C is for cruelty-free: 3 apps that help animals

When it comes to beagles, cruelty-free is a topic that's near and dear to our hearts.

Beagles are the top dog breed for researchers testing products from wonder drugs to laundry detergent. There's a worldwide movement to rescue those beagles from research labs. Beagle Freedom Project is one such organization.

One way to help get the message out is to switch to products that don't test on animals. They're cruelty-free. They're lots of products out there, and you don't have to go to Whole Foods Market to get them either. Check out my cruelty-free guide to get some helpful tips.

But there are also some apps that can help. Check them out.

LEAPING BUNNY

Leaping Bunny is a coalition of organizations who have created a specific "cruelty-free standard" that companies have to adhere to in order to get the Leaping Bunny stamp of approval. The app is free and available in the Apple app store and on Android. Find out more on the Leaping Bunny website.

CRUELTY CUTTER

Cruelty Cutter is an app from Beagle Freedom Project. It catalogs hundreds of products (moreso than Leaping Bunny). While the app is not as stringent as Leaping Bunny, it's breadth of info gives readers a wide variety of products to choose from. The app costs $2.99 and is available in the Apple App Store and on Android. More information is on the Cruelty Cutter website.

BUNNY FREE

The Bunny Free app is a free app from PETA. It's similar to Cruelty Cutter and Leaping Bunny, but it's curated by PETA. It's available in Apple App Store and on Android.

Bonus: ASPCA ACTION

Animal research is just one of the big animal hot topics to consider when talking about animal cruelty. ASPCA Action is a magazine that will keep you up-to-date on all of ASPCA's actions. It's a free app.