Advance animal justice: How to start an animal rights petition

Animal cruelty remains a widespread issue in the U.S., impacting animals in factory farms, research facilities, and even domestic environments. According to research, 10 million animals die of abuse every year in the U.S.

Multiple studies also show a link between animal abuse and violence towards people, such as domestic abuse. 

As actor and animal rights activist Joaquin Phoenix once said, “It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.” 

Luckily, animal rights petitions have repeatedly driven change, leading to bans on cruel practices, improved protections for wildlife, and greater awareness of ethical treatment.

If you want to make a difference for animals, starting a petition on Change.org is an easy way to do it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to launching an effective animal rights petition on Change.org, with real-life examples and data to empower you to make the change you want to see.

Why start an animal rights petition?

Many petitions on Change.org have contributed towards a better world for animals, from raising public awareness of animal cruelty to fur bans. The following are some examples:

• Following many years of caring for and rehabilitating racing hounds, a petition starter reached over 215,800 signatures and helped push for legislation that would eventually phase out greyhound racing in Florida.

• Targeting Taco John’s egg supply chain practices, a petition led the fast food chain to commit to enhanced animal protections.

• Another petition reached its goal of including rabbit fur in the California fur ban.

• With almost 200,000 signatures, a petition contributed to putting pressure on Amazon to include whale, dolphin, and porpoise meat in their list of banned products.

These examples demonstrate the power of petitions in driving legislative, corporate, and policy changes for animal protection.

Some key areas where starting a petition can translate into meaningful change include: 

Banning animal cruelty  

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) approximately 920,000 animals are euthanized each year in the U.S. (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats). 

This is only one of the many ways in which animals are subjected to cruelty, but petitions can make a difference. 

For example, a petition started by Austin Pets Alive! Gained over 35,300 signatures and contributed to their shelter staying open, providing a haven to animals that would have been euthanized elsewhere.

Stopping factory farming abuses 

Factory farming is well known around the world for being a source of extreme animal suffering. Chickens raised for their meat and eggs, for example, endure confinement in small cages. 

In the U.S., over 9.5 billion chickens are kept and killed for their meat each year.

The Taco John’s petition, started in July 2024, is an example of a successful campaign. It pushed Taco John’s to commit to going cage-free for their egg sourcing. 

With over 46,800 signatures, another petition made HelloFresh – a recipe meal box subscription service – take meaningful transparency measures toward its Better Chicken Commitment initiative.

Protecting endangered species 

It’s no secret that wildlife is under constant threat as a direct result of human actions. 

Petitions can make a difference giving a voice to endangered species such as wolves and vaquita porpoises. 

In 2025, a petition started on Change.org helped ensure safe wildlife crossing for red wolves.  While a 2017 petition pushed to protect the critically endangered vaquita porpoises – the most endangered cetacean in the world.

Preventing animal testing 

Despite progress in cruelty-free research methods, animal testing prevails. 

According to PETA, “more than 110 million animals suffer and die in the U.S. every year in cruel chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics tests.” 

The number is potentially much larger.  PETA points out that “exact numbers aren’t available, because mice, rats, birds, and cold-blooded animals—who make up more than 99% of animals used in experiments—aren’t covered by even the minimal protections of the federal Animal Welfare Act and therefore go uncounted.”

A petition with over 216,100 signatures urged the New York Blood Center to reinstate care for chimpanzees for research they vowed to take care of but had since abandoned. Their voices were heard and care was ensured.

Improving conditions for companion animals

Companion animals also suffer from neglect and abuse. Petitions can help create a better world for them, too.

For example, this petition gained over a million signatures in support of Virginia adopting a law to protect dogs in harsh weather conditions. The overwhelming support proved that a strong public demand for better protections exists. 

How to start an animal rights petition

Following a few guidelines and steps can make the process of creating your petition much smoother and maximize your chances of hitting your goals.

1. Identify the issue you want to address

The first step in creating a successful petition is choosing a specific, actionable issue you want to see changed. 

Instead of a broad topic, such as ending all animal cruelty (as excellent as that’d be), focus on one concrete problem and a realistic solution. 

For example, one petitioner adopted a vegan diet but wanted to continue going to Dunkin’ Donuts. With over 19,000 signatures, her voice was heard and the popular chain added Beyond Meat options to its menu. 

Similar initiatives focusing on narrow goals would be, for example, pushing for plant-based options in schools. 

2. Research and build your case

To build a strong case, gathering statistics and data to back your petition’s goal is key.  

For example, the petition to protect dogs from harsh weather conditions in Virginia included several media reports of fatal cases, as well as recommendations from reputable animal rights organizations like ASPCA and The Humane Society. Looking into previous petitions in the same area can also be helpful.

The following are some animal rights organizations that can be helpful for finding data to back your petition:

• Humane World for Animals: A global non-profit organization focused on animal welfare. 

• Compassion in World Farming: Campaigns to end factory farming and create sustainable food systems

• American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA): Non-profit organization dedicated to preventing animal cruelty

• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA): An animal rights non-profit organization.

• World Wildlife Fund: An organization leading international efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats 

• Animal Legal Defense Fund: An animal law advocacy organization.

3. Choose the right decision maker

Understanding the decision-making process behind the change you want to see is crucial. Identifying who to address with your petition is key to getting a response. 

This could be local governments, corporate executives, lawmakers, or regulatory agencies such as the USDA or the FDA. 

Once you’ve identified the right decision-maker, find their official contact details through:

• Government websites (such as state legislature websites, city council directories, regulatory agency websites): Most officials have contact forms, phone numbers, and office addresses listed 

• Advocacy organizations: Groups such as Humane World for Animals or PETA often track decision-makers and can help provide contact information for relevant petitions

• Company websites (executive leadership, HR or media contact pages)

• Public records and LinkedIn for corporate and policy leaders

• Social media and press releases: Many officials list their public email addresses or have press offices that handle inquiries.

4. Write and publish your petition

Having a petition with a clear structure is essential to gaining traction. Make sure to include these key elements:

• Problem statement: Clearly define the issue, who it affects, and why it matters. Use compelling language and relevant data to illustrate the urgency.

• Proposed solution: Specify the action you want the decision-maker to take. Keep it realistic, actionable, and results-oriented.

• Call to action: Directly encourage people to sign and share your petition. Make it clear how their support can help drive change.

For example, the petition about dog racing in Florida clearly states the problem, what they seek to achieve, and encourages readers to fight the problem.

Draft your petition in a Google or Word document (or similar tool), or directly on Change.org. The Change.org platform is free, easy to use, and you can directly publish and share your petition with a huge global audience. When you create a petition on Change.org, you gain access to tools that help spread awareness, engage supporters, and even reach decision-makers directly.

5. Attract supporters and raise awareness

Share the petition online, on social media and on relevant online animal rights communities. Reaching out to animal rights influencers, activists, and organizations for amplification is also a good idea.

To maximize your outreach, engage with animal welfare media outlets, bloggers, podcasters, traditional media, etc. 

For example, the petition to protect chimpanzees abandoned by the New York Blood Center got media attention from the likes of the Washington Post. 

Reaching out to advocacy groups to support your petition, such as PETA or the WWF, can also extend its reach and impact. Write a clear statement explaining the purpose of your petition and your shared goals with the organization. 

Contacting journalists covering animal rights via e-mail or social media with a compelling news hook could persuade them to cover your petition for further visibility.

6. Engage decision makers and mobilize to apply pressure

Your fight for animal rights will largely hinge on getting the decision maker to respond and take action. You can contact them via email, phone, and social media, linking to the petition.  

Utilizing petition updates, you can engage directly with your supporters, encouraging them to join community actions, as well as to let them know what progress has been made.

For example, a petition voicing opposition to the killing of ducks in a Miami housing development included several updates, including organizing discussions at board meetings to announcing the safe release of the ducks.

Start an animal rights petition today

Starting a petition to protect animals is an important step to take as an animal rights advocate. Following these guidelines, you can make a difference for animals, contributing to making the world a cruelty-free place. 

Start your petition today and be a voice for the voiceless.