General Animal Welfare & Education Groups

The American Horse Defense Fund's (AHDF) mission is to facilitate the protection, conservation, and humane treatment of members of all Equid species. AHDF works to address inhumane treatment of horses, ponies, donkeys, mules and burros, both wild and domesticated through education, advocacy and litigation when necessary in the state, federal and international arenas.

The mission of the American Humane Association, as a network of individuals and organizations, is to prevent cruelty, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children and animals and to assure that their interests and well-being are fully, effectively, and humanely guaranteed by an aware and caring society. American Humane envisions a nation where no child or animal will ever be a victim of willful abuse or neglect. As a recognized leader in professional education, training and advocacy, research and evaluation, American Humane joins with other similarly missioned individuals and organizations to make this vision a reality.

Our mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. We offer national programs in humane education, public awareness, government advocacy, shelter support, and animal medical services and placement. Our New York City headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital, behavior center, adoption facility, and Humane Law Enforcement Department. We are a privately funded 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.

Animal Concerns is the online community for people concerned about the welfare and rights of animals. As a project of the EnviroLink Network, it is maintained by EnviroLink volunteers around the world.

For nearly a quarter-century, the Animal Legal Defense Fund has been pushing the U.S. legal system to end the suffering of abused animals. Founded by attorneys active in shaping the emerging field of animal law, ALDF has blazed the trail for stronger enforcement of anti-cruelty laws and more humane treatment of animals in every corner of American life. Today, ALDF's groundbreaking efforts are supported by hundreds of dedicated attorneys and more than 100,000 members. Every day, ALDF works to protect animals by:

• Providing free legal assistance to prosecutors handling cruelty cases.
• Maintaining a database of animal abuse crimes across the country.
• Working to strengthen state anti-cruelty statutes.
• Encouraging the federal government to enforce existing animal protection laws.
• Nurturing the future of animal law through Student Animal Legal Defense Fund chapters.
• Educating the public through seminars, workshops and other outreach efforts.
• Supporting lawsuits that explore important issues and expand the boundaries of animal law.

AWI is a non-profit charitable organziation founded in 1951 to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted on animals by humans. Specific goals are:

• Refinement of the housing and handling of laboratory animals;
• Development and use of non-animal testing methods;
• Prohibition on use of steel jaw leghold traps and reform of other cruel methods of controlling wildlife;
• Preservation of species threatened with extinction;
• Strict regulation of humane transport conditions for all animals; and
• Reform of cruel production systems for the rearing of farm animals.

ARK Online is an independent publication staffed by a (small) group of people who care about animals and want to use the Web to broadcast information about animal welfare to a wide array of readers. We believe in the democratic potential of the Web and so chose to be an exclusively electronic format.

Doris Day Animal League is a nonprofit, national, citizen's lobbying organization working to improve the humane treatment of animals. We work with the U.S. Congress, government agencies, and state and local officials, to pass laws and enforce existing laws that reduce the suffering of animals anywhere they are mistreated. Numerous states and cities have benefited from our assistance in drafting legislation, organizing support and actual lobbying.

The Mission of the Episcopal Network for Animal Welfare is to create an inclusive and mutually-supportive venue for Episcopal animal advocates with a variety of interests and gifts; and to offer our presence, passion, enthusiasm and resources to help equip the churches to give meaningful voice to every creature under Heaven, especially where neglect, cruelty, degradation and commercial exploitation are concerned.

The Fund for Animals was founded in 1967 by prominent author and animal advocate Cleveland Amory , and has spearheaded some of the most historic and significant events in the history of the animal protection movement. With regional offices working around the country on hard-hitting animal advocacy campaigns, and animal care facilities such as the world-famous Black Beauty Ranch, The Fund is one of the largest and most active organizations working for the cause of animals throughout the world.

The HSUS is dedicated to creating a world where our relationship with animals is guided by compassion. We seek a truly humane society in which animals are respected for their intrinsic value, and where the human-animal bond is strong.

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization dedicated to ending the exploitation and abuse of animals by raising the status of animals beyond that of mere property, and by defending their rights, welfare and habitat. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi and Cameroon, Africa.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress. We seek to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people.

The mission of The Fund for Horses is to promote and safeguard the health, safety and welfare of all equines worldwide, whether captive or in the wild, by influencing protective legislation and encouraging the enforcement of existing laws. We are particularly dedicated to ensuring that humane standards are set and kept relating to the working and/or domestic life of all equines, from the beginning to the end of their lives. Additionally, we are committed to the conservation of wild horses, asses, mules, donkeys, burros and zebras in their natural habitats.
The Fund for Horses are firmly committed to fulfilling its mission statement through peaceful and lawful means. Therefore it will neither knowingly nor willingly participate in or condone, incite or promote others to participate in unlawful or un-peaceful activities, nor will it harass, encourage others to harass, or support those who do.

Founded in 1918, Latham is a clearinghouse for information about:

- Humane issues and activities
- The human companion animal bond (HCAB)
- Animal-assisted therapy
- The connections between child and animal abuse and other forms of violence
- Producer and distributor of affordable videos and publications on the above topics
- Publisher of the Latham Letter
- Creator and sponsor of the "Search for Excellence" Video Awards

The National Animal Interest Alliance is an association of business, agricultural, scientific, and recreational interests dedicated to promoting animal welfare, supporting responsible animal use and strengthening the bond between humans and animals. Our members are pet owners, dog and cat clubs, obedience clubs and rescue groups as well as breeders, trainers, veterinarians, research scientists, farmers, fishermen, hunters and wildlife biologists. Its membership includes some of America's most respected animal professionals, advocates and enthusiasts.

The National Horse Protection Coalition is a diverse collection of organizations from the horse industry, humane community and equine rescues from across the United States. The Coalition's mission is simple and specific: to pass H.R. 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act and end the brutal industry practice that leads to the slaughter of America's horses.

The goals of PetAbuse.com:

• To increase public awareness of the animal cruelty/human violence connection
• To encourage everyone to take animal cruelty seriously
• To provide a database enabling animal adoption agencies to research potential adopters for possible prior abuse history within and across state and national lines (AARDAS)
• To monitor and review reports of animal cruelty from across the country.
• To assist legislators and activists in communities throughout the United States as they seek to enact and strengthen anti-cruelty laws.
• To promote the standardization of animal-cruelty reporting and tracking.
• To educate and train people regarding the connection between animal cruelty and violence in society.
• To provide real-time information for use in research for the general public
• To provide the technical tools and networking to allow animal agencies across the globe to be able to share information and enter their cases in one unified global database, and to pro-actively encourage and support those agencies to use the tools available to them.
• To collect data through user-feedback which can be used to determine the public's views on local laws and sentencing for animal abusers
• To provide the Humane Society, the ASPCA, and other organizations with real-time data to do sophisticated comparisons and reporting such as: determining areas of the country that need more preventative measures such as education, determining age groups that are the highest risk
• To provide helpful materials and resources for shelters so that they can create their own community education programs
• To promote a loving and responsible relationship between humans and animals

The Pet Savers Foundation is a non-profit corporation, founded in 1992, to solve a growing national tragedy: the needless suffering and death of homeless companion animals, primarily dogs and cats. We believe that every adoptable companion animal has value and a life worth living.

Pets 911 exists to effect social change in this country by providing a free public service that will one day ensure an environment where all animals are valued companions and have lifetime, loving homes. This free network, which is a collaborative effort of all the animal rescue organizations and services across the country, is easily accessible through both a toll-free phone number and website, which promises easy access to all the local pet information necessary to instill responsible pet ownership and overcome the issue of animal homelessness.

Society & Animals Forum, Inc., (formerly Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), a 501(c)(3) organization, produces educational programs and materials on the relationship between human and non-human animals. The objective of Society & Animals Forum is to reduce violence against human and non-human animals. The organizational activities include publication, design, production, and distribution of journals and other educational materials, workshops, and advocacy programs.

SPAY/USA, a program of The Pet Savers Foundation, is a nationwide network and referral service for affordable spay/neuter services. Our mission is to reduce the number of unwanted cats and dogs and to stop their suffering. Anyone who needs assistance finding affordable spay/neuter services can benefit from calling SPAY/USA! We also help people who want to set up programs in their own areas to help those in need. Spay/neuter services should be within reach - geographically and financially - for everyone who has a cat or dog. We have over 1,000 sterilization programs and clinics nationwide with 7,000 top-notch veterinarians in the network as of 2003. Our goal is to make spay/neuter services affordable to those who might not otherwise spay/neuter their pets. By working together, we hope to popularize and facilitate spay/neuter services throughout the country.

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) is a unique scientific and technical animal welfare organisation. We use scientific knowledge and established expertise to improve the welfare of animals kept as pets, in zoos, laboratories, and on farms and of wild animals with which we interact.

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Human-Animal Bond Sites

The mission of CENSHARE is to create opportunities to acquire, disseminate, and apply knowledge about the relationship between animals, humans, and their shared environment so that our choices improve the quality of life for all.

IAHAIO, the International Association of Human-Animal Interaction Organizations, was founded in 1990 to gather together national associations and related organizations interested in advancing the understanding and appreciation of the link between animals and humans.

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Animal-Assisted Therapy & Therapy for Animals Sites

The Delta Society's mission is "Improving human health through service and therapy animals." Our vision is a world in which people are healthier and happier because companion, therapy, and service animals share our everyday lives. Delta Society is an international, non-profit organization that unites people who have mental and physical disabilities and patients in healthcare facilities with professionally trained animals to help improve their health.

Equine Facilitated Mental Health Association (EFMHA) is a globally recognized organization that promotes health by bringing people and equines together in mutually beneficial ways. We are a section of NARHA, a membership organization that for over 30 years has fostered safe, professional, and ethical therapeutic equine activities. This is accomplished through education, communication, and standards of practice and research for people with and without disabilities. EFMHA is an active membership organization serving the needs of its members, mental health, education, and equine professionals.

Our Mission

Equissage was founded and incorporated in 1989 by certified (Human) Massage Therapist, Mary A. Schreiber. Mary became interested in using massage on animals, and specifically horses, as a result of the outstanding benefits she saw on human clients.

The IAAMT is a Networking Association of Animal Massage Technicians trained and operating under guidelines specifically designed to achieve the ultimate benefits of the therapy. As such, the Association's Members follow a strict code, which includes the following:

NARHA is a membership organization that fosters safe, professional, ethical and therapeutic equine activities through education, communication, standards and research for people with and without disabilities. The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) promotes equine facilitated therapy and activity programs in the United States and Canada. Currently, more than 650 NARHA program centers serve some 30,000 individuals with disabilities. Each year, dozens of new centers initiate new programs and thousands of individuals profit from these beneficial activities.

Pets Are Wonderful Support {PAWS} is a volunteer-based organization that helps improve the quality of life for persons with AIDS and other disabling illnesses by offering the emotional and practical support to keep the love and companionship of their pets, and by providing information on the benefits and risks of animal companionship.

We are dedicated to sharing the TTEAM and TTouch philosophy and techniques in order to develop a deeper understanding of animals and ourselves, to heal our relationships with others, nature and the environment.

Philosophy

Therapy Dogs International, Inc. (TDI) is a volunteer group organized to provide qualified handlers and their Therapy Dogs for visitations to institutions, facilities, and any other place where Therapy Dogs are needed. TDI is a non-profit organization. There is no charge for visitations. All funds are derived from associate membership dues. Donations or bequests are welcome. The primary objective of the TDI dog and handler is to provide comfort and companionship by sharing the dog with the patients in hospitals, nursing homes and other institutions and wherever else the Therapy Dog is needed. This is done in a way that increases emotional well being, promotes healing, and improves the quality of life for the people being visited and the staff that cares for these people.

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Animal Ministries

God, Bless the Animals is a prayer ministry for animals around the world. It is the purpose of this ministry to enhance the life experience of all animals with which we share our planet and to nurture the environment that supports all living things -- through prayer.

God's Creatures Ministry's mission is to light the way to the kingdom of God by promoting compassion for all animals.

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Animal Health Information

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Animal Conservation and Protection

The Alliance for Zero Extinction (AZE), a global initiative of biodiversity conservation organizations, aims to prevent extinctions by identifying and safeguarding key sites where species are in imminent danger of disappearing. The goal of the Alliance is to create a front line of defense against extinction by eliminating threats and restoring habitat to allow species populations to rebound.

Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.

The mission of Bat Conservation International is to protect and restore bats and their habitats worldwide.

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between Governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) cares about saving endangered species and habitat. It bases its mission and activities on the development and implementation of scientifically sound processes. CBSG takes a leadership position in the conservation community based on cross-cultural, interdisciplinary and inter-sector partnerships. CBSG champions openness, inclusiveness, morality, ethics and risk-taking. It constantly evolves in response to the needs of all those concerned with conserving the planet's biodiversity. It depends on the warmth, support, acceptance and vitality of its extended community.

Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities. We focus our programs on what scientists consider two of the most serious environmental threats to the planet: the accelerating rate of extinction of species and the associated loss of biological diversity, and habitat alteration and destruction. Long known for our leadership on endangered species issues, Defenders of Wildlife also advocates new approaches to wildlife conservation that will help keep species from becoming endangered. Our programs encourage protection of entire ecosystems and interconnected habitats while protecting predators that serve as indicator species for ecosystem health.

The Mountain Gorilla Geomatics Project began in 1992 as a collaboration between Dr. H. Dieter Steklis, Vice President and Scientific Director of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International (D.F.G.F. I.) and Dr. Scott Madry formerly of the Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis located in Rutgers University, currently President of Informatics International, Inc. and Research Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The goal of the project was to use state-of-the-art Geomatics technologies in support of the on-going research activities to preserve the Mountain Gorillas in the Virunga mountains, one of the least mapped and more inaccessible areas in the world. This project was initially designed to create maps for the use of field crews, create vegetation maps, map gorilla movements using GPS receivers, and to integrate ongoing research activities using GIS. It has been ongoing since 1992, and has grown to include researchers and scientists from many institutions and organizations around the world. Our goal is to use advanced remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technologies (often refered to together as "Geomatics" technologies) to provide a digitized database of the mountain gorilla habitat. The database includes layers of information that contain vegetation patterns, gorilla ranging and human use of gorilla habitat, including changes over time, and the impact of human encroachment on the reserve.

Earthtrust is an international nonprofit organization which holds funds in trust for the earth, adhering to high standards of accountability and donor-direction of assets. It works in partnership with sophisticated donors such as foundations and disciplined individuals to change the world.

Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) is an advocacy group dedicated to actively working with state and federal agencies to maintain the current protections for sea otters as well as to increase and broaden these preservation efforts. We wish to inspire the public at large about the otters' unique behavior and habitat.

Gorilla Haven's mission is to help make every captive gorilla's life as enriched and natural as possible through husbandry and research and to promote education about gorilla conservation in zoos and the wild.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) works to improve the welfare of wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in distress. We seek to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of both animals and people.

The International Marine Mammal Association is dedicated to the conservation of marine mammals and their habitats worldwide, through research and education.

The World Conservation Union is the world's largest and most important conservation network. The Union brings together 82 States, 111 government agencies, more than 800 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and some 10,000 scientists and experts from 181 countries in a unique worldwide partnership.

The Union's mission is to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable.

The World Conservation Union is a multicultural, multilingual organization with 1000 staff located in 62 countries. Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.

The mission of United Animal Nations is to protect animals in danger or in need and to focus global attention on their plight.

Endangered Species Program

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