The World Belongs to All of Us, Not Some of Us.
Compassionate living is fundamentally incompatible with cruelty to animals. Extending Kindness hopes to help individuals extend their circle of compassion to all living beings through education, advocacy, and community outreach.
-
Stopping Puppy Mills
-
Ending Animal Testing
-
Reducing Pet Homelessness
-
Going Skin, Fur & Feather Free
-
Avoiding Meat, Eggs & Dairy
-
Protecting Marine Wildlife
-
Ending Animal Entertainment
-
Protecting Wildlife & Wilderness
“It is our responsibility to bear witness to the exploitation of the oppressed, the suffering of the innocent, and the degradation of the natural world, and to participate in the reconciliation of these ills through intentional acts of love, justice, mercy, and good stewardship.”
-Matthew C. Halteman
Animals Are Sentient Beings
-
Animals Display Empathy
Researchers have found that elephants show consolation behavior when other elephants are distressed by using soothing vocalization and gestures with their trunks. Studies also show that elephants experience a range of emotions, including joy, love, grief, rage and compassion.
-
Animals are Self-Aware
Pigs have been found to show self-awareness, form likes and dislikes, enjoy creative play, experience emotions not unlike our own, and possess cognitive capabilities similar to young children. Pigs exhibit “emotional contagion” — a simple form of empathy.
-
Animals are Intelligent
Chimpanzees are capable of problem-solving and complex communication. Researchers have taught chimpanzees sign language and have observed emotional intelligence and displays of empathy towards other species. Their life span is 40 to 50 years in the wild.
-
Animals Build Relationships
Dolphins have intellectual abilities like complex communication and the ability to build relationships. They live in family groups, form strong bonds, and are very emotionally intelligent. They are highly social animals that hunt and even play together.
On Battling Our Cognitive Dissonance:
BLOG
-
![]()
The Right to Life Does Not Run Parallel to Only Our Own Species
-
![]()
Humanewashing: How Deceptive Labeling Enables Our Ignornace
-
![]()
We Vividly See Our Own Oppression but Ignore How We Treat Other Beings
-
![]()
Red Velvet: An Honest and Personal Reflection on the Loss of a Pet
-
![]()
Anthropocentrism: Humanity as the Center of the Universe
My Impact
I hope to make my impact by spreading awareness, rejecting animal exploitation (with the choices I make in food, clothing, and entertainment), volunteering at animal rescues and shelters, and donating to animal rights causes, my local rescue organizations, and urgent need animal rescue efforts.
Rescue Stories
-
Gizmo's Story
Gabriele shares the story of Gizmo’s adoption. Gizmo was surrendered by his owner, along with two other dogs, and left at a high-kill animal pound in Indiana. Jean, a Cry for Help Animal Rescue organizer, took him in as a foster, cared for him, and listed him for adoption. He has now found his forever family and has inspired his humans to extend their kindness to all animals.
-
Ralphie's Story
Ralphie’s dog mom shares the story of Ralphie’s adoption. Ralphie was born in a puppy mill with congenital deformities in both back legs. Because of this, he found himself at a high kill animal shelter. After having been rescued, fostered, and adopted, Ralphie is now a little man on a big mission to educate people about the cruelty of puppy mills and why it’s important to stop them.
-
Tito's Story
Tito’s dog mom tells the story of Tito’s adoption. Tito is a senior rescue who was found after months on the streets of Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. He was likely abandoned in the wake of Hurricane Maria. He was skin and bones and found after being hit by a car. After being nursed back to health, he was flown to NYC by Paws4Survival where he was fostered and then officially adopted.
Submit Your Own Rescue Story.
Please submit your own rescue story here for a chance to be featured.