A career in animal welfare advocacy can make life better for animals in need.
An animal welfare advocate works to ensure that animals have proper housing, management, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, responsible care and humane handling. Animal welfare advocates typically accept the responsible use of animals for human purposes, including for food and for research that may benefit humans and animals -- as opposed to animal rights advocates, who are opposed to such uses. The field of animal welfare advocacy offers a variety of opportunities both for career and job advancement and for volunteer work.
Instructions
1. Become a humane educator. Humane educators, who can be paid employees or volunteers, teach others about animals, their needs and their abilities, and aim to instill a respect and reverence for all life. Public-speaking skills, the ability to teach others and a love for animals and children are essential to the work of a humane educator.
2. Become a lobbyist -- someone who tries to influence legislators to pass bills in an area of special interest, such as animal welfare. Most lobbyists are lawyers. To become a lawyer, you'll need to earn both a bachelor's degree and a law degree (usually a total of seven years of college).
3. Seek employment with an animal welfare advocacy organization. Groups like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Humane Society regularly advertise for employees for a wide variety of positions. Visit their websites to view their current openings.
4. Get politically active. By becoming a member of an animal welfare advocacy organization, you can tap into a wealth of information about issues such as the use of animals in experimentation and entertainment or for food. You can also join your voice with others in supporting a particular campaign or cause.
5. Let others know about your work as an animal welfare advocate. Whether you're a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., or an individual who took part in a letter-writing campaign to outlaw dog-fighting, telling your story is a valuable form of advocacy. There are many ways to get the word out: Write a letter to the editor, write a blog, start a Facebook page, or give a talk or presentation at your local library or other meeting place.
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