From the adorable pooch soundly sleeping in your lap to the fish and amphibians roaming the waters, every animal plays an important role in our environment and human wellness. Interacting with them helps our health, both physical and emotional. And their existence alone keeps our world and its environment and ecosystems running smoothly, without us really realizing it in our day-to-day lives.
Animals truly do so much for us, and we’re here to remind you of that with a list of the most adorable creatures from the “Chonky Woofers For My Depression” Facebook page. Scroll down to find them, and don’t forget to upvote the ones that made you crack a smile or two.
#1
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#2
My friend read reports about a stranded dog on Mt. Bross in Colorado and proceeded to climb the mountain and rescue said dog.
Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
#3
Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
Since animals do so much for us, we at least should try to give some of that back. We can do so by being kind to them, taking action to help those already around us, and minimizing our individual impact on wildlife and industrial animal cruelty.
The first obvious step we can take to improve animal welfare, as suggested by the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA), is to adopt. Many adorable creatures enter shelters every day, and they definitely deserve a second chance at having a warm, loving home.
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#5
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#6
My 10+yo dog likes to sleep on my legs. I made her this out of some of my old jeans for her to sleep on while I’m at work.
Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
If you don’t have the conditions to house an animal long-term, a great alternative is pet fostering. Foster caregivers help shelters double the number of animals they can rescue by giving them the best possible place to wait for their permanent home. All a person has to do to become one is love animals and be willing to learn. No previous animal experience is needed.
Of course, it’s worth mentioning that the longer they spend time with the animal, the harder it will be to part with them. So just keep in mind that pet fostering can end up with a furry fella in your home (but who would complain?).
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#8
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#9
Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
In case fostering is not your cup of tea, you can try volunteering at an animal shelter. Thanks to volunteers, HRA can save 100,000 animals every year across their DC and New Jersey campuses. These contributors help with a variety of tasks, like training and caring for the animals, going for a walk in the park, helping them find new homes, and supporting community and special events. Many shelters would be very glad to have you if it’s something you might consider doing!
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#12
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A financial donation is also more than welcome. Often, animal rescues rely on the community to cover the expenses of everyday supplies and daily operations. Shelters additionally post wishlists on their website full of things they need the most at their facilities. So if you are too busy or unable to foster or volunteer, this can be a great way to help the creatures in need.
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#14
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#15
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If a person already has a four-legged companion in their care, the Humane Rescue Alliance stresses that they have identification. This can help in case the animal gets lost, as identification tags or microchips allow them to get home quickly and safely if they ever accidentally wander from home. Encouraging others to do the same ensures that owners aren’t separated from their beloved pets and prevents them from ending up in shelters by mistake.
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#17
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#18
Charlie got his balls snipped today and he hated the cone but is VERY okay with this plate instead. Here he is, purring.
Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
In addition, it’s important to have a disaster plan for your pet in case of an emergency, whether it’s a natural disaster or a serious illness. Leaving a pet in a rush of disaster can result in them getting lost, injured, or even killed. This can all be avoided by having a plan of action and a pet emergency kit. For some tips on how to create them, make sure to check out HRA’s website.
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#20
An officer halts traffic to make way for a cat carrying a kitten across the street, 1925.
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#21
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For animals that freely roam outside, we should provide them with native pollinator and bird-friendly plants by planting them in our gardens. For example, sunflowers are great multipurpose plants that are great for pollinators for their blooms and birds can enjoy the seeds after that. It’s also recommended to avoid using pesticides when gardening, too, as these chemicals are harmful to insects and other animals.
#22
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#23
An eagle decided to land at one of the two college football games played today. That eagle managed to find probably one of the only Natives sitting in the stands at the game.
Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
#24
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In urban and suburban areas, make sure to put out fresh water, as it can be hard for wildlife to find places to quench their thirst. Make your neighborhood more animal-friendly by giving up cruel forms of traps and avoiding single-use plastics that end up littering the streets. When ingested, pollutants like plastic bags and straws can strangle and kill wildlife.
#25
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#26
My wife started feeding a stray cat but I'm allergic so we couldn't take her into our house. I built the cat her own instead. It's insulated and has electric heating. Look at that happy little face!
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#27
Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
Additional tips on improving animal welfare include choosing products that haven’t been tested on animals or made out of real fur. Eating more plants and sharing these tips with others can make our society kinder towards other creatures and make their living conditions better.
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#36
My neighbour's job is taking in really fat cats and helping them lose weight before they're rehomed and this is her latest resident. So far he has lost 4lb.
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#37
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Image credits: Chonky Woofers for my depression
