Show of hands: How many of you know someone who has bought a fish as a "low-maintenance pet" for the kids, stuck the fish in a bowl, and then forgotten all about him or her? Extra credit if the people in question have clandestinely replaced the (dead) fish several times so as to avoid "traumatizing" the youngsters. Well, this is "Be Kind to Animals" Week, so let's take this opportunity to stop the madness!

© Robert Thompson/The Oldie/http://www.theoldie.co.uk/

 
Fish are not decorations or toys. They have cognitive skills that rival those of primates, use tools, maintain complex social relationships, and communicate with each other using low-frequency sounds that humans can't even hear. Confining fish to a cramped tank or bowl, forcing them to swim in endless circles through the same few cubic inches of (often filthy) water, is just as cruel as chaining or crating a dog 24 hours a day.

If you or your friends or family have fish, you can strive to make them as comfortable as possible. The first order of business is to replace the glass bowl with an aquarium that is large enough to provide at least 3 gallons of water per inch of fish. It should be equipped with a pump, a filter, live plants, and objects for the fish to explore and hide in. The water needs to be treated for chlorine, kept between 68°F and 76°F, and have the appropriate pH level for the types of fish.

Share this information with any goldfish wardens―I mean, "guardians"―you know. And tell anyone contemplating imprisoning a fish that a far more humane way of entertaining the kids is to let them watch a live online stream, like the one from a camera in the Grand River in Ontario, Canada.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

In honor of "Be Kind to Animals" Week, each day we are featuring an easy way for anyone to be kind to animals. And it wouldn't be complete without a day devoted to "man's best friend." (Don't worry, cat people—your day is coming.)
 

 
There are few things dogs love more than going for walks, but if you're using a prong or choke collar, you are turning something fun into something that could do a lot more harm than good to your dog. In addition to being painful and cruel, such collars are extremely dangerous and can cause asphyxiation, a crushed trachea, a bruised esophagus, crushed or fractured bones, fainting, bruising and damage to the skin and tissues of the neck, including discs, and other painful injuries. Dogs who are yanked and choked can also become frustrated, fearful, and aggressive. By contrast, adjustable harnesses, including the no-pull kind, help keep dogs safe on walks without hurting them.

And let's not forget the choke chain's wicked stepsister: the shock collar. These cruel collars can cause physical and psychological injuries, including burns, cardiac fibrillation, anxiety, and aggression.

If you see someone using a choke or shock collar on their dog, warn them about the dangers and urge them to switch to humane control and training methods that use positive reinforcement, not pain. 
 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

To celebrate "Be Kind to Animals" Week, we're featuring easy ways to be kind to animals that anyone can try—in some cases, without even leaving the house.
 

olois/cc by 2.0

 
Our week starts with one of the smallest animals: mice. If you find yourself sharing your home with a mouse, there are easy cruelty-free methods for parting ways. A Humane Smart Mousetrap, available from PETA, is an easy solution, but you can also make a trap yourself by putting oatmeal and peanut butter in the bottom of a small wastebasket and stacking books outside it so that the mouse can climb in, but not out. Check the trap every hour and release your evicted houseguest no more than 100 yards away.

Most importantly—you can only prevent return visits by sealing holes and cracks, keeping food in sealed containers, and keeping floors and countertops clean and free of crumbs.

Look for more easy ways to be kind to animals every day this week.
 

Written by Michelle Sherrow