It’s horrible to hear about animal abuse cases or read the ways humans are endangering many species. Fortunately, there are things we can do to speak for them. One of the ways we can help and lend our voices to good causes is by signing petitions. Such petitions are sent to people in powerful positions that can make a change, especially when they see just how many people stand behind the cause. We can demand change, justice, and stop tragedies by speaking up and doing our part.

There are horrifying things happening around the world every week like extinction, poaching, exploitation, and cruelty. If you are looking for a way to help animals, here are 10 petitions you should sign this week!

We want to thank you for being the change you wish to see in the world and giving a voice to the voiceless.

1. Hold This University Accountable for Dissecting Cats While They are Still Alive

Source: Hold This University Accountable for Dissecting Cats While They are Still Alive

State University of New York (SUNY) College of Optometry has been experimenting on cats and kittens for years, gruesomely dissecting, maiming, and killing them. They claim it’s done for research on the brain’s role in vision, but it’s been years and these horrible experiments have not yielded any results that have led to or provided any treatments for vision disorders. Even worse, these experiments are done with taxpayer money because they’re paid for by a grant from the National Eye Institute, and SUNY has refused to provide the records of the experiments. Sign this petition to demand that SUNY comply with the Freedom of Information Law!

2. This Possum Festival in Florida Celebrates Animal Cruelty

Source: This Possum Festival in Florida Celebrates Animal Cruelty

In Florida, there’s an annual Wausau Possum Festival where people stand on a stage and hold a possum by the tail and shake it. Firstly, possums are nocturnal which means this daytime festival messes with their cycle. Secondly, it causes them harm and stress to be treated that way. It’s animal cruelty to put it plainly. Sign this petition asking the Mayor of Wausau Florida, Roger D. Hagan to cancel the possum festival.

3. Save Elephants Cora and Tembo From Horrible Topeka Zoo!

Source: Save Elephants Cora and Tembo From Horrible Topeka Zoo!

Two elephants died at the Topeka Zoo in two years: Shannon and Sunda. According to In Defense of Animals (IDA), Topeka Zoo “has been cited numerous times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.” They were also named the worst zoo for elephants in North America by IDA. There are two remaining elephants at the zoo, Cora and Tembo, who should be sent to an accredited sanctuary to live out the rest of their lives in peace since Topeka Zoo is unable to care for them, and they don’t belong in captivity to begin with. If you agree, sign this petition asking Topeka Zoo to send them to a sanctuary!

4. Ban Circus Animals in South Africa

Source: We Demand a Ban on Animal Circuses in South Africa

Wild animals do not belong in circuses. Their physical and mental health are terribly affected. Animal-free circuses and many countries have banned the use of wild animals in circuses because the abuse and neglect involved has long been documented. Many South African citizens want their country to join the list of nations that have banned this outdated cruelty, especially since big cats are used widely in circuses there. To help them, sign this petition demanding a ban on animal circuses in South Africa!

5. Don’t Let These Countries Reopen the Ivory Trade and Put Elephants at Risk

Source: These Countries Want to Reopen the Ivory Trade and Put Elephants at Risk

From 2006-2016, over 100,000 African elephants were killed by poachers. At that rate, the African elephant would go extinct in less than a decade. The ivory trade is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). However, the governments of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, and Angola want to propose a plan to reverse the prohibition on the international ivory trade because they believe locals have a right to profit off ivory as a resource, but ivory comes from a living animal! Sign this petition telling CITES to keep the ivory ban!

6. Stop Animal Abusers From Getting Pets Through Craigslist!

Source: Stop Animal Abusers From Getting Pets Through Craigslist!

Craigslist’s policy states that pet sales are prohibited but rehoming with a small adoption fee is allowed. However, sellers on Craigslist are not shelters or rescue organizations that properly vet who the animals are going to. There have been horrific cases of animal abuse in which the abusers got the animals from Craigslist. In 2013, a man tortured cats he got off Craigslist and in 2015, a man got a dog from Craigslist then tied her legs together, muzzled her, and set her on fire. Recently, a man got twelve cats and kittens through Craigslist and brutally stomped on their heads, strangled, and dismembered them. Sign this petition asking Craigslist to change their policy to prohibit any giving away of pets to protect animals from this kind of horrible abuse!

7. Stop the Vacuuming of Birds During Olive Harvesting

Source: Two Million Birds a Year Are Vacuumed Up and Killed for This Ridiculous Reason

Apparently, olives taste better when harvested in cooler temperatures. Therefore, they’re harvested at night. The problem with this is that the olive trees make great shelter for tired migrating birds and they sleep there. So when the olive fruit is vacuumed up at night, many birds get sucked up and churned out with them. If this vacuuming were done during the day, this could be prevented. Sign this petition to ban nighttime harvesting to save the birds!

8. Save Japan’s Dugong from Extinction!

Source: Save Japan’s Dugong from Extinction!

The area of Henoko and Oura Bay in Okinawa, Japan is home to more than 5,300 marine species and 260 endangered species. It’s the habitat of the dugong, an endangered marine mammal. However, the Japanese and US governments plan to construct a large U.S. military air base in that area. It would involve dumping 21 million cubic meters of sand and rock into the water. The Okinawa residents have voted down the plans, but the two governments plan to continue anyway. Sign this petition to call on the two governments to complete a better environmental impact assessment and ensure the safety of the dugongs.

9. Close Down Marineland, Zoo Where Animals Constantly Die

Source: The Animals at This Zoo Keep On Turning Up Dead

At Marineland in Niagara Falls, Canada, the animals are constantly dying. The animals that have died at this facility (as of five years ago) are: 17 orca whales, 25 beluga whales, and an estimated 22 dolphins. Wild animals don’t even belong in captivity to begin with, but at this park, they are especially in danger. Sign this petition telling Marineland to send the animals to an accredited sanctuary.

10. Stop pregnant horses from being forced to race!

Source: Stop pregnant horses from being forced to race!

Horse racing is cruel to begin with, but it’s even worse that pregnant horses are still forced to race. Beyondtemptation, an 11-year-old horse was forced to race three times in 17 days while pregnant. She had a bad fall, and she died along with her unborn foal. The British Horseracing Authority allows pregnant horses to race for up to almost four months into their gestation period. To urge the horse racing authorities to change these rules, sign this petition!

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