For the time-sensitive animal advocate, we’ve provided a quick list of indispensable resources and tips for each of the major areas of animal protection work, below. Pick your topic (or topics) and check out the highlighted resource when you have a minute to spare. We think you’ll find the information interesting and -- more importantly -- helpful in your work for animals.
Advocacy Strategies
- Highlighted resource: Understanding the Public Image of the US Animal Protection Movement -- This report provides a summary and analysis of public opinion research relating to the image and credibility of the animal protection movement, based on secondary research collected through March 2004. Though slightly outdated, it provides a comprehensive look at public opinion of animal protection.
- Worth mentioning: HRC’s upcoming Animal Tracker survey will provide new results for core issues such as public support, advocate credibility, etc. Watch for initial results to be published in summer 2008.
- Latest spotlight item: Animal Rights Groups Pick Up Momentum
- Don’t forget: There are 11 other Advocacy Strategy related items in the HumaneSpot.org database.
Animal Experimentation
- Highlighted resource: Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects (CRISP), National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- Updated weekly, CRISP is a "searchable database of federally funded biomedical research projects conducted at universities, hospitals, and other research institutions." It includes research animal usage data and government grant information for all research projects funded by CRISP.
- Latest spotlight item: Attitudes Towards Experimentation on Live Animals
- Don’t forget: There are 71 other Animal Experimentation related items in the HumaneSpot.org database.
Companion Animals
- Highlighted resource: National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy -- The council "consists of animal-related organizations brought together to work on mutual goals regarding homeless pets." See in particular their research page and the Shelter Statistics Survey (1994-1997), a survey of about a thousand sheltering organizations that provides detailed "usage" data regarding the sources and types of "surplus" companion animals in U.S. shelters.
- Worth mentioning: For more research, see FIREPAW or studies by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association and Purina Corporation.
- Latest spotlight item: Does Pet Ownership Reduce your Risk for Heart Disease?
- Don’t forget: There are 72 other Companion Animal related items in the HumaneSpot.org database.
Entertainment Animals
- Highlighted resource: International Species Information System (ISIS) -- ISIS is an international nonprofit project whose primary goal is creating software to track and share demographic data for animals kept in zoos and aquariums worldwide. According to its website, "ISIS is working with experts worldwide to create a Web-based global database of information on more than 2 million animals and their environments."
- Latest spotlight item: Farm-Based Recreation: A Statistical Profile
- Don’t forget: There are 16 other Entertainment Animal related items in the HumaneSpot.org database.
Farmed Animals
- Highlighted resource: USDA/National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) -- NASS is the USDA agency primarily responsible for collecting and publishing farmed animal data and statistics. Usage and slaughter data are typically available by month, year, etc., and for most U.S. states. In some cases the data are raw or presented in a less useful format for animal advocates, such as slaughter data for farmed fish, which are provided in pounds.
- Worth mentioning: The European Union’s Welfare Quality Project provides comprehensive research regarding public opinion about farmed animals.
- Latest spotlight item: What is "Ethical" Veal?
- Don’t forget: There are 216 other Farmed Animal related items in the HumaneSpot.org database.
Vegetarianism and Veganism
- Highlighted resource: Advocating Meat Reduction and Vegetarianism to US Adults -- A comprehensive study on the meat consumption habits of U.S. adults, focusing in particular on meat reduction and the motivations for encouraging meat reduction. The study was conducted by the Humane Research Council.
- Worth mentioning: Vegetarianism in the US: A Summary of Quantitative Research.
- Latest spotlight item: Men and Vegetarianism: Motivations and Barriers to Becoming Vegetarian
- Don’t forget: There are 305 other Vegetarianism and Veganism related items in the HumaneSpot.org database.
Wildlife and Exotics
- Highlighted resource: U.S. Trapping Statistics from the Animal Protection Institute (API) -- API contacted U.S. state wildlife agencies and collected data about the numbers of wild animals who are trapped in each state, then combined those findings to estimate the overall number of animals trapped in the United States, by species. Data are from 1986-2003.
- Worth mentioning: Responsive Management, Inc., a market research firm working for government agencies, pro-hunting groups, etc.
- Latest spotlight item: Report on the Public Opinion on Fish and Wildlife Management Issues...in the Southeastern U.S.
- Don’t forget: There are 251 other Wildlife and Exotic related items in the HumaneSpot.org database.