Things to do this spring to help kindness blossom for animals

The sun is setting a little later, flowers are blooming, and baby animals are being shown the ways of the world by their nurturing parents. Spring is the perfect season to embrace the beauty of nature – and to do so in a way that helps shape a kinder world for our furry and feathered friends for many seasons to come.

Here are five ideas for your next free day this spring:

1. Have a picnic and observe animals in their element

One of the simplest joys of spring is enjoying a picnic – solo or with loved ones – amidst the wonders of nature. Head to your local park, nature reserve, or picnic ground, where you might spot families of ducks gliding across ponds, echidnas waddling between bushes, or mobs of kangaroos bounding over the land. It’s amazing how much personality shines through when we pause for a moment and notice each animal simply being themself and living their life.

As you prep to set off on your outdoor adventure, remember to reduce plastic waste as much as possible by packing reusable picnic essentials – like reusable cups, bottles and cutlery. It’s also a good idea to prepare home-cooked food and snacks to enjoy on the picnic, to minimise the single-use containers and packaging that come with most takeaway. And of course, leave the space as clean as you found it (or cleaner, by picking up any rubbish you come across!). Eliminating or reducing the amount of plastic we use, and disposing of it correctly, are simple ways to help reduce the life-threatening risks plastics pose to animals.

Animals Australia's Be Kind reusable drink bottle being held up, a black cow with horns is in the background slightly out of focus.

The Animals Australia Shop has reusable cups, bottles and cutlery, making picnics and eating on-the-go kinder for the planet and the animals we share her with!

2. Make ‘outside’ wildlife-friendly

As the days get warmer and brighter, we’re drawn outdoors to soak up the sunshine, beautiful bird songs, and the symphony of cicadas. Sadly, ‘out there’ is becoming a tougher and harsher place for native animals to navigate. Safe habitat for wildlife is rapidly being destroyed, largely due to the farming of animals. With hungry and thirsty animals trying to survive on the land they too call home, we can help by providing native flora and shallow drinking stations.

Whether you have a small balcony, yard, or live close to green space, you can purchase or plant native flowers, shrubs, and fruit trees to provide resources for bees and other pollinators, and help wildlife like possums and flying foxes with food and shelter. Drinking stations can easily be made using upcycled containers filled with fresh water, with some sticks and rocks in them to help animals who may fall in, climb out safely.

Another space outside your home where you can help animals is your car! In case you ever spot a struggling or injured animal on or by the road, prepare an emergency kit to keep in your boot (including a cage or box, towels, and thick gloves) and save the details of a few local wildlife rescue contacts in your phone.

A baby brushtail possum up close, as they grip tightly onto their mum's fur. — As the human population takes up more and more space – namely for animal agriculture and urban development – wildlife are left with less habitat and food. Learning to better share the land is key to ensuring a kinder future for all animals, like this young ringtail possum.

3. Organise a get-together and share animal-friendly dishes

With the sun gracing us a little longer each evening, reconnecting with friends and family just feels right after our winter hibernation of trackies and documentaries. So why not invite people over for an animal-friendly gathering, offering a spread of mouthwatering plant-based dishes? Farmed animals, despite being capable of feeling fear and pain (and joy and love) just like any other animal, are largely exempt from the laws that are meant to protect animals from cruelty. Choosing to leave them off our plates is the most impactful thing we can do to help spare them from suffering.

Want to have an animal-friendly get-together but not sure where to start? The stunning cookbook Taste for Life covers everything you need to know to host a killer (but kind!) feast. If you’re ready to start browsing right away, head over to VegKit.com, which also has Taste for Life recipes like these crowd-pleasing Garlicky Mushroom Vol-au-vents.

VegKit's Vol-au-vents with Garlicky Mushroom Filling, plated and placed on a vibrant pink tablecloth.

Front cover of 'Taste for Life' cookbook. Image of a person eating with a dog sitting by their side

The Taste for Life cookbook is available in the Animals Australia Shop, offering a complete guide to tasty, animal-friendly cooking!

4. Visit a farmed animal sanctuary

Hit the road and make your way to a farmed animal sanctuary – it’s bound to leave a hoof-print on your heart! Supporting farmed animal sanctuaries through tour tickets, merchandise and donations helps to fund the rescue, rehabilitation and life-long care of animals in need – animals like cows, pigs, goats, sheep, chickens and turkeys, who are so often overlooked.

Safe and free to express natural behaviours in love and safety, the wonderful personalities of these individuals shine through – and they’re as unique and varied as those of the companion animals we share our homes with.

Consider booking a tour at one of the sanctuaries in your state. This is not an exhaustive list, but some sanctuaries in Australian states areEdgar’s Mission (VIC), Where Pigs Fly (NSW), DRU (QLD), Brightside (TAS), Freedom Hill (SA) and Greener Pastures (WA).

Can’t get to a sanctuary? Bring the (plush) animals to you! Proceeds from our symbolic animal adoptions support our work to see all farmed animals live the lives they deserve.

A young pink piglet is sitting in the middle of dirt track looking almost directly at the camera with a peaceful look and almost a smile

Three plush animals - a lamb, a pig and a chick

Symbolic adoptions of Animals Australia’s plush animals help to change the world for real animals – every purchase of these plushes, or any item from the Animals Australia Shop, funds our critical actions for animals in need.

5. Spring clean your house – for animals!

Decluttering your home can be an act of kindness for animals in need – gently-used second-hand towels, blankets, pillows and toys can provide comfort and care to rescued wildlife or companion animals awaiting loving forever-homes in shelters. Be sure to contact your local shelters before dropping off your donations, to ensure they are currently accepting second-hand items at the time.

A caramel-coloured greyhound rests on a cosy blue tartan blanket.

Plant seeds of kindness this spring

Thank you for enjoying spring in ways that are kind to all animals – wildlife, farmed animals, and companion animals. By treading gently and respecting nature while we enjoy her beauty, we can ensure springtime can be enjoyed by everyone.

Share this list with family and friends who also want to help pave the way to a kinder world – or better yet, invite them to join in on one or more of the activities!

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Five things to do this spring to help kindness blossom for animals!

From eco-conscious picnics to transforming your yard into a wildlife haven, you can embrace the changing of the seasons with these simple – and kind – activities.