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WAGGIN TAILS JANUARY 2022
HAPPY NEW YEAR Dear Friends & Members: HAPPY NEW YEAR to one, and all. I hope that it will be a good year. In order for that to happen, we must all get our vaccinations. This is good for us, and our country and the strays. We have a new variant to the virus, which is not good. We will probably have this on, and on for years to come, unless we all get vaccinated. Why am I going on, and on about this? Well, if we are not here, who will help the strays. They depend on us. We have finally reached a point that we have funds to medically treat these poor “children” of the streets. We need you here to feed them, and to help get them forever homes. We are important to our family, friends and especially to the strays. Let’s all work together to help one another, the strays, ourselves and our country. Have a Happy, and Healthy New Year. LEGISLATION [REPRINTED] Humane groups and cosmetics trade association join together to support bipartisan Humane Cosmetics Act The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Personal Care Products Council issued the following joint statement today on the introduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act of 2021 in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. “The cosmetics and personal care products industry, the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund have long advocated for government recognition and acceptance of non-animal testing methods for product safety. Today marks a momentous occasion with the introduction of the Humane Cosmetics Act in the U.S. by Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; John Hickenlooper, D-Colo.; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Jacky Rosen, D-Nev. A companion bill was introduced in the House by Reps. Don Beyer, D-Va.; Vern Buchanan, R-Fla.; Paul Tonko, D-N.Y.; Ken Calvert, R-Calif.; and Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif. In the true spirit of collaboration, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Personal Care Products Council encourage expeditious bipartisan passage of the legislation. “Our precedent-setting support brings together the cosmetics and personal care products industry and animal advocacy community. We stand firm in our shared goal to eliminate new cosmetic animal testing and promote recognition and acceptance of non-animal approaches to cosmetic safety assessments. “We applaud these members of Congress for driving a significant bipartisan effort to introduce the Humane Cosmetics Act. Consensus among a diverse group of stakeholders demonstrates widespread support for legislation that ensures a uniform standard for animal welfare and the development of safe and innovative cosmetics and personal care products. “We look forward to working with this bipartisan group of Congressional leaders and other key stakeholders to help enact the Humane Cosmetics Act in this Congress to eliminate animal testing for cosmetics, while also ensuring the safety of the products consumers trust and rely on every day.” About the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society Legislative Fund Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States fights the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, we take on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries. With our affiliates, we rescue and care for tens of thousands of animals every year through our animal rescue team’s work and other hands-on animal care services. We fight all forms of animal cruelty to achieve the vision behind our name: A humane society. Learn more about our work at humanesociety.org. Subscribe to Kitty Block’s blog, A Humane World. Follow the HSUS Media Relations department on Twitter. Read the award-winning All Animals magazine. Listen to the Humane Voices Podcast. The Humane Society Legislative Fund is a social welfare organization incorporated under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code and formed in 2004 as a separate lobbying affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States. The HSLF works to pass animal protection laws at the state and federal level, to educate the public about animal protection issues, and to support humane candidates for office. Visit us on all our channels: on the web at hslf.org, on our blog at hslf.org/blog, on Facebook at facebook.com/humanelegislation and on Twitter at twitter.com/HSLegFund. About the Personal Care Products Council Founded in 1894, the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) is the voice and advocate for 600 member companies representing the $499.6 billion global cosmetics and personal care products industry. PCPC’s members represent approximately 90% of the U.S. beauty industry and are some of the most beloved and trusted brands in beauty and personal care today. As the manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of a diverse range of products millions of consumers rely on every day – from sunscreens, toothpaste and shampoo to moisturizer, makeup and fragrance – PCPC’s member companies are global leaders committed to product safety, quality and innovation. For more information about our industry, our products and the ingredients used in them, please visit www.cosmeticsinfo.org. LEGISLATION [REPRINTED] Lawsuit aims to protect African leopards from U.S. trophy hunters Increased Endangered Species Act protections sought to address U.S. threat as the world’s largest importer of leopard trophies WASHINGTON—Animal protection and conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for failing to propose stricter protections for African leopards under the U.S. Endangered Species Act to address the harmful impacts of trophy hunting. The U.S. is the world’s biggest importer of African leopard hunting trophies, and between 2014 and 2018, consumed more than half the global trade. Yet despite trophy hunting’s threat to African leopards, their population declines, and these big cats’ “threatened” status under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. currently exempts trophy imports from the ESA’s restrictions. Humane Society International, the Humane Society of the United States and the Center for Biological Diversity sued to close that gap in protections. Teresa Telecky, vice president of wildlife for Humane Society International, speaking on behalf of Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States, said: “The pathway to leopard extinction is littered with leopard trophies. The African leopard is being driven to extinction by U.S. trophy hunters who are enabled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which hands out import leopard trophy import permits like candy. The agency has dragged its feet for far too long and needs to step up and put stronger Endangered Species Act protections in place to curb this outrageous hobby.” The groups petitioned in July 2016 to uplist African leopards from “threatened” to “endangered” status under the ESA. Greater protection under the law would ensure closer scrutiny of African leopard trophy imports and apply a more protective standard before trophies can enter the U.S. “The tide of extinction is rolling over leopards, but U.S. wildlife officials aren’t throwing these graceful animals a life preserver,” said Tanya Sanerib, international legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The Endangered Species Act’s full protections could ensure that the gruesome trophy trade doesn’t drive leopard decline. To defeat the extinction crisis, we need to use every weapon in our arsenal. But after trophy hunting was identified as a threat to African leopards, U.S. wildlife officials sat on their hands. The failure to help conserve these iconic cats is unacceptable.” Under the law, USFWS was required to make an uplisting determination by July 2017, but four years have passed since that deadline and the agency still has not acted. The groups also petitioned the agency, as an alternative, to remove the existing exemption for the African leopard trophy trade, but five years later the USFWS still has not responded. Today’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in the District of Columbia, challenges the agency’s failures to take sorely needed action to protect the species from the trophy trade. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the leopard as “vulnerable,” meaning it is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. According to IUCN, by 2020, the sub-Saharan African leopard population had likely declined by more than 30% over the previous 22.3 years, and that population is continuing to decline. Leopards are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, human persecution, illegal wildlife trade, ceremonial use of skins, prey base declines and poorly managed trophy hunting. Leopard populations in Asia and northern Africa are listed as “endangered” under the ESA. However, leopards in 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa are listed as “threatened” under the ESA, and those leopards are not entitled to the Endangered Species Act’s full range of protections. While leopards receive the strictest protections under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species unscientific leopard export quotas and lax application of CITES’ import and export requirements have allowed for a poorly regulated and unsustainable trophy industry fueled in large part by U.S. hunters. FYI [REPRINTED] ELLE International pledges to go fur-free Announcement made in collaboration with the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Creatives for Change Paris—ELLE magazine is proud to announce that it has committed to ending the promotion of animal fur in its pages and online. The commitment follows dialogue between ELLE brand owner, Lagardère Group, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and Creatives4Change. The announcement was made today at Business of Fashion’s 2021 VOICES event in London. ELLE created a charter to disallow editorial content that promotes animal fur on its pages, websites and social media. This includes no animal fur in editorials, press images, runway and street style images. The charter, which in alignment with the Fur Free Alliance’s definition of fur, also no longer allows the depiction of animal fur in any advertisements in its pages and online. All ELLE editions around the world signed it, which includes publications in Arabia (English and Arabic editions), Argentina, Australia, Belgium (Flemish and French editions), Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada (English and French editions), China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, USA and Vietnam. For 13 of those editions, the charter is already effective, for 20, it will be effective as of Jan. 1, 2022, and for the remaining editions, it will be effective as of Jan. 1, 2023. The ELLE network that will be impacted by this announcement includes:
According to Valéria Bessolo LLopiz, SVP and international director of ELLE: “For many years, ELLE has been engaged towards environment, sustainability and ecology through regular features or special green issues. The presence of animal fur in our pages and on our digital media is no longer in line with our values, nor our readers’. It is time for ELLE to make a statement on this matter, a statement that reflects our attention to the critical issues of protecting and caring for the environment and animals, rejecting animal cruelty. It is also an opportunity for ELLE to increase awareness for animal welfare, bolster the demand for sustainable and innovative alternatives, and foster a more humane fashion industry.” Alexi Lubomirski, fashion photographer and founder of Creatives for Change, says: “Since its inception, ELLE magazine has always been a leading light in fashion, synonymous with a freshness, unencumbered by the weight of tradition and formality. Because of this strength, ELLE was said to ‘not so much reflect fashion as decree it.’ It is this creative power to inspire, that allows ELLE to make broad steps in shaping the hearts and minds of its readers for a more evolved and aware future for all.” PJ Smith, director of fashion policy for the HSUS and HSI, adds: “We celebrate ELLE for taking a stand against the cruel fur trade and look forward to other fashion magazines following their lead. This announcement will ignite positive change throughout the entire fashion industry and has the potential to save countless animals from a life of suffering and a cruel death. ELLE’s leadership will also drive innovation for more sustainable and humane alternatives.” FYI [REPRINTED] Hallandale Beach, Florida bans fur sales Last night, the city commission for Hallandale Beach, Florida voted 5-0 to make theirs the first city in the state to ban the sale of new fur products. The ordinance will take effect immediately and exempts used fur and pelts from cows, sheep and deer. Florida has the eighth highest fur sales in the country according to 2017 Economic Census Data. Kate MacFall, Florida state director for the Humane Society of the United States, said: “Florida is now on the map as a state that recognizes that fur products come from an industry that treats wild animals cruelly by raising them in unnatural conditions for the most frivolous of items. Hallandale Beach has set an example for other humane communities to follow.” Michele Lazarow, the City Commissioner who sponsored the ordinance, said: “Hallandale Beach is a progressive community that doesn’t support products where unnecessary animal cruelty occurs, and the fur industry breeding animals for their pelts only and nothing else is a prime example.” Anabelle Lima-Taub, the City Commissioner who co-sponsored the ordinance, said: “As a fiscally conservative lawmaker who believes that free enterprise is a moral imperative, sponsoring a fur sales ban due to the unspeakable cruelty to over 100 million animals killed yearly to supply the fashion industry, it comes down to right vs. wrong. If the multi-billion-dollar luxury fashion label stakeholders are choosing to be on the right side, I am proud to stand behind the principles of morality.” California banned fur sales in 2019 following the passage of similar measures in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley and West Hollywood. Wellesley and Weston, Massachusetts, Ann Arbor, Michigan and Boulder, Colorado have also voted to end fur sales. Internationally, Israel became the first country to ban fur sales earlier this year. In 2021, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Canada Goose, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta, Tory Burch, Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga have announced fur-free policies, joining top fashion brands and retailers Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Prada, Gucci, Armani, Versace, Michael Kors, DKNY, Burberry, Chanel and many more. LINDA’S LINE Hi. January,2022 and once again we are starting a new year. I would like to start off by wishing all of you, and your loved ones a HAPPY, and HEALTHY NEW YEAR. Let’s hope that this year will bring about better things for us, and for our four-legged friends – including getting more people to get vaccinated so that the COVID-19 virus, which has plagued us for the past two years, will finally be irradicated. Please try to remember to reach out, and help those who are less fortunate than we are. If you see a homeless person, whether you are in your own home town or traveling for the holidays, try to lend a hand where you can by giving them food, and warm clothing, and if they have pets, please give food and a blanket for their pets as well. They will be most grateful for the help. The cold weather is upon us, so I hope that you all have your shelters up, and ready for the strays, with plenty of dry food and water. Remember that “we are their guardians.” On another note, I would like to update you on Smokey, the little kitten that I rescued, with the help of Save Our Strays, last month. Early this month, Smokey was adopted by a very nice couple, with a teenage daughter, and he is becoming acclimated to his new home and doing well. I check on him from time to time, and so far, all is going well. Another happy ending. Please remember, when walking your dog in temperatures that are below 50 degrees, to make sure that your pet is protected from the elements with a sweater or coat. As of this writing, we have just had our first snow storm in the Northeast, and the temperatures have dropped to the 20s, and 30s. Contrary to what some people may think, an animal’s fur is not enough to keep them warm, and they can catch cold, and also pneumonia, the same as humans do. A reminder that our phones are open from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, Monday to Friday. I am always here to guide you through any situation that comes your way, and messages are always picked up, and returned in a timely fashion, and on weekends also. Remember, if you see an animal that needs help, please try to see what you can do to help – don’t ignore it, and walk away. The strays have a difficult time of it out there, especially when it comes to finding food, and any help that we can give will be appreciated. Remember, any good deed that we do here, is a gold star in the “Book of Life.” Again, a HAPPY, and HEALTHY NEW YEAR to all our friends, and members. CLOSING THOUGHT There have been some new laws passed in parts of the country, where declawing is now illegal. More new laws are in the works, but it moves so slowly. Please write to your Representatives asking them to push for Humane Law for all animals: dogs, cats, horses, farm animals and the ones that we don’t think about much – circus animals, dolphins and whales. We are all G-d’s creatures. We need more Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members. Please pass our newsletter around. I would like to tell all our Rescuers how much we appreciate the work that they do to help the strays. Linda is starting to prepare the tax receipts for our program members. She will get them out as soon as she can. She is working very hard on them. Let’s say a special thank you to the Humane Society, and to all the organizations that went into the areas where the tornadoes hit. We lost many people in those areas, but we also lost many animals – they are important also. So give a shout out to all the Rescuers, both for people and animals. Please Remember Our Troops “We salute you for all you have done. Your courage has kept us safe. Your sacrifice has kept us free. All of America owes you more than we can repay. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. We are behind you all the way – From the battlefield. . .to recovery!” To help our supporters, who shop on Amazon, to support Save Our Strays through the Amazon Smile program, please go to Google and type in AmazonSmile.com. You will then be directed to a home screen that says AmazonSmile in the upper left-hand corner. Log in with your Amazon account (email/phone number and password). If you are already logged in, just go to the search bar, and type in “SAVE OUR STRAYS INC.” Then select the second option, “Brooklyn, NY.” Click on the Amazon Smile LOGO in the top left corner of your Amazon page. Once you have done this, Under the word ALL in the search bar you should see a line that says “SUPPORTING: SAVE OUR STRAYS.” Now you are ready to shop. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to Save Our Strays Inc. Amazon has a large variety of gifts that are perfect for all holidays (remember that Valentine’s Day is coming) and occasions i.e.: birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, christenings, bar mitzvahs and lovely gifts for all occasions. Items that they have are: electronics, jewelry, clothing and more. You may have to set up an Amazon account to use Smile. Please try. It is important. (See instructions on the next page.) Love, and caring to everyone. May the New Year be a good one, and let’s pledge to help at least one stray at a time. Have a wonderful New Year. Till next time - Waggin’ Off AMAZON SET-UP PAGE GOOD NEWS Supporters of Save Our Strays can now use the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on Amazon Smile, and start generating donations. Please pass this on to anyone who uses Amazon, and doesn’t necessarily have a charity that they support. Now is the chance to support Save Our Strays. The funds go for food, and medical treatment. We are certainly a worthy cause. A dollar spent this way feeds an animal in need. Amazon Smile is now in the Amazon Shopping app You can now support Save Our Strays on iPhone, and Android phones. If you do not have the latest version of the Amazon Shopping app, please update your app. How to turn on Amazon Smile in the mobile app – instructions below. 1 Join Amazon Smile If you are already an Amazon Smile member, sign up on your web browser. Simply select Save Our Strays to start generating donations, at no cost to you. 2 Get the app Download or update the latest version of the Amazon Smile Shopping app on your phone. You can find it in the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android. 3 Turn on Amazon Smile Open the app, and find “Settings” in the main menu. Tap on “Amazon Smile,” and follow the on-screen instructions to turn on Amazon Smile on your phone.
Amazon Smile benefits Same products, same prices, no cost to you. Amazon Smile has the exact same low prices, Vast selection, and convenient shopping as the Amazon you know.
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AuthorThis blog is a digital version of our Waggin' Tails Newsletters Archives
August 2025
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