Unfortunately, the world is not a very peaceful or safe place for many individuals. From conflict to abuse to exploitation, there is so much cruelty inflicted on both humans and animals. While this can get disheartening and difficult to hear about, petitions are a great way to use your voice for good. Just by signing one, you are a part of helping those who are not treated fairly. You can even share them with your friends and acquaintances to increase your impact.

Through petitions, we can reach those in power and demand justice for others. They are valuable tools for making positive changes in the world. If you are looking for a way to help animals and humans, here are 10 petitions you should sign this week, including Tell Italy to Stop the Ban on Same-Sex Parent Registration, Help Ban Private Rodeos in Illinois, and Help Ban the Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Stores in Colorado.

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

1. Urge Congress to Protect the Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act has been one of the most important and effective pieces of legislation for protecting wildlife in our nation’s history. Despite this, several politicians are attempting to gut the Act by slashing its funding and removing protections for several species. Considering we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction event, we cannot allow these changes to occur. Please sign this petition to protect and strengthen the Endangered Species Act instead of weakening it!

2. Urge Authorities to Investigate Horse Abuse at Gender Reveal Party

In yet another gender reveal gone wrong, a Brazilian couple used horses to shoot off cannons with pink smoke coming out. Yes, you read that right: a couple subjected two horses to the sensory terror of a cannon and smoke, all to tell the world that their baby “is a girl.”

The video, which has now gone viral, is hard to watch: both animals are terrified. One horse falls over, and it is unclear if either was injured. To make matters worse, the lit canisters could have burned the horses, too.

No animals should be subjected to such extreme stress and danger under any circumstances, especially not for a wildly unnecessary gender reveal.

Please sign this petition to ensure these people are never allowed to harm animals again in the future!

3. Tell Italy to Stop the Ban on Same-Sex Parent Registration

Source: WFAA/YouTube

In the northern city of Padua, Italian mothers are facing tragedy: their names are being removed from their children’s birth certificates. Authorities have already legally stripped 33 children of one of their parents because of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s hateful, anti-LGBTQ agenda. Additionally, Meloni’s administration has banned local authorities from continuing to register same-sex partners as their kids’ parents. We must stand in solidarity with these women and protect their families. Please sign this petition to demand the Italian Parliament reinstate the mothers removed from their children’s birth certificates and stop the ban on same-sex parent registration!

4. Help Ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child

An independent panel of experts that interprets United Nations human rights law – the Committee on the Rights of the Child – concluded that all countries have a legal obligation to protect children from environmental degradation such as Climate change. The panel noted that this means underage citizens can seek legal recourse against nations that do not take action, such as regulating businesses, to prevent climate catastrophe.

Source: Equality and Human Rights Commission/YouTube

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is considered the most widely ratified treaty in human history because every single country in the world has signed it – except the United States.

Young people literally can’t consent to the actions being taken by governments around the world, because they are too young to participate in the political process. Yet they will be saddled with all the future consequences of adults’ inaction on Climate change. That is exactly why their right to a clean environment must be protected at all costs.

Please sign this petition to demand President Biden & Congress ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child!

5. Help Des Moines Decrease Its Euthanasia Rate in Shelters

The average euthanasia rate at shelters in the United States is a whopping 9.5% – its highest in three years. This means millions of cats and dogs are being unnecessarily euthanized every single year. But it doesn’t have to be this way. One Tampa Bay shelter’s new model has been able to drastically lower its pet euthanasia rate.

The Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center in Tampa Bay is dealing with the same high intake rates as shelters across the country, but the local shelter’s kill rate is at a five-year low. How? Their strategic plan emphasizes supporting pet caretakers, and it works.

The shelter offers free pet food for caretakers in need and also helps caretakers deal with obstacles like broken fences so that they aren’t forced to surrender their pets. Caring for an animal can be expensive, and making it less cost-prohibitive means pets can stay with the families they love.

Please sign this petition to demand the city of Des Moines follow in Tampa Bay’s footsteps and decrease their euthanasia rate in shelters!

6. Demand Alaska End Predator Control Programs and Adopt Ethical Wildlife Management

The Alaska Board of Game has extended its predator control program, resulting in the murder of numerous bears and wolves — 94 brown bears, five black bears, and five wolves — in just May and June. These actions, meant to boost caribou calf survival, lack scientific evidence and severely disrupt Alaska’s ecosystems by slaughtering innocent wildlife.

The Board of Game, which is composed of six governor-appointed men and one woman who are hunters and big game guides instead of scientists, decided to extend the predator control program meant to kill bears and wolves.

Please sign this petition to demand that Alaska end harmful predator control programs and adopt ethical wildlife management!

7. Tell Portland to Stop Punishing Fentanyl Users and Focus on Harm Reduction Instead

Portland, Oregon, like so many other cities in the U.S., is in the midst of a tragic drug epidemic, and seeing the deadly impacts. The use of highly addictive and dangerous drugs like fentanyl is rampant, and all residents are suffering the consequences.

Source: KPTV FOX 12 Oregon/YouTube

To reduce the fentanyl crisis, people need Support through harm reduction. For decades, research has shown that this is the only way to combat addiction. It is time for the city of Portland to listen to the science and create a policy that emphasizes harm reduction.

Throwing more people in prison will do nothing to reduce drug use, addiction rates, or overdoses. It will just mean more people who are suffering are thrown behind bars, away from their families and communities, and stripped of most social Support. Putting people in a cage doesn’t end their substance use; it often just fuels it.

Please sign this petition to tell the Portland City Council to stop punishing people for fentanyl possession and start introducing policies focused on harm reduction!

8. Help Ban the Sale of Dogs and Cats in Pet Stores in Colorado

The Aurora City Council in Colorado voted to ban the sale of most cats and dogs in pet stores, which will help take pressure off of shelters and be a massive blow to potential puppy mills in the area! It is no secret that pet stores often source from puppy mills, where living conditions for young animals are horrific. But regulating puppy mills can be difficult, and making it nearly impossible for businesses to “sell” animals cuts into puppy mills’ profits and incentives. This is exactly why the ban should be enacted statewide. Please sign this petition to demand the Colorado legislature do the right thing and stand up for animals today!

9. Demand Authorities in Illinois Put an End to Sadistic Private Rodeos

Video evidence shows that private rodeos in northern Illinois have become hotspots for animal abuse.

Source: FOX 32 Chicago/YouTube

Drone surveillance shows riders at the rodeos violently beating horses, slapping and punching them right in the face. Yet another video depicts people torturing animals with electric prods, causing the animals to scream in pain. In a third piece of footage, someone paralyzes a deer, drags them away by their horns, and then callously shoots them to death in a barn.

That’s not even including the countless oxen and steer that are violently abused during the rodeos, as humans pummel them to the ground dozens of times until their bones are broken and they lay bleeding out for hours on end.

According to Steve Hindi, a member of Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK): “They’re not hiding it. They know our drones are up there, that our drones are looking right at them, and they will still beat the living daylights out of these animals.”

At least two different groups of animal welfare advocates say they have submitted ample evidence to the police, but there hasn’t been any movement. This is even though animal cruelty is a crime in Illinois – meaning police have a legal mandate to enforce animal protection policies!

Please sign this petition to demand authorities finally intervene and put an end to animal cruelty at these rodeos!

10. Justice for Couple Who Severely Neglected Nearly 50 Dogs

Earlier this month, officials found 35 dogs living in abysmal conditions in Delaware. The poor animals were trapped in their own feces – as well as trash and other debris – when authorities arrived. But the dogs’ human could not be found, so police issued a warrant for his arrest.

When officers finally found the man, they also found 14 more dogs crammed into his SUV, again living in absolute squalor. This means the man and his wife are responsible for abusing and neglecting nearly 50 dogs in total.

Please sign this petition to protect other pets from this couple. Authorities must ban them from living or working with animals in the future!

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and essential stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in typical household and personal care products!