What are some ways of avoiding harming animals?

Answer 1

There are many simple ways that can help prevent harming animals in your daily life.

Being aware of the products you are buying is a major factor. Cleaning products, makeup, hair products, and many other common household items are tested on animals. Research these companies to ensure that you are supporting ones that do not test on animals, such as The Body Shop and Alberto V05.

Another simple way to help animals is to monitor what you are eating. Many meat products come from factory farms in which the animals live unpleasant lives. By going vegetarian or choosing meat products from free range and organic farms you can avoid supporting the horrors of the meat industry. This also applies to buying free range eggs and milk from free range cows.

Of course, avoid wearing fur and leather.

Do not support rodeos, circuses, and other shows that use animals for entertainment.

Avoid purchasing pets from pet stores or breeders. Considering rescuing an animal from a shelter.

Answer 2

This will depend on your definition of 'harm'. If you mean, 'not killing the animal', you are limited to certain products: milk, eggs, wool. If you mean, 'without causing undue stress', you can raise animals in free range and natural fashions then humanely euthanize them to harvest meat, leather, etc. If you mean, 'not doing anything to the animal that the animal might object to, there would be nothing - sheep don't particularly care for being caught and sheared, chickens will peck you for taking their eggs and cows would much rather nurse their offspring than be standing in a milking parlor twice a day.