame them by their nature.
- Be aware that it is often against the law to keep wild animals without a special permit.
Step 2. Enjoy the wilderness from a distance
Disturbing the wild is one way to harm or harm animals. Watch and enjoy the wilderness from a distance to show your kindness to the animals and not to startle them.
- Do not chase, touch, or lift wild animals.
- Stay calm while observing wildlife. Use binoculars and a camera to see wildlife up close.
- Keep pets away from wild animals to prevent disease transmission or other interactions.
- Stay away from wild animals' habitats or areas during breeding season or when the animals are protecting their young.
Step 3. Do not feed wild animals
While seemingly harmless, feeding wild animals can have serious consequences, such as changing their natural behavior, exposing them to predators, and impairing their health. Do not give your food or leave food for wild animals.
- Put all food, including pet food, stored outside in a covered container.
- Put trash in a closed can or bag. If you're camping, hiking, or walking in the wild, look for a dedicated trash area. Never throw trash on the ground or leave it lying in the yard or elsewhere.
- Be aware that salt from sweat on shoes or boots and scented toiletries can also attract wild animals.
- Never use food to lure wild animals into approaching you.
Step 4. Let the animals explore your area
At home, set up conditions so the animal can roam safely without disturbing you. Planting a garden to attract birds or other animals and avoiding pesticides can show your kindness while still respecting the boundaries that the animals create.
Use organic plant remedies. This will protect not only wild animals, but also your pets
Step 5. Be careful when driving
The development of human life is increasingly destroying the habitat of wild animals. Residential areas and roads interfere with the natural areas of animals such as deer and foxes. Being careful when driving into areas where wild animals live can show your kindness and compassion.
- Don't swerve to try not to hit the animal on the highway. This can cause major accidents and be fatal to humans. Do your best not to hit the animal.
- Never attempt to accidentally hit an animal with a car. It's really cruel and you could be in legal trouble if someone sees you.
Step 6. Respect the meat of wild animals
The meat of wild animals such as deer can indeed be consumed and is nutritious for humans. However, if you want to use wild animals as an alternative source of food, be sure to hunt wisely and responsibly. Make an effort to practice shooting or archery well so that your game can die as soon as possible without feeling as much pain as possible. After that, make sure to use all the animal flesh that can help your life.
Step 7. Report the injured animal to the authorities
If you accidentally bump into an animal or see an injured or sick animal in the wild, notify the authorities. They can find the best solution to help the animal.
- Contact the reserve staff if you are in the nature reserve.
- Call the wildlife officer, animal husbandry commission, or police station if you are not in the reserve. Animal groups in your area may also have information on people you can contact.
Step 8. Support efforts to raise animals
Many animals are endangered around the world, probably including in your area. Donating money to animal charities or even volunteering at an animal sanctuary can help keep animals safe and healthy.
- Consider making an annual donation to an animal protection group such as the World Wildlife Foundation. Groups like this can use their money to protect endangered species around the world. However, if you want to help animals in your area, donate your money to a local wildlife sanctuary.
- Give yourself time to be part of an animal protection agency. This can help them save administrative funds and channel them to essentials such as vaccinations or rebuilding natural habitats.
Tips
- Domesticated pets and animals take time to get to you; don't worry if this doesn't happen quickly.
- Interacting with an animal-by holding or petting it, for example-against the animal's will can traumatize or harm it and you.
- If an animal looks irritated, leave the area and allow the animal to calm down.
- Do not play rough with any animal as this will cause feelings of stress or anxiety or result in a sudden attack.
