Amanda's Holiday Gift Guide!

The holidays are quickly approaching (along with those holiday birthdays that require extra gift ideas), so I did some online shopping to help you with some animal-friendly gift ideas that also help the animals! These are some of my favorite gift ideas, split into who you’re looking to buy for.

Amanda’s Animal Holiday Gift Guide

For Babies/Kids

For Her

For Him

For Anyone

For Pets

Online Stores

Pacelle Speaks at UGA for Book Tour

"Cruelty cannot be confined; kindness cannot be confined either. They radiate out. That's why it is incredibly important to always try and take the route of kindness." -Wayne Pacelle

I had the pleasure this past week to see Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, speak at the University of Georgia during his book tour. His speech touched on topics he probes in his new book, The Bond: OurKinship with Animals, Our Call to Defend Them.

Pacelle began by talking about the situation in Ohio where 48 exotic species, including lions, tigers, bears and wolves, were let out into the community by their owner who then took his own life. The animals had to be tracked down and killed by law enforcement. This is just one horrific example of why HSUS is working hard to push legislators to take the protection of all animals more seriously. This man, who had a criminal record, should never have been allowed to have these animals as “pets” in the first place (nor should anyone else). However, with the illegal pet trade and Ohio’s lack of laws prohibiting it, he was able to keep a personal collection of dangerous animals in his home. This man not only put himself in danger (and gave these poor animals no life for wild animals), but he put his entire community in danger.

People think that animal welfare is a confined to a small bubble of “cat people” or “dog people,” but in reality, it’s a cause that radiates into so many facets of everyone’s lives around the world. It flows over into our daily meals, violent crimes, environmental protection, public health, and our own health. Think about these points that demonstrate just a few of the connections to other aspects of our lives:

News Story: Skunks Rehabilitated & Released

For those of you who know me, you know that I have a special spot in my heart for skunks! I just came across this short story about nine baby skunks who were rehabilitated and released for a second chance at life in the wild. Check it out:

HSUS: Moment of Release for Nine Skunks

Cruelty-Free Products to Think About

My newest endeavor to help animals on a larger scale involves the daily or weekly products I use--cleaning supplies, toiletries, beauty products, and other products with ingredients that are still tested on animals. Although I admit I haven't quite gotten to the point where all of my products have a "never tested on animals" label, I am slowly moving to purchasing them as I need new items. The main reason why I haven't jumped on this particular bandwagon until now is, frankly, money. So many eco-friendly, animal-friendly products tend to be on the more expensive side, which is great if you're not on a tight budget. But with the combination of a worsened economy and the populations' heightened ethical awareness on purchases has come more affordable, cruelty-free options. As I move toward cabinets filled with only cruelty-free products, I encourage you to join me.

Leaping Bunny Logo.

So why is this so important, you might ask?
Millions of animals in laboratories suffer and die from testing of ingredients and products each year--products that have already been proven safe for humans or could be tested in more humane ways. And as companies become more conscious of the public's desire to purchase cruelty-free products, they have developed slogans and logos that can be deliberately deceiving and misleading to consumers. The main reason why they're misleading is because they say things such as "not tested on animals," referring to the final product but not the ingredients used to make the product at other facilities. Other companies will contract out the testing, fabricating a loop-hole for claiming that they didn't test it on animals. So it quickly becomes confusing and frustrating for those of us who really care about these labels and the truth behind them. Fortunately for us, Leaping Bunny has developed standards and a corresponding logo to help take the frustration out of shopping animal-friendly.

Leaping Bunny "works with companies to help make shopping for animal-friendly products easier and more trustworthy." Their website has an updated list of national and international companies who have proven their compliance with cruelty-free standards, which include not testing the ingredients, formulations, or finished products on animals. They even have a printable Pocket Shopping Guide and a iPhone/Android phone application for you to refer to while shopping, and the Leaping Bunny logo is printed on the majority of their approved cruelty-free products (in case you forget your pocket guide or don't have the app!). They also have an updated list of companies on their website, as they are always trying to move companies to join their cause. Check out their site for other ways you can take action on the cruelty-free product front!

Here are a few of the companies I've already switched over to (or plan to switch to in future purchases) for my household and beauty products:

• Method Products:  They have everything from hand soap to shower cleaner to laundry detergent to baby products, and they are my favorite new top choice in my animal-friendly quest. As an added bonus, their products are non-toxic (not "dirty" ingredients) and recyclable. Available at Target, Lowe's, Kroger, and MethodHome.com for very affordable prices.
• Burt's Bees: They have natural personal care products that are good for the environment, including sunscreen, lip balm, shampoo, and even men's products. A little on the pricier side, but still affordable (most of these products last a long time, too). Available in a multitude of stores and at BurtsBees.com.
• Eco-Me: This company has household supplies, even drain cleaner, and they also have pet-care products. Shouldn't we use cruelty-free products on our pets, too?! Available at Target, Amazon, Petco, RiteAid, and Eco-Me, among others, for affordable prices.

One last link: I encourage you to read a recent article that will get you thinking about universities' roles in animal-testing--just click the article link below.
HSUS, All Animals Magazine, May/June 2011. Behind Closed Doors: The Human Toll of Animal Research, by Ruthanne Johnson.

Will you join me in my journey towards an animal-friendly products home?