Imagine a world in which you’re unable to communicate with those who pull the strings. Your life depends entirely upon the actions or non-actions of others, but you have no say in the outcome. You have very little control over when you eat, when you breed, when you’re subjected to painful testing for the benefit of others, and when you live or die.
Unfortunately, that world is one many animals experience, and it’s up to us, as humans, to try to protect them.
While animals can give us clues as to how they’re feeling, there are far too many people who don’t care to listen.
Fortunately, these animal rights organizations continue to fight the good fight for those who deserve more of our attention. Please use the list below to help find animal charities that need your help now.
13 Animal Rights Organizations to Support Today
1. The Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States is a long-standing nonprofit that supports hundreds of community animal shelters across the country caring for more than 100,000 animals every year. Thanks to the support of donors like you, the Humane Society has been helping lost or homeless pets find forever families since 1954, as well as investigating and shutting down puppy mills, helping to stop the fur and wildlife trade, and protecting the health and wellbeing of farm animals.
For donors who care about:
- A fur-free world
- Healthier lives for farm animals
- Ending the use of puppy mills
- Stopping cosmetic testing on animals
- Eliminating trophy hunting
How to Support the Humane Society
- Donate monthly or one time
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant (just search for your local humane society chapter under the Giving section in your account settings)
- Make a memorial donation
- Honor someone special with a gift donation
- Leave a lasting legacy donation
- Donate an old ride…vroom, vroom!
2. The Animal Legal Defense Fund
The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is a nonprofit that upholds and advances animal cruelty and animal protection laws, working across issues ranging from animal testing to pets and captive wildlife. Currently, a key focus of the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s is to advocate for more effective, reliable, and humane alternatives when it comes to animal agribusiness. This includes fighting both for safer, more humane environments for animals, as well as for the rights of agricultural workers. The ALDF also provides a safe haven for those wishing to report animal and labor abuses, and it continues to push for legislation against the exploitation of both workers and animals.
For donors who care about:
- Protecting whistleblowers
- Research performed on animals
- Animals in captivity
- Companion animals
- Farmed animals
- Wildlife
- Labor laws
How to Support the Animal Legal Defense Fund:
- Anonymously report abuse on the ALDF’s online tip portal
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Display Sharegraphics on your social media accounts
3. Wild Aid
Wild Aid is is a nonprofit working to stop illegal wildlife trade. in part by targeting the consumers who buy products that rely on it. Wild Aid’s main goal is to change public perception and decrease the demand for novelty “precious” products like ivory, rhino horn, and shark fin. The animals suffering for human want have already lost their habitats due to our own expansion and greed: Why should they suffer from poaching and trading, too?
For donors who care about:
- Stopping climate change
- Illegal poaching
- Building up communities worldwide
How to Support Wild Aid:
- Donate Directly to the cause
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
4. World Animal Protection
World Animal Protection is a global nonprofit whose mission is to ensure a better future for animals and people alike. This organization combats cruel animal trade, and aims to shed light on how protecting animals also protects humans from potential pitfalls and disasters (you know…like a global pandemic.) World Animal Protection’s work proves that helping animals helps people.
For donors who care about:
- Fighting global poverty and hunger
- Combating climate change
- Protecting ecological diversity
How to Support World Animal Protection:
- Donate Directly
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
5. Sea Otter Foundation and Trust
The Sea Otter Foundation and Trust is a nonprofit working to protect the natural habitat of otters, plus fund education, research, and projects related to learning more about this species and how to keep them safe and healthy in the wild. These adorable little guys are shockingly important to our ecosystem, giving cues as to what’s really going on in our oceans. In other words, their survival is important to our survival. Unfortunately, due to everything from water pollution to climate change, they need our help, and the help of the foundation.
For donors who care about:
- Research
- Natural otter habitat conservation
- Land conservation
- Education
How to Support the Sea Otter Foundation and Trust:
- Adopt an otter (sorry—it has to stay in the wild, though!)
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Volunteer
6. Friends for Life (Houston, TX)
Friends for Life is a pet and animal rescue nonprofit out of Houston, Texas that operates under a very simple and direct concept: Every animal matters, regardless of where they come from, what breed they are, their age, or their condition. This nonprofit’s goal is to find a home for everyone—but how to find home for thousands of pets? That’s what makes this nonprofit special: They commit time to research and data collection that helps guide their decision-making, allowing for a better experience for both animals and their human counterparts.
For donors who care about:
- Spaying/Neutering
- Disaster Planning for Pets
- Animal Food Banks, especially during disasters
- Training and Rehabilitation
How to Support Friends for Life:
- Make a direct donation
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Adopt
- Volunteer
- Foster
7. The ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (better known as the ASPCA) is an animal rights nonprofit that has been protecting vulnerable pets and animals in America for more than 150 years. Believe it or not, shelters across the country are stretched thin, and many have a hard time making room for new, furry friends. That’s where the ASPCA comes in. The focus on animal rescue, protection, and placement, as well as on eradicating animal abuse and neglect.
For donors who care about:
- Dogfighting
- Puppy mills
- Hoarding
- Cruel environments
- Proper medical treatment and rehab
- Finding homes
- Disaster relief
- Protection laws
How to Support the ASPCA:
- Donate and help directly
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Other ways to give
8. The Milo Foundation
Lynne Tingle named The Milo Foundation after her beloved Australian Shepherd, who she learned at five weeks was deaf and blind. Their beautiful relationship inspired her to advocate for other animals who need a chance. Today Milo rescues dogs and cats from high-kill animal control shelters, providing them sanctuary and rehabilitation until they’re ready for their new home. Based in Point Richmond and Mendocino, CA, Milo also provides community education around responsible pet guardianship.
For donors who care about:
- Adopt Don’t Shop
- Dogs and cats
- No-kill shelters
- Homeless animals
- Behavioral training
- Pet fostering
How to Support The Milo Foundation:
- Make a direct donation
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Volunteer at their adoption center or sanctuary
- Foster
- Adopt a dog or cat of your own!
9. Muttville
Muttville is changing the way the world sees older dogs. What started in Sherry Franklin’s own Bay Area home–where she saved older dogs considered “unadoptable”–is now a model for other animal rescues. This is thanks to their pioneering cage-free facility, foster program, on-site veterinary suite, and hospice program, which have earned them the highest rating from Charity Navigator. They also have a program called Seniors for Seniors which matches elder rescues with senior citizens, for whom they waive the adoption fee.
For donors who care about:
- Adopt Don’t Shop
- Senior dog rescue
- Homeless animals
- Pet adoption
- Pet fostering
How to Support Muttville:
- Donate one time, monthly, or in tribute to a loved one
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Volunteer with events, press, transport, dog walking, or whatever talents you want to share!
- Foster
- Adopt
10. Pets in Need
Pets in Need is on a mission to find lasting homes for animals in danger of being euthanized due to lack of space or funds. Their shelters in Redwood City and Palo Alto provide loving care to dogs, cats, and small animals while they wait to meet their new family. Compassion is behind everything Pets in Need does, and they are proud to use positive reinforcement, force-free training to ready their rescues for the world. They also make waves in the local community with programs like PIN Pal Virtual Reading Club, where children practice their skills by reading to pets.
For donors who care about:
- Shelter overcrowding
- No-kill shelters
- Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and birds
- Youth programs
- Spay/neuter
How to Support Pets in Need:
- Donate directly on their website or through their Chewy wishlist
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Volunteer remotely or in-shelter
- Foster
- Adopt
11. Social Tees Animal Rescue
Social Tees is a safe haven for dogs and cats at risk of euthanasia. Based in the East Village of NYC, they provide love and veterinary care to animals before placing them in their new families. That means all of their pets are neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, and ready to come home. Social Tees is proud to save animals that are especially unlikely to make it out of shelters, which is why they created their special programs Underdogs & Undercats, The Mutternity Ward, and Grandpaws.
For donors who care about:
- No-kill organizations
- Dogs and cats
- Sick, injured, and special needs animals
- Pregnant animal rescues
- Bottle baby rescues
- Senior animals
How to Support Social Tees Animal Rescue:
- Make a donation directly or via their Amazon wishlist
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Donate your car—they need vehicles for transport to veterinary appointments, adoption events, and more
- Foster
- Adopt
12. Rocket Dog Rescue
All dogs deserve loving homes no matter their age—But many loyal companions wait in crowded shelters where they’re deemed surplus, at risk of being killed. Enter Rocket Dog Rescue: They place these dogs in foster homes where they get everything they need to become adoptable. Then they work with the Bay Area community (through their volunteer network, adoption fairs, and even neighborhood poster campaigns) to find them permanent homes. Rocket Dog Rescue is an all-volunteer, home-based organization, so your donations go entirely to helping animals.
For donors who care about:
- Shelter overcrowding
- Older dogs
- Foster dogs
- Pitbull adoption
- Adopt Don’t Shop
How to Support Rocket Dog Rescue:
- Donate directly
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Volunteer
- Foster
- Adopt
13. Family Dog Rescue
Family Dog Rescue welcomes dogs of all breeds and personalities to their center in the Bay Area. Their focus is rescuing dogs from overcrowded shelters in California, as well as street dogs from Mexico. Family is a huge pillar of what they do: They believe it’s what’s created when a human brings a dog into their life. The organization was founded by Angela Padilla, then a young mom battling breast cancer, who credits the love of rescue dogs to her survival. Today Family Dog Rescue saves over 1,000 dogs per year from certain euthanasia. In their words, “a dog can make a house a home.”
For donors who care about:
- Shelter overcrowding
- Breed discrimination
- Adopt Don’t Shop
- Pet adoption
- Pet fostering
How to Support Family Dog Rescue:
- Give directly through Venmo or set up a recurring donation on their website
- Shop and donate your cash back using Giving Assistant
- Volunteer
- Foster
- Adopt
What is Giving Assistant?
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Members get exclusive coupons and savings at over 3,000 top online brands, plus earn cash back which can be donated easily to any nonprofit organization in the U.S.
Our browser extension makes it easy. Simply download the browser button (free), then shop, save, and automate your cash back donations.