6 Ways to Get Active for Animals This Christmas
‘Tis the season of goodwill, mulled wine, mince pies, holiday feasts, family gatherings, carol singers and Christmas shopping. But for some animals, especially those who are killed for food or for their skins, Christmas is anything but a merry occasion. You can help change that, though, with these easy steps for spreading joy to all this December. 
1. Be a Compassionate Christmas Shopper Vote with your wallet by leaving items made from angora, leather and other cruelly derived materials on the shelf. Instead, check out our list of ethical gift ideas, from vegan chocolate to Christmas jumpers.
2. Let Rudolph Have a Rest Animals aren’t Christmas decorations, and it’s not right to treat them as props in nativity displays, Christmas parades or winter wonderlands. If you learn of any nearby events that use reindeer, penguins or other wild animals, please send a polite message to the organisers asking them to rethink their plans.
3. Eat No Turkey
A cruelty-free Christmas dinner is the way to go for anyone with a conscience. So take a leaf out of Paul McCartney’s book – or any of these other meat-free celebs – by leaving dead animals off the Christmas menu. Bonus points if you manage to win over meat-eating family members with your delicious Christmas cooking! And if you’re not sure where to start, check out our guide to having a vegan Christmas feast with all the trimmings.
4. Speak Out Against Foie Gras If you spot foie gras – the fatty liver pâté made by force-feeding ducks and geese – on any Christmas menu, please write to or speak with the manager of the venue to let him or her know how disappointed you are. Foie gras production is so cruel that it’s illegal in the UK, and there’s nothing festive about tinned torture. We can also send you free leaflets to give out – e-mail [email protected] if you’d like some. Image: www.nigelsuttonphotography.com
5. Encourage People to Adopt, Not Shop! Although everyone should know by now that a puppy is for life, not just for Christmas, shelters still see a surge in abandoned dogs and cats following the festive season. Help prevent these tragedies by explaining to others why they should never purchase an animal from a pet shop and by printing out and distributing our poster.
6. Give Us Your Fur Coats! We know none of you would be daft enough to buy any real fur (after all, this is how it’s made). But if you’ve accidentally accumulated some, we’ll gladly take them off your hands, to be featured in awareness-raising demos, donated to homeless shelters or used as bedding for animals in need. ***** For more ways to help animals every day, sign up to our Action Team!
