Adopt a vegan lifestyle. If that's too sudden for you, start by decreasing the amount of meat you eat each week. Even one more meatless meal a week helps. When you're comfortable with that, go the distance. Try going completely meat free.

Stop buying leather, fur, wool, and other clothing made from animals. There are synthetics out there, and they're a lot more humane and actually warmer. Here's another hint: try buying fair trade or locally, instead of supporting sweatshop labor.

Seek out products that aren't tested on animals. Most products in health food stores aren't tested on animals, and Peta has a list of both companies that do test and companies that don't test on their website, caringconsumer.com.

Get active! Don't be afraid to drop it into casual conversation about the new lifestyle you're adopting. Try leafletting high traffic areas (college campuses, downtown shopping areas if you're in a city, outside malls) with information about the abuse that animals suffer, whether they be for fur, meat, dairy, egg, or something else that humans profit from.

Seek out animal rights groups nearby. I've recently become active with the Animal Defense League of Chicago and let me tell you, I feel so invigorated when I'm with them. I wish I had found out about the ADL while I was in Massachusetts or New York.

Protest! I've seen that we've had an impact through various protests that I've done (for animal, GLBT, and women's rights throughout the years). You'll of course get some people disagreeing with you and (mainly) being loudmouths, but changing a few people's minds is completely worth it. Plus, it's a great stress reliever to sit there and yell at other people for two hours straight...

Adopt from a shelter! Most dogs and cats sold at pet stores are from fur mills and/or uncaring "backyard breeders". They exploit the breeding animals to further their profits. Some of the things they endure are: continuous breeding until they're, prematurely, too washed up to produce more litters (and then inhumanely disposed of), living in a tiny cage for their entire lives, subjected to inbreeding to obtain the "perfect" traits (and of those offspring, most are born with deformities, mental damage, and sicknesses. These are either covered up for their sale or, sadly, disposed of as they are waste).
Plus, it's not like we have a lack of dogs and cats in shelters and rescue programs. If they're not adopted to a loving home, a lot are either euthanized due to space, or sold to laboratories to conduct animal testing.

Donate! Most local organizations run solely on donations. If you don't have the time to come out and protest, consider making a monetary donation to show your support for our causes. Places like animal shelters also have wish lists of stuff for the animals (blankets, food, etc.) so check with them.

Of course, these are just a few of many suggestions. There are countless ways to help animals. And out there, someone's doing something for the animals every day. We'd love you to join us.