 WAGGIN TAILS JANUARY 2025 HAPPY NEW YEAR Dear Friends & Members: Another year has passed. Time is flying too fast. We are 56 years old, and starting our 57th year. Amazing, we are still here. I hope that things improve for the New Year, both for the strays here, and around the world. My hope this year is that we can hang on for another year. At this age, I only go one year at a time. I truly hope that you all had a wonderful Holiday Season. We made quite a few animals happy, and whole again, after visiting our veterinarians. Our work never stops. I hope that the wars around the world stop because the animals suffer, more than the people. People are helped first – animals, sometimes never. Let’s all pray for a better world. Love, and peace to everyone. LEGISLATION [REPRINTED] Giraffes proposed for US Endangered Species Act protections WASHINGTON—In response to a petition and lawsuit by conservation and animal protection groups, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed listing four species of giraffes as under the Endangered Species Act. The Center for Biological Diversity, Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States petitioned for protections for giraffes in April 2017. But it took a lawsuit in October 2021 for the Fish and Wildlife Service to commit to a deadline to decide whether the species warrants protections—a decision that should have been made in 2018 under the law. “These gentle giants are suffering a silent extinction, and Endangered Species Act safeguards will curb U.S. imports of giraffe skins and other body parts,” said Tanya Sanerib, international legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The proposed protections are good news for giraffes, but it’s tragic that it took seven years to get here. U.S. officials should be racing like a cheetah to fight the global extinction crisis, but they’re actually moving at a snail’s pace to protect imperiled wildlife.” With fewer than 69,000 mature individuals remaining in the wild, giraffe populations have dropped nearly 40% because of habitat loss, civil unrest, poaching and human-caused habitat changes. The international trade in bone carvings, skins and trophies puts additional pressure on these iconic animals. The proposed listing recognizes four species of giraffe, designating the northern giraffe as endangered, two eastern species as threatened, and listing the southern species under the similarity of appearance provision. Nicholas Arrivo, managing attorney for Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United States, said: “It’s about time that these magnificent animals are close to finally getting the protections they deserve. Giraffes mature slowly and only have a few calves in their lifetime, so they are sensitive to overexploitation. They are rapidly disappearing from our planet with nearly 40% gone in just three decades due to habitat loss, poaching and other threats. Further, the demand for their parts is deplorable, with the United States the top importer and exporter of giraffe parts including their heads, legs, tails and skins. Today makes us hopeful that the outsized contribution by the U.S. to this demand will be reduced.” The International Union for Conservation of Nature assessed giraffes as vulnerable to extinction in 2016 and classified the northern Kordofan and Nubian giraffe subspecies as Critically Endangered in 2018 and the eastern reticulated and Masai subspecies as Endangered in 2018 and 2019. Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species decided in 2019 to regulate international trade in giraffes by requiring export permits. This also marked the first opportunity to assess the global trade of giraffe parts and products which had been globally unmonitored prior to this listing. Because these protections do not foreclose the giraffe trade and because of the species’ decline, conservation safeguards are crucial for importing countries, such as the United States, that create demand for giraffe parts. Today’s decision opens a 90-day comment period, and a final listing decision should be made within a year. FYI [REPRINTED] Undercover investigation: Holiday shoppers urged to avoid supporting cruel puppy mills New undercover investigation from the Humane Society of the United States reveals shocking conditions at New Jersey pet stores and the commercial breeders that sold dogs to them Amidst the holiday season—the busiest puppy-buying time of the year—the Humane Society of the United States warns consumers against purchasing a puppy from a pet store and inadvertently supporting the puppy mill industry. An undercover investigation by the HSUS is exposing unsafe and filthy conditions at 18 puppy mills in the Midwest that sold puppies to pet stores in New Jersey. The investigation marks the third exposé by the animal protection organization demonstrating links between New Jersey pet stores and the dismal start that dogs endure in a puppy mill. The HSUS visited breeders in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin that sell dogs to New Jersey pet stores. Two breeders—Raymond Lawson and Wayne and Karen Miller—appeared on the HSUS’ Horrible Hundred report, an annual report sampling 100 known, problematic puppy mills. Lawson—who appeared in the 2020 and 2024 Horrible Hundred reports—was issued an official warning letter in late 2023 after state inspectors found 10 violations including puppies on dangerous flooring that could entrap their legs (a repeat violation), poor housing, inappropriate veterinary care, some dogs lacking proof of rabies vaccines and more. Lawson has since sold dogs to at least three pet stores in New Jersey, including Furrylicious, Puppy Palace and Wayne Puppies. The Millers appeared in the 2024 Horrible Hundred report. Conditions filmed from the road and via hidden camera at many of the Midwest breeders included unsafe cages; dogs exhibiting frantic behavior; dogs languishing in enclosures soiled with feces; small, wire-floored cages; and dogs with little or no comfort or enrichment objects. Mahlon Schrock had dogs in wire cages that were elevated several feet off the ground at the breeding facility he operates in Missouri. Some of his dogs appeared frantic, jumping so high that they were able to raise their heads above the cages, revealing that the cages had no ceilings, and that the dogs could potentially climb out, or wild animals could climb in. Schrock has sold dogs to Select a Puppy in Middletown. The HSUS also sent a secret shopper to puppy-selling pet stores in Whitehouse Station, Old Bridge, Greenbrook and Union where they observed dirty, frightened and thin puppies. However, the most disturbing conditions were witnessed at the breeding operations which these pet stores source puppies from, which consumers rarely see. John Goodwin, senior director of the Humane Society of the United State’ campaign to Stop Puppy Mills, said: “Pet stores are taking advantage of families eager to bring home a new, furry companion for the holidays. Consumers need to know the truth behind where puppies in pet stores come from—despite what the store might tell them. Nobody wants to fund an operation that treats mother dogs like breeding machines and puppies like mere products.” David Grant, New Jersey state director for the Humane Society of the United States, said: “Concerns about puppy mills like the ones visited in this investigation—along with sick puppy sales, deceptive sales tactics and predatory puppy loans—have led eight states and nearly 150 municipalities in New Jersey to prohibit the sale of puppies in pet stores. New Jersey could soon be the ninth state to enact this policy, and we urge those living in the Garden State to ask your legislators to support the Humane Pet Store Bill.” In Congress, the Puppy Protection Act would improve the quality of life for dogs in federally licensed commercial breeding facilities, requiring stronger standards of care including increased enclosure sizes, prompt veterinary care and protection from extreme temperatures. The HSUS urges prospective pet owners to adopt their next pet from a shelter or rescue, or purchase only from a responsible breeder who encourages prospective buyers to visit in person and screen the conditions the animals are kept in. LINDA’S LINE Hi. January,2025, and once again we are starting a new year. It’s hard to believe how quickly the years go by. 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, for our four-legged friends, and for the world. As we all know, there are still variants of COVID out there, and even though the symptoms of these variants are easier to handle, thanks to the vaccines and boosters, it isn’t over yet. So please, if you have not done so, get yourself vaccinated with the latest booster shot. It will help family, friends and the strays – they need you. 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.” 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. 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. Till next time. CLOSING THOUGHT Our thanks go out to all the rescuers that help strays here, and around the world. May they all have the help of people around them. Linda will start to prepare the tax receipt letters for the Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members. Our members receive their receipts at the end of the year. Linda keeps good records. If there is a problem let me know, and we will look into it. So far, we have an excellent record. Receipts are sent when we receive a donation from a non-Adam, Eve or Sponsor-A-Stray member, at the time of the donation. A Special “SHOUT OUT” goes to the many organizations that go into areas that are in a war zone, floods, earthquakes etc. A special Blessing to them. More Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members are needed. Please keep that thought in mind. Our needs for the New Year are simple. We need funds to keep our phone lines open to the veterinarians, and the public. We need funds to feed the colonies of cats. We help dogs when they come our way. We have funds, through the Trust that was left to us, for medical care. So, we must keep asking for funds for food, and administrative needs. No Director receives compensation. Administrative is for the clerical people that we need. The Accountant, and Attorney. This is necessary. So, please introduce us to friends, family and co-workers. If they could join our Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray programs, that would be a star in the Book of Life for them, and our strays. We start another year. Let’s hope, as always, that it is a better year than the year before. Laws have to change for the better to help the animals here, and around the world. Our wish for one, and all, people and animals here and around the world, is Peace, Respect, Health and Happiness for forever and a day. You are very important, to family, friends and especially to us. Be well, Stay well and have a wonderful, Healthy and Happy New Year! Remember to help one stray at a time. It adds up. 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!” Till next time. Waggin’ Off
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