When we came across the site All For Animals online, we thought it was of the best animal rights websites out there.  Little did we know that this big time animal cruelty prevention website had once been merely a Santa Barbara resource for animal lovers.

Founder Karen Lee Stevens had originally created the site in 1997 as the place to be for animal enthusiasts, but when she learned of the horrors and suffering going on in animal testing laboratories through her research, she knew she had to use the site for another purpose--to educate the world on animal testing abuse prevention and animal rights.  

Since then, Karen's impact has only gotten stronger as she has emerged as one of the best online educators of animal abuse prevention.  She has grown enamored with blogging and social media and definitely loves using her site as well as Facebook and Twitter to her advantage.  She's also taken to writing her own animal rights blog for Examiner.com.  Finally, she's become a published author, freelance writer, and columnist and continues to make the world aware that saving animals is as important as any other cause.  

You too can make a difference, Karen says, and she can help.  Let's see what Karan has to say about a topic that hits close to home and has become a major part of her life's work.  

Why take such a strong stance on animal rights? Why is it so important?

Chief Seattle, a Native American tribal leader, born around 1786, and the namesake of Seattle, Washington, once said: “Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things are connected.” Like Chief Seattle, I believe all life is connected—from the trees in the forest and the animals who live on land and sea, to all the people of the world. If we as people can’t learn to be kind and respectful to animals, we will never experience true peace and harmony among (wo)mankind. It starts with compassion to animals and extends to human life.

Tell me the story of Cassidy the cat and how you came to create the all-volunteer, educational organization All for Animals.

In the early 1990s, I was working for a company that manufactured cat litter (as you can imagine, this was a dream job for an animal lover like myself!). On most mornings, I would take a brisk walk around the business park where my office was located. It was on one of these walks that I spied a bedraggled stray cat huddled on the steps of an abandoned warehouse. I go into more detail in my book—also titled All for Animals—of how I rescued this old soul, but suffice it to say, “Cassidy” came to live with me and I was blessed to have this “angel in a cat’s body” for six years before he passed away in my arms at the age of 16.

This is going to sound cliché, but I truly believe that Cassidy rescued me that day; not the other way around. There was something in his big, blue eyes that caused me to look at myself differently, to question my values, and eventually, go on to found an organization to help other stray and abused animals. 

What are the ultimate goals you have for the strengthening of the organization?

I’m a bit of a computer nerd and am fascinated with social media such as Facebook and Twitter. This new medium is a terrific way for individuals and animal organizations to connect with like-minded people—especially the younger generation. All for Animals will continue to build its presence online through our Web site (www.allforanimals.com) and my animal rights blog on Examiner.com. Folks can also follow us on Twitter by searching for my name “karenleestevens” (without the quotes).

Your bio says that while you were doing research for this site, you learned of the horrors that animals endure on a continuous basis? What are some of those horrors and what are the alternatives?

The list is endless, really, but some of the worst abuses I’ve come across are the ones where animals are subjected to experimentation on a continuous basis—sometimes for months or years on end. For instance, lab animals endure painful and pointless experiments. Why? So we can have a new shade of lipstick or a “new, improved” brand of moisturizer. 

I make a point of not going into graphic detail of any particular animal test—many people will stop reading and never learn the truth about what goes on behind closed doors. Instead, I suggest that if people are interested in learning more, they can do a Google search for “LD50” or “Draize Test,” two of the most common and invasive animal tests.

The good news is that many companies, educational institutions and charities are phasing out testing on animals. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine has a terrific guide that lists companies and charities that do and do not engage in animal testing. To learn more, visit:  www.pcrm.org and click on the “Research” button at the top of the page.

You live in Santa Barbara and have a particular Santa Barbara’s guide.  Why choose to focus on Santa Barbara specifically and what kind of things does the guide offer?

Since I grew up and continue to live in Santa Barbara, I’ve always wanted to give back to the community by creating an extensive online guide for animal lovers. The Santa Barbara Animal Lover’s page on our Web site includes listings from animal rescue groups to veterinarians and everything in between. 

Tell me about your book, All for Animals.

You know, it’s funny. Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to write, but somehow I never got around to it. After creating All for Animals (the organization), I decided I had a lot to say about animal rights, so I sat down and started researching and writing the book. It was actually the first thing I ever wrote professionally (since then, I’ve written hundreds of magazine and newspapers articles, and I continue to write a weekly pet column for the Santa Barbara Daily Sound (a daily newspaper) and a blog for Examiner.com.

As well as being an advocate for animal rights, you’re also a freelance writer and columnist.  Tell me about that.

My freelance writing career really took off five years ago, shortly after I was diagnosed with cancer. Receiving a life-threatening medical diagnosis has a way of jolting people out of their comfort zone and I was no exception. I realized that I wasn’t happy working a regular 9-5 job; what I really wanted to do was write full-time. 

I was very fortunate that surgery “cured” my cancer and soon after recovering from my ordeal, I felt that it was time to make some changes in my professional life. I left an unfulfilling career that paid the bills but did little to nourish my soul. I began writing and before long, I was working as a regular contributor for two large veterinary publications and I was hired to write a weekly pet column for a local newspaper. That was five years ago and my health and my writing is still going strong! 

Have you seen significant changes in the animal rights area since you started the organization, written the book, and done all sorts of writing? 

Yes, I believe that animal rights has become much more mainstream in recent years. I credit large organizations like The Humane Society of the United States for bringing important issues such as puppy mills (mass breeding facilities that churn out puppies solely for profit) and factory farms to the attention of the public.

When I first became a vegetarian 12 years ago, there were few meatless choices available, especially in restaurants. I ate a lot of bean burritos at Taco Bell during the first few weeks I was a vegetarian until I learned about other meat-free options! Today, even fast food restaurants offer veggie burgers and salads and people are clamoring for more healthy and organic foods for themselves and their families.

What are your future goals for the organization and promoting animal rights? 

When I first launched AFA in 1997, I made a commitment to work with local animal shelters by featuring adoptable cats, dogs, and rabbits on our Web site. Today, the site’s Adoptable Pets Photo Gallery remains the most popular pages on our entire site. With that in mind, we recently embarked on a new venture to create videos of animals for adoption at local shelters. 

Animal shelters are in crisis right now, with record numbers of animals being surrendered by people who have lost their jobs and their homes. We are doing everything we can to place these animals in new, loving homes and I believe our videos—which will be aired on local public access TV and select Web sites—will help by featuring some wonderful animals, who might not otherwise get noticed.

What can the average person do to help prevent the spread of animal testing and promote animal rights?

Everyone—anywhere—can make a difference for animals. To help reduce the number of animals used to test household products and cosmetics, I encourage people to only buy products from “cruelty-free” companies. Readers can find an extensive list of cruelty-free companies on the Leaping Bunny Web site (www.leapingbunny.org) or by carefully reading product labels before making a purchase (most companies mention that they don’t test on animals).

I think the best way people can help reduce animal testing and promote animal rights is by being an example to others. Live your life with integrity—purchase cruelty-free products, reduce or eliminate your meat consumption and refrain from attending “abusement” parks like SeaWorld and circuses like Ringling Bros. 

Remember, little things you do add up and people will take notice. For example, I recently promoted a terrific movie called “The Cove,” which takes a behind-the-scenes look at the multi-million dollar dolphin entertainment industry. After sending out an email asking people to attend the premiere, one friend wrote back and said she had just returned from a “swim with dolphins” trip with her kids. She was going to use a photo of her children and a dolphin on their Christmas card, but after learning how violently dolphins are captured and the stress they endure in captivity, she is going to choose another, more animal-friendly photo. Hooray!