The 10 Best Charities for Animals to Donate to an Animal Welfare Charity

Choosing a charity to donate your hard-earned money to is tough.

You want an organization that shares your values, addresses an issue you care about and will use your donation wisely. Animal charities vary in their morals and ethics, and in their ability to create change. Some are more effective than others.

If you’re looking for the best charities for animals that will use your donation efficiently and ethically, keep reading.

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Here are the 10 Best Charities for Animals

1. Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)

Animals used as entertainment for circuses, zoos, and events are routinely neglected, abused, and mistreated. PAWS is committed to building awareness on this issue to hopefully put an end to performing animals altogether.

When a circus can no longer use an animal (or they get shut down for animal abuse), those animals need somewhere to go. PAWS runs a sanctuary for retired captive wildlife where they can heal and be a normal animal again.

Supporting PAWS means you’re contributing to the end of entertainment animals altogether.

2. Humane Farming Association (HFA)

Factory farming of livestock can be incredibly stressful and harmful to the animals and the environment.

The HFA is anti-cage, anti-crate, and anti-factory farming. They spread awareness about the abuse animals in factory farms face, as well as the effects of factory farming on the local ecosystems. They also spread awareness about the hormones and chemicals found in the meat from these farms because the animals are forced to eat unhealthy and chemical-heavy food.

Supporting the HFA will fund their investigations of farms, provide emergency care for livestock, and support their sanctuary for rescued factory farm animals.

3. Red Rover

Whenever a natural disaster destroys a community, pets and feral animals are often displaced and injured. Red Rover rescues these animals and gives them a safe place to heal.

One of their most notable initiatives is the Safe Escape program. Victims of domestic violence are able to escape their situation with the knowledge that their pets will be taken care of by Red Rover until they are able to take care of them again on their own.

Red Rover rescues animals from domestic abuse situations, animal abuse, puppy mills, and hoarding situations. Your support allows them to do this important work.

4. Friends of Animals

This organization has led the movement on spaying and neutering pets and feral animals. Through their programs, they’ve spayed and neutered over 2.5 million animals in the US.

Friends of Animals is also against hunting animals for all reasons including conservation and fur. They’ve led anti-poaching initiatives in Africa as well as anti-hunting in North America.

When you support Friends of Animals, your money enables them to continue making progress in their initiatives to eventually put an end to hunting and poaching altogether.

5. Humane Society of the United States

The Humane Society is one of the number one places you should adopt your next pet from. They rescue animals from abusive owners, puppy mills, animal fighting rings, and natural disasters.

The work the human society does reaches every state in the US. They teach and train non-affiliated shelters on improving their services and rescuing more animals.

Additionally, they make it rewarding to adopt an animal. They’ll help you decide which breed is right for you and your family. Plus, it’s relatively affordable.

6. National Disaster Search Dog Foundation (NDSDF)

Shelters often become overwhelmed with the influx of dogs after a natural disaster hits their community. That’s where NDSDF steps in.

The NDSDF takes rescue dogs and trains them to help with search and rescue after disasters. The training begins after the dog feels stable and safe and then takes about 8-10 months.

The dogs are then given freely to first response teams and firefighters to aid in search and rescues. The NDSDF stays updated on the dog’s well-being and usefulness and helps train the first responders in how to utilize their dog’s skills.

7. Best Friends Animal Society (BFAS)

The BFAS is committed to ending kill-shelters and ensuring all animals have a safe place to live.

As leaders in the no-kill movement, they provide resources and guidance to shelters all over the country looking to change their practices to be more humane. They also run a sanctuary to save animals that are nearing the end of their time at shelters.

They’ve made it their goal to ensure there are no kill-shelters in the United States by 2025; now that’s a cause to support!

8. Pollinator Partnership

Pollination is crucial to the survival of our environment and wildlife. We depend on these animals and insects to spread pollen through their lifespan ensuring the survival of their ecosystem.

Animals that perform this crucial role are bees, birds, bats, and many others.

Pollinator Partnership works to spread awareness about their role in our world and fund research that can potentially spur change on a governmental level. Supporting them means you’re participating in activism to ensure we all have a future on this planet.

9. WildAid

The illegal wildlife trade is alive and well, especially in Asia and Africa. WildAid works hard to put an end to wildlife trade and save the endangered animals its quickly killing off.

Most commonly, animals that get killed for parts are:

• Elephants and rhinos for ivory
• Sharks for their fins
• Manta Rays for their gills
• Lions for their bones

There are many more animals that WildAid fiercely works to protect. By supporting them, you’re fighting for the cause too.

10. Turtle Island Restoration Network (TIRN)

Climate change, overfishing, and coastal destruction all affect the marine animals depending on habitats in the ocean. TIRN works to protect these species, specifically sharks, dolphins, seabirds, and fish.

They create campaigns to lobby the government into passing laws that protect oceans from overfishing and man-made destruction.

Your support funds their campaigns as well as their lobbying initiatives.

Ready to Support One of These Charities for Animals?

If you’re interested in supporting a cause that saves and protects animals, one of the charities for animals listed above would be a great choice.

To protect the pets and wildlife on this planet, we need these awesome organizations to keep fighting the good fight. Our donations allow them to do so. If you’d like to donate, go to any of these charities’ websites.

If you’d like to learn more about animal care, safety, and health, check out our Pets Blog.