Thirty years ago, I was on a team that followed transport trucks full of terrified horses who were being taken to slaughter. This was back when there were still horse slaughter plants in the United States. By exposing what was happening inside those plants, we helped to end the practice of horse slaughter in the U.S.
When I began this work, I only saw that one facet of it—and it’s something I will absolutely never forget. Since then, I’ve come to see and appreciate that our central calling as advocates for animals is to stand up and fight for all animals who are suffering and to reform cruel systems to prevent animals from suffering in the future.
Kathy Milani/The HSUS
Our efforts around the globe include campaigns to protect wildlife, improve welfare and protect farmed animals, promote animal-free testing methods and end industries that exploit animals. This is an enormous undertaking, so you might wonder what it really looks like to tackle such huge challenges.
I’ve learned how tackling the root causes of animal cruelty takes strategy and persistence on multiple levels to create change. It takes the expertise of our staff—including scientists and veterinarians, educators and lawyers, animal caregivers and plant-based chefs, technology experts and policy specialists, project managers and more. It takes inclusion, compassion and respect for one another and the partner organizations, allies and supporters who make our work possible.
By taking a multipronged approach, we not only help animals in need but also fight the root causes of their misery and suffering—saving billions of others from a similar fate.
To explain how your support helps us fight—and win—for all animals, I’m going to share a behind-the-scenes look at our work over the next few weeks.
I’ll describe how we help animals by focusing on ending the worst forms of institutionalized animal suffering. Our progress results directly from our donors whose support makes our work possible.
I’ll detail how we help animals by responding to large-scale cruelty cases and disasters around the world, providing rescue, hands-on care, logistics and expertise when animals are imperiled in crisis situations.
I’ll explain how we help animals by creating a stronger animal protection movement through partnerships, trainings, support, collaboration and more, and how this empowers and expands the capacity of animal welfare advocates and organizations in the U.S. and across the globe.
I’ll also provide information and insights concerning our sanctuaries, which heal and provide lifelong care to animals who are abused, abandoned, exploited, vulnerable and neglected.
In the past, I’ve shared a bit about how I got into this work in the hopes that my story might inspire a new generation of animal advocates to use their skills to do good for our fellow creatures. I’m excited to go into more detail about how, together with our supporters, we’re creating a more humane world and how you can get even more involved to help secure that future for animals. More soon.
Kitty Block is president and CEO of Humane World for Animals. Follow Kitty Block on X.
