Animal-Friendliness

What does "Animal-Friendly" mean?
Kind Choices determines an organization's animal-friendliness by the criteria outlined in our "Test of Animal Friendliness". The most recent version of The Test, 2.0, is available here. The previous versions of the Test, 1.3 and 1.2, are available here and here.

The Test requires that an organization not fund, engage in or condone animal experimentation, animal testing, the sale of real fur, hunting, fishing, trapping (excluding some humane live trapping), the "culling" or extermination of members of "invasive species" or "pests", the inhumane euthanasia of animals, the sale of certain especially cruel animal-source foods or the exhibition, breeding or trade of live animals. It also requires that an organization not malign veganism, does not accept advertisers or sponsors that engage in certain activities that are especially harmful to animals and does offer vegan food alongside any non-vegan food that they sell, serve or distribute.

An organization with a grade higher than C has also affirmed that they boycott certain products, such as animal flesh, eggs, dairy, leather, wool, feathers, cosmetic and household products tested on animals and bee products and silk.

Please see Kind Choices' current surveys for opportunities to share your opinion of The Test and what "animal-friendly" means to you. There are surveys for individuals and for nonprofit organizations. Your survey responses and comments will be considered for the successor to the Test of Animal-Friendlines, The Survey of Animal-Friendliness.

Why Animal-Friendly?
By instituting policies that are friendly to animals, nonprofit organizations can reduce the suffering and death of non-human animals. Kind Choices believes that all sentient beings have their own interests which are worthy of our consideration. For responses to frequently asked questions about animal rights, see animal-rights.com. You can find more information about the issues addressed in the Test of Animal-Friendliness in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' Factsheets and web sites.