Helping and protecting animals is also one of my favorite things, where you can take action and make some effort.
These are a few projects and organizations where I try to help:

Volunteer @ APA Austin Pets Alive
Adoption of a Grey wolf @ Animal & Snake farm New Braunfels
Snakes & Reptiles photo project via Kuehne-Art projects
Visiting and Donating to Wolf Sanctuary, Montgomery TX
Visiting and Donating to Wild Animal Sanctuary, Denver CO