who to donate to

What charitable organizations do you all like?

I like Friends of Animals.

http://friendsofanimals.org/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/vegan-stater-thumb.jpg

Veganism & animal rights organization.

Friends of Animals is a non-profit, international animal advocacy organization, incorporated in the state of New York since 1957. Friends of Animals works to cultivate a respectful view of nonhuman animals, free-living and domestic. Our goal is to free animals from cruelty and institutionalized exploitation around the world.

Get the "Who We Are, What We Do, How to Join" brochures for more information.

http://friendsofanimals.org/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/whoweare.jpg

I'm very cautious about contributing, especially to national organizations that I can't visit. Non-profits are very good at pulling at your heart strings to open your wallet. I prefer to spend my donations locally where I can drop by & see what they are doing.

Locally, I support Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary & have done some volunteer work for them. I love this place, although it is often times very sad to see the harm our species inflicts on wildlife through our carelessness & ignorance. I also support the two local chapters of the Humane Society. As for human organizations, the only one I support is my local library because I believe education is our best tool to change people’s perspectives.

BTW, here are some links to some charity watchdog organizations. I don’t know how good they are, but they are a start. You can also request financials from any organization that you want to contribute to. They should be willing to provide them.

http://charityguide.org/charity/charityratings.htm

http://www.charitywatch.org/

http://www.heartsandminds.org/links/givelinks.htm#Guidestar

on edit: Daniel, thank you for the link to Friends of Animals. They have a nice website with some excellent campaigns & this is the first I've heard of the parakeet issue. I'm shocked that the Audubon Society would endorse the cruel treatment of these birds. Arghhh!!! I've had parakeets & they are fantastic!

Daniel, thank you for the link to Friends of Animals. They have a nice website with some excellent campaigns & this is the first I've heard of the parakeet issue. I'm shocked that the Audubon Society would endorse the cruel treatment of these birds. Arghhh!!! I've had parakeets & they are fantastic!

Yes, Audubon doesn't have much respect for animals.

I work for Friends of Animals, so if you have any questions you can just PM me. Friends of Animals is very straightforward; we don't play games or try to manipulate people.

For example, Friends of Animals is one of the very few national organizations that did not in anyway try to use the hurricane as a fundraising tool. We have always told people to give to the local organizations working on the ground. Just today we added this update to our Website:

Today, Friends of Animals received a plea from Best Friends: “What the animals who are still struggling on the streets of the Gulf Coast need right now is your voice.”

 

If you wish to join over 20,000 people who signed the Best Friends petition promoting a real plan to save as many animals as possible in the critical days ahead, see

 

http://network.bestfriends.org/Petitions/Detail.aspx?pn=2

 

National humane organizations have received millions of dollars from people like you who are committed to saving the animals caught in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The Best Friends plan calls for those resources to be put to work right now to get more volunteers to the area, provide more staging areas to get the animals to safety, and promote a nationwide adoption campaign in cases where families can’t be found.

An invasive species. Interesting.

So they're not causing any harm to the environment?

What charitable organizations do you all like?

I like Vegan Outreach, Greenpeace, and No Sweat.

http://www.veganoutreach.org/

http://www.greenpeace.org/

http://www.nosweat.org.uk/

An invasive species. Interesting.

 

So they're not causing any harm to the environment?

No, they're not an invasive species; partly because they don't causing any harm to the environment.

To be honest, humans are the big "invasive species."

And lots of the foods we eat are invasive, what about cotton? That wasnt here 500 yrs ago. Corn is in the same category.

And lots of the foods we eat are invasive, what about cotton? That wasnt here 500 yrs ago. Corn is in the same category.

Yep, and the monk parakeets does cause some damage to fruit orchards in Florida. So in that state some people would like to label the parakeet "invasive" (a term for non-native species that cause environmental, health or agricultural harm). As it is, the fruit the parakeets are eating is not a native species.

Here is a photo from last week's protest at the office building of the power company that is killing these birds.

http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d52/veganism/journal/invasive.jpg

Woodson is the Chair and CEO for United Illuminating, his company is capturing monk parakeets that nest on utility poles and having them killed by the USDA.

Haha I love that sign.

That's sharp : )

Currently donating to Farm Sanctuary.

I donate to Vegan Outreach and locally to animals and kids, especially this time of year.

Me.

Feel free to donate to me whenever you feel like it CollegeB.

I don't know how you are going to pass up donating to the Tarz fund CollegeB, but I just received an email from Farm Sanctuary, if you're interested. They need to build a new barn for the cows there:

Working with cattle for almost 20 years, we at Farm Sanctuary know first-hand what sensitive, gentle animals they are. The cows and steers who roam our pastures have become friends to us and their herd mates. Each is an individual with a distinct personality, particular friends and pastimes. They are like family.

 

Knowing these individuals, it is heartbreaking to think of the brutal abuse they endured. Millions of cattle continue to experience this abuse each day ... suffering as "downers" at stockyards because they are so sick and weak that they cannot even stand; abandoned on farms without food or water to die a slow death of starvation; trapped inside barns standing in feces, causing fecal burns and joint disorders from infection; repeatedly impregnated and forced to produce 100 pounds of milk a day in the dairy industry.

 

Farm Sanctuary has saved hundreds of cattle from these abuses. We have made a promise to protect them from cruelty and to give them safe shelter and care – for life. When we receive calls regarding cattle suffering and in need, our rescue team responds, providing veterinary care to rehabilitate starving, weak, sick and injured animals back to health and allowing them to live out their long lives in peace at sanctuary.

 

I am writing today to ask for your help with a serious and time-sensitive need at our New York Shelter to continue that lifesaving work. We must quickly begin constructing a new housing barn and pasture for our cattle herd, and we need the help of friends like you.

 

We will soon be taking in 11 additional cattle who were rescued from the Butler County case. With 47 cattle now in our herd, we have outgrown our old cow barn and require significant additional space. In addition, our old cow barn is now needed for 17 goats rescued in Wisconsin last year, from a farm where goats and sheep were being raised for a nearby restaurant. The rescued goats and sheep were found emaciated and dying in a field littered with the corpses of their herd mates. Sadly, due to neglect, these animals have a disease called Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL), which is contagious to other goats and sheep. Because of their condition, they are currently living at our hospital and are unable to be placed in the adoptive homes we had identified for them.

 

To accommodate the large number of animals we are placing in our permanent herds from recent rescues, as well as the needs of the current Farm Sanctuary herd, we need to begin constructing a new barn immediately.

 

Provided proper care (and love), cows can live over 20 years ... so, as Farm Sanctuary continues to respond to urgent rescue cases each year, saving more animals from abuse, our daily shelter work to care for our hundreds of animal residents continues. With your gift today, we can continue to provide rescued cattle with fresh food and water, safe, clean housing, expansive pasture space to run, play and graze, and the loving care of our shelter staff.

 

The total cost to construct the new and larger cattle barn, with pasture, is $150,000 ... and that's why we need your help so much right now. By helping Farm Sanctuary to build this crucial new barn, you can assure lifelong care for our current herd and save countless more cattle from the horrors of factory farming.

 

Please make a donation today. When cattle are in need, our rescuers will be there to end their pain — but we can't do it without you. Thank you for caring, acting and saving lives.

 

Sincerely,

 

Gene Bauston

President

Click here to donate to Farm Sanctuary:

http://m1e.net/c?46993517-VsWLhN1FNgUNA%401311880-KoeJa5b.5iKBU

Here's an email from SASHA Farms, who are having a benefit to raise money to build a warm shelter for dogs and other animals in their care:

Hello Everyone,

 

It’s a beautiful snowy winter day. The pigs are rooting around in the snow, the horses have a coat of white, but the dogs seem upset. Not all the dogs, just those from Louisiana and Mississippi. This cold and snow business is very new to them and I don’t think they like it.

 

This fall when we undertook this project of rescuing dogs from the Katrina hurricane, I was sure we would have them all reunited with their families or placed into foster or adoptive homes before winter. We did our best. Three dogs went back home in October, one more will return as soon as our veterinarians say she is well enough to travel. Yet another is scheduled for extensive hip surgery next week. Twenty six are in foster care or adopted. Might sound like a success story, but there are still 21 dogs and puppies here at the sanctuary who need loving homes or a warm place to live. It’s getting cold and we need to provide housing for these dogs.

 

I realize that the last few e-news alerts you’ve received are requests for assistance for these refugees from the storm. I apologize for asking again but these lost and loving furry souls deserve it.

 

Construction starts tomorrow on a barn for the dogs. Chelsea Lumber has agreed to give us a 10% discount on the barn and is putting a rush order on the construction. This barn will be outfitted with radiant heaters to keep the dogs warm. We are building this barn as economically as possible, but after the addition of insulation, heaters, water, electricity, pens, and storage space, the estimate is $10,000.

 

The size and location of the new barn is in accordance with our long range plan for the sanctuary. After the dogs have been placed into homes, this barn will be converted into additional housing for farmed pigs. To our surprise, we get requests to take farmed pigs more than any other farm animal. Besides, no barn stays empty for long at Sasha Farm!

 

Several volunteers from a local company organized and funded the first rescue trip to Louisiana and inspired us to return to rescue more dogs. They are currently assisting us to raise funds for this barn. Please join us at a dinner event scheduled for Dec 12 in Ann Arbor at Studio 4 with dinner provided by Shalimar Restaurant. A flyer is attached regarding that event.

 

We have exclusive use of Studio 4 for the evening and dinner will be followed by dancing. I’ve been to Shalimar several times and the food is excellent. The evening should be a great time for a great cause!

 

For more information please contact [email protected] or by phone. Please share this e-mail with your friends.

 

Dorothy Davies

Director

Sasha Farm Animal Sanctuary

PO Box 222, Manchester, MI 48158

734-428-9617

www.sashafarm.org

SASHA Farm's link is http://www.sashafarm.org/ .

Crash, I loved 'meeting' the animals on Sasha's site, but some of their stories are simply heartbreaking.

http://www.sashafarm.org/images/LOVEY-DOVEY.jpg

Lovey-Dovey endured a barrage of bullets at the Hegins Pigeon Shoot, a "sporting event" that took place in Pennsylvania every Labor Day weekend. At the canned hunt, the defenseless birds were flung out of boxes only to have a row of hunters take aim and shoot them out of the sky. Those that dropped to the ground but were not dead yet had their necks wrung by adolescent boys as part of the "fun." Brave animal advocates ventured onto the killing field to rescue birds before they could be strangled. Lovey was saved in this manner. She is one of several pigeons that survived after being wounded and maimed (no longer able to fly), and was transported to SASHA Farm to live in a specially constructed pigeon coop with her feathered friends.

Shame on every adult who participates in this dreadful event, but especially shame on those that allow their young boys to share the "fun." I wonder how many of these families espouse 'family values'?

Retch.

I have a couple of spare dollars -- Sasha & Friends of Animals will get a little something from me.

You know Tarz I think I saw you on one of those starving children ads on the t.v. not too long ago, I guess you do need some help.

http://www.charitywatch.org/toprated.html#humanrts--->link for charities which are given letter grades. Didnt see many vegan charities on there. Some animal ones, some enviro, PCRM was on there...A+ rating I think.

The links im telling family to donate at are as follows. I didnt come across many vegan world hunger charities, so I picked a few from the rated list. ffl.org is a vegetarian/vegan one though. Also you will notice many of the recommendations from the board are on there. If you have any suggestions post 'em!

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/

http://www.veganoutreach.org/

http://www.greenpeace.org/

http://www.nosweat.org.uk/

http://www.sashafarm.org/

http://www.defenders.org/

http://www.farmsanctuary.org/

http://www.pcrm.org/

http://www.panda.org/

http://www.foei.org/

http://www.collegefund.org/

http://www.hfa.org

http://www.awionline.org/

http://www.childrensdefense.org/

http://www.ccr-ny.org/v2/home.asp

http://www.ash.org.uk/

http://www.citizen.org/

http://www.thesca.org/

http://www.tpl.org/

http://www.endhomelessness.org/

http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/index.asp

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

http://www.archq.org

http://www.imcworldwide.org/index.shtml

http://www.proliteracy.org/

http://www.nmha.org/

http://www.scholarshipamerica.org/

http://secondharvest.org/

http://www.careusa.org/

http://www.ffl.org/

http://foodnotbombs.net/

http://www.ntxfoodbank.org/

nice list. here's a few more...

Compassion Over Killing - works to end animal abuse. COK focuses on cruelty to animals in agriculture and promotes vegetarian eating as a way to build a kinder world for all of us, both human and nonhuman.

http://www.cok.net/

Co-op America - mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.

http://www.coopamerica.org/

The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans consume responsibly to protect the environment, enhance quality of life, and promote social justice.

http://www.newdream.org/

CompassionateGirl, they connect environment and vegetarianism, do a search for vegetarian or beef. here's one article:

The Hidden Costs of Beef Consumption

Men Can Stop Rape - empowers male youth and the institutions that serve them to work as allies with women in preventing rape and other forms of men's violence.

http://www.mencanstoprape.org/

American Indian Movement - pledged to fight White Man's injustice to Indians, his oppression, persecution, discrimination and malfeasance in the handling of Indian Affairs

http://www.aimovement.org/

United for a Fair Economy - raises awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy, corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide, and tear communities apart.

http://www.faireconomy.org/

Amnesty International

http://www.amnesty.org/

I currently donate to Vegan Outreach (monthly)

I donate to the following through a monthly program at work:

Friends of Animals

Alley Cat Allies

American Humane Association

ASPCA

Animal League Defense Fund

In Defense of Animals

Population-Environment Balance

Natural Resources Defense Council (I'm wondering about that one--how pro-hunting they might be)

Awesome work everyone!

And thanks for all the new links I can add to the main website link page

-Rob

Thanks Neil!

Alley Cat Allies

What a great name for an organization! Make me smile.

Thanks Neil!

you're welcome!

Alley Cat Allies

What a great name for an organization! Make me smile.

i love them. they had a spay/neuter clinic for a $5 donation per cat. saved me $170 so i added an additional donation on top.

if you haven't already seen it:

http://www.alleycat.org/

Awwww, that is amazing. Yes, our poor alley cats need all the allies they can get. I often wonder how they keep warm duirng the cold, dark, unsafe Canadian winter nights. And if a mother is having kittens, how she gets through that and how her kittens can possibly survive is beyond me.

In fact, one of many things that piss me off is the heated underground garages for cars (and I have one in my building). The building manager (and I am sure most other residents) would in NO WAY allow any homeless people or animals to come in from the frigid temperatures just to keep warm overnight, yet people's cars are toasty warm. Every time I pull into the garage it just seems so WRONG that beings are needlessly freezing outside when they could simply be kept warm by coming into the underground garages of buildings. We are more concerned about metal than we are about keeping beings warm. I gotta tell ya there is something really effed up with that scenario! I wish I could just round up all the stray animals and homeless people and let them into the warm heated underground parking.

i agree. it's terrible that some are abandoned when there is so much excess. and that material objects are respected more than living beings. so sad.

i've heard that portland oregon is very good to the homeless.