Be Kind to Animals Week is May 4 to 10. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals encourages everyone to observe the week by making an extra effort to extend kindness and compassion to all animals. You might want to start by choosing cruelty-free cosmetics, toiletries, and household products instead of animal-tested ones or by substituting great-tasting mock meats in place of animal flesh in your favorite recipes. You can also help animals by contributing to health charities that don't fund animal experiments, using live traps to humanely evict mice from your home, or carrying an emergency rescue kit in your car to help stray or injured animals.

For more ideas, visit www.PETA.org or read Ingrid E. Newkirk's inspirational book ''Making Kind Choices: Everyday Ways to Enhance Your Life Through Earth- and Animal-Friendly Living.''