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WAGGIN TAILS MARCH 2025 WAGGIN TAILS MARCH 2025 DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS – 3/9/25 HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY HAPPY PURIM Dear Friends & Members: We start this newsletter with the sad passing of Dr. Jeffrey Stein, an Honorary Member of Save Our Strays Board of Directors. Dr. Stein was one of the first that came to the aid of Save Our Strays, when we started. He gave us considerable discounts, and at times, waited for us to pay. Since we were a new organization, money was not always available. Dr. Stein’s name went out to all the rescuers in the area, and they all flocked to him. In the day, and after that time, when you find a veterinarian that truly liked animals, and stray animals also, it was a prayer answered. I can’t tell you how many thousands, and thousands of animals he has helped, there are too many to count. He will be missed by all of us, especially the strays that he helped, and so sad for the many that will not receive his kindness or expertise. Let’s continue to be here to help the strays, and hope and pray that we find more veterinarians and new rescuers like Dr. Stein, and the rescuers that we now have, i.e.: Robbin, Susan, Nicki etc., and so many more.   LEGISLATION [REPRINTED]
BREAKING NEWS: U.S. House passes the PACT Act, cracking down on extreme animal cruelty The U.S. House has just voted overwhelmingly to crack down on some of the worst and most malicious acts of animal cruelty, including crushing, burning, drowning, suffocating and impaling live animals and sexually exploiting them. The watershed vote takes us one step closer to a federal anti-cruelty statute that would allow the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute those who commit such unspeakable crimes against innocent animals. The vote is especially heartening because while the PACT Act has been introduced in previous Congresses -- and it has unanimously passed the Senate twice -- the former House Judiciary Committee chair had refused to move the bill despite the wide support it enjoyed among members. Now, with new leadership in the House pushing the bill to victory, we are hopeful that the Senate will soon act again on a companion version, and push this legislation over the finish line. The PACT Act builds on the federal animal crush video law that was enacted in 2010 at the urging of the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Legislative Fund. This law banned the creation, sale and distribution of obscene videos that show live animals being crushed, burned, drowned, suffocated, impaled or subjected to other forms of heinous cruelty. But the law has a gap that needs to be addressed: federal prosecutors have no recourse to hold perpetrators accountable unless an obscene video has been produced. The PACT Act will remove that loophole by prohibiting these acts when they occur on federal property, such as federal prisons and national parks, regardless of whether a video has been produced. It would also allow federal authorities to crack down on animal cruelty that affects interstate or foreign commerce, including moving animals across state lines or information exchanged on websites that allows animal exploitation such as bestiality to occur. This bill is supported by the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, the National Children’s Advocacy Center, and Domestic Violence Intervention Services, Inc., and more than 100 law enforcement agencies across the country. In July, we hosted an event on Capitol Hill where we were joined by the bill’s sponsors, several rescue dogs and an extraordinary high school student from Potomac, Maryland, named Sydney Helfand, who started a petition at Change.org to pass the PACT Act. Her petition gathered more than 650,000 signatures, illustrating the wide support this issue enjoys among members of the public, including young people, and the momentum behind passing this bill. We congratulate Reps. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., who sponsored the PACT Act in the House, and the bill’s 297 cosponsors, for their vision and persistence in seeing this important bill through. In coming weeks, we will be pushing with our collective might for the passage of the identical Senate companion bill, which was introduced by Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and already has the bipartisan support of 38 Senators. We know by now that animal cruelty is an indicator of social pathology and those who commit crimes against humans often start out by hurting animals. It is a pattern of violence that is both common and well-documented, and it adds to the urgency of passing this commonsense law. Let’s make this the year we pass the PACT Act, so those who commit the worst crimes against animals do not go scot-free. FYI [REPRINTED] European Parliament hearing for the ‘Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics’ European Citizens’ Initiative: 1.2 million citizens demand (again) to stop animal testing RUSSELS—In an unprecedented milestone, the European Citizens Initiative “‘Save Cruelty-Free Cosmetics —Commit to a Europe without animal testing” reached more than 1.2 million validated signatures in January. This is the second ECI on this issue that has surpassed the one million signature mark. Continuing on its formal journey, after an initial meeting between the ECI organisers and the European Commission, the next step was the parliamentary hearing, held by the Committees of the European Parliament. The hearing was divided into three parts, corresponding with the ECI's three objectives:
The ECI organisers: Cruelty Free Europe, Eurogroup for Animals, the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, Humane Society International/Europe, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals proposed actions for a win-win-win scenario for science, society and animals by supporting once again a plan to transition to non-animal science. During the hearing, the Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs—the Commission’s department for growth—committed to “try to be as ambitious as we can possibly be” in reaching their “ultimate goal of phasing out animal testing in the long-term”. This was reiterated by Ms Carmen Laplaza Santos, of the EC’s Health Innovations & Ecosystems unit, who promised the Commission’s final and detailed response to the Initiative by the end of July. Over ten million animals—cats, dogs, rabbits, mice and others—are harmed every year in research and testing in laboratories around Europe. European citizens are demanding an end to the use of animals in cosmetics and other chemical tests, as well as an achievable plan to transition to a science without the use of animals. Troy Seidle, Humane Society International vice president of research and toxicology, said: “Reforms to the EU’s chemicals law are urgently needed to close loopholes that have allowed authorities to demand new animal tests for cosmetic ingredients, and reposition animal-free approaches as the gold standard for modern safety assessment. The much anticipated REACH reform process is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for EU institutions to honour the will of citizens who supported this ECI by standing firm against the introduction of new or expanded animal test requirements. Going forward, citizens expect that every legal reform process will tangibly reduce the testing burden on animals—not make it worse—until the EU’s stated goal of full replacement is achieved.” This overwhelming public support echoes the position taken in 2021 by the European Parliament, which led to a resolution calling on the European Commission to coordinate, together with Member States, a concrete plan to accelerate the transition to non-animal testing. The EP hearing was also the occasion to launch the Save Cruelty Free Cosmetics – Commit to a Europe without Animal Testing briefing prepared by the ECI organisers. “Citizens are calling on the EC to take a leadership role in the transition to non-animal science and drive a new way of thinking without animal experiments. We would like to thank the citizens, the NGOs, the researchers, the industry, the governments and the members of parliament that already support these goals. This ECI shows that EU citizens share many of this Parliament’s positions as laid out in the EP Resolution. We are confident that the EP will help to break the cycle of harms that come with animal experimentation, by supporting once again the end of all animal testing for cosmetics, no additional animal tests for safety assessments, and a roadmap to accelerate the transition to non-animal research, regulatory testing, and education,” commented Sabrina Engel, chair of the organising committee for the ECI. ENDS Notes LINDA’S LINE Hi. It’s the Month of March, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our friends, and members a HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY, and a HAPPY PURIM. So far, as of this writing, we have had many bouts of cold weather, and there has been some snow, but thankfully, it was minimal. However, it isn’t over yet, as according to Punxsutawney Phil, the famous groundhog, there may be six more weeks of winter weather. Although the cold weather makes it difficult for us, and especially for the strays, we have been lucky so far, but we will see what the rest of this month brings. Hopefully, before long, spring will arrive, bringing with it some nice warm weather. This will be a welcome break for the strays, and for all of us. Please be aware of the strays around your area, and if you see an animal that needs help, please see what you can do to help. Don’t pass it by. Remember to always carry pet food, and bottled water with you. Remember that kitten and puppy season is upon us. So, if you see a mother cat with kittens, please give her some food and water, so that she will be able to nurse her kittens. It is a matter of survival for them. I know that we have said this before, but we must remember that we are their Guardians. Also, if you come across a homeless person with a pet, please give them a blanket, and some food for themselves, and for their pet. They will be very grateful for the help. Remember that any good deed that we do here on earth is a gold star for us in the Book of Life. If you are considering adopting a pet for yourself or someone else, please be sure that this is something that you or the recipient really want. I say this because many times we have seen, and heard of incidents where after a while, the owners decide, for one reason or another, that they no longer want the animal, and it is often left somewhere to fend for itself. This is a sad situation for the poor animal, because animals that are use to being cared for, find it very difficult to survive on the streets. So, please be sure that the animal is definitely wanted, before you consider adopting it. Remember that Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9th, so don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour the night before. That’s all for now, but I’ll be back next month with another story. Until then, G-d Bless you all, Stay well and Stay safe. Till next time. CLOSING THOUGHT We would like to wish all our Irish friends, and since everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, a Happy, Healthy, safe St. Patrick’s Day. To our Jewish friends, we wish you a Happy Purim. This is a happy holiday. Daylight Savings Time starts on March 9th, and ends on November 2nd this year. I like the longer days, when it is still light outside in the late afternoon. Next month is Easter. DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT giving Rabbits, Birds or any other live animal as a gift, unless you are taking the recipient of the gift with you to pick out a new family member as an Easter present. We say this, this month to give you time to think of something else as an Easter gift. We hope that you enjoy the newsletter. Any suggestions are welcome. Please remember that we need new Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members. When you go on a trip, and put a Temporarily Away notice at the Post Office, please let us know not to send you your monthly newsletter. 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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WAGGIN TAILS FEBRUARY 2025
SPAY/NEUTER AWARENESS MONTH HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY PRESIDENT’S DAY Dear Friends and Members: The year is flying again. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY from the strays, Save Our Strays and staff. Love should be with all of us always. It has been a very cold start to the year. Climate change is real. Snow, and freezing weather. This is the worst I can remember, since I was seven years old. I would like to say thank you to all of you wonderful people, who sent Holiday gifts for the strays. Our medical, and food programs are helping more, and more. We are grateful for your support. To have a grassroots organization start at a kitchen table in Brooklyn, New York 56 years ago and still be here working, is amazing. So thank you, thank you. You are the ones that are heroes. Now, everyone that receives this newsletter will know that they are heroes. I only hope that younger people will pick up the cause to help stray animals. In any case, now it is us, and we are doing a good job with our resources. If you know a young person who cares for animals, please encourage them to find a way to help. Let’s hope for an early Spring. Take care of yourself. Your kindness, and caring through your donations, is felt by the strays, with every meal they get and every visit to the veterinarian. Have a wonderful, Loving Valentine’s Day. Till next time. LEGISLATION [REPRINTED] ASPCA ASPCA Commends Senate Agriculture Committee for Including Critical Animal Welfare Provisions in Senate Farm Bill WASHINGTON, DC – The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) celebrated the animal-related provisions in the Farm Bill unveiled today by the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, which would directly impact billions of farm animals, dogs, and cats. The draft bill released by the Senate Agriculture Committee includes provisions requested by the ASPCA to accelerate the transition away from cruel factory farming, including groundbreaking funding to support farmers in their conversion from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to more humane and climate-friendly practices. The bill also calls for much needed oversight of industrial animal agriculture by requiring annual reporting on the depopulation of farm animals, ensuring more transparency from the corporations that have so far received hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer-funded reimbursements. Additionally, the Senate bill includes important provisions that would improve enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), a need the ASPCA has advocated for to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) does its job to protect animals in commercial breeding facilities. “We applaud the Senate Agriculture Committee for using this critical opportunity to provide meaningful reforms to systems that have long perpetuated cruelty to dogs in puppy mills and billions of animals raised for food on factory farms,” said Nancy Perry, senior vice president of Government Relations for the ASPCA. “We urge Congress to ensure that the final Farm Bill upholds state farm animal protection laws, institutes much-needed funding and transparency measures to support a more humane food system, improves enforcement of the laws that protect dogs and other animals in commercial breeding facilities, and additionally includes a ban on sending American horses to slaughter.” The Senate’s draft bill is a marked improvement from the disastrous House Farm Bill, which includes language based on the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, a dangerous overreach of federal power that would eliminate existing state and local animal welfare laws, including bans on extreme confinement systems for farm animals. Additionally, the House bill not only fails to provide critically needed enforcement advancements to protect dogs in puppy mills, it actually makes it harder to help dogs who are suffering. Neither the House nor the Senate bills include the bipartisan Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, missing a key opportunity to protect the tens of thousands of American horses who are exported for slaughter each year. The ASPCA encourages members of the public to contact their U.S. senators and representatives to urge them to pass a more humane Farm Bill that protects animals, people, and the planet. To contact your member of Congress, please visit www.aspca.org/farmbill. FYI [REPRINTED] Hundreds of animals rescued in multi-species alleged cruelty case in Grady County, Oklahoma OKLAHOMA CITY—On Wednesday, the Humane Society of the United States assisted the Grady County Sheriff’s Office with the rescue of hundreds of animals from a multi-species alleged cruelty case. Authorities served a search and seizure warrant on a residential property in Grady County, where they found animals including dogs, cats, goats, fish, companion birds and a pig. Responders and veterinarians from Operation Kindness and Black Beauty Ranch, which is a Humane Society of the United States sanctuary, also assisted on-scene. Temperatures were below freezing when rescuers and law enforcement arrived on-scene and were greeted by shivering rottweilers, shih tzus and pit bull-type dogs, chained and tethered outdoors with inadequate protection from the elements and no apparent access to food or water. Veterinarians noted most of the dogs and cats are underweight, with protruding hips and rib bones, and several dogs have untreated injuries. The pig had no apparent access to food or water, and the goats had a water trough but it was frozen solid. Over 20 koi were living in a outdoor pool so murky they were not visible to rescuers upon initial inspection, and various types of smaller fish were contained throughout the garage and residence. Companion birds including parrots, parakeets and finches were inside a garage in filthy, barren cages with no environmental enrichment. Veterinarians immediately noted one of the parrots had large patches of missing feathers, apparently self-inflicted and likely due to boredom and stress. Enrichment, which allows animals to exhibit natural behaviors, is essential for their physical and mental health and can prevent self-destructive behavior. Despite the poor conditions, many of the animals were friendly and eager for attention. Dozens of roosters and hens were found in makeshift pens outdoors or caged in an outbuilding on the property. These animals were identified as gamefowl, a term used to describe birds raised for the purposes of fighting and selectively bred to be aggressive with other birds. Experts from the HSUS assisted in identifying cockfighting paraphernalia, and veterinarians noted that many of the gamefowl were underweight and suffering from apparent neglect. “As different as each of these animals are, when I imagine what their lives have been like, there is something they all have in common—the koi whose entire world is the bottom of an filthy, murky pool; the parrot in a cramped, barren cage who greets strangers with a ‘hello!’ but had plucked out his own feathers; and the sweet, attention-hungry dog pacing in circles as far as her chain will allow her —it’s a bleak existence,” said Jessica Johnson, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ animal rescue team. “Between the number of animals and their unique, species-specific needs, this was a complex operation for everyone involved and we are especially grateful to the Grady County Sheriff’s Office for intervening for these animals. Thanks to them, these animals don’t have to live like that anymore.” “I would like to say thank you to the members of the Humane Society of the United States for their assistance and hard work in the rescue of several hundred animals that were involved in an animal cruelty investigation,” said Sheriff Gary Boggess. “We executed a search warrant on the residence in Grady County where the animals were being mistreated. With their help, animals were rescued and will be rehomed.” The dogs, cats, fish, companion birds, goats and the pig were removed from the property and transported to undisclosed locations to receive in-depth veterinary exams and much-needed care. Placement arrangements with shelters and rescue partners and sanctuaries will be determined in the coming weeks. Due to the risk of spreading infectious diseases to commercial flocks and lack of placement options, gamefowl rescued from suspected cockfighting situations typically are not able to be adopted out. This leaves little choice but humane euthanasia of the roosters and hens on-scene, which was completed by veterinarians on site. LINDA’S LINE Hi. February, the month of love. Let’s try to spread that love to the strays out in the cold, by showing them that we love them also. Please try to provide them with shelters to keep them warm. It is best to use dry food (wet food freezes in the cold weather), and of course, water would be good. Remember that they are G-d’s creatures too, and that we are their guardians. Unfortunately, when I am out and about in my neighborhood, it is heartbreaking to still see homeless people on the street. So, I know that I have said this before, but Please don’t forget those less fortunate than we are. If you come across any kind souls who are homeless, and have pets in your travels, please try to offer them food, and even a warm coat or blanket, if you have one, for themselves and their pets. We must always remember that they too, are children of G-d, and they and their pets will be most grateful for your kindness. If we try to carry the symbolism of the “month of love,” not only through the month of February, but throughout the rest of the year as well, we can make a real difference, here and in the world. Give the gift of love wherever, and whenever you can. It will help to make this world a better place, and I know that I have said this before, but remember that every good deed that we do is a guaranteed gold star in the “Book of life.” So, let’s try to be kind to each other, and let someone that you care about, whether it be a family member (i.e.: child, husband, wife etc.) or a very dear friend, including your pets, know that you love them and appreciate them. It will give them a wonderful warm feeling. After all, as they say, “a little kindness goes a long way.” It is especially important right now, with all the turmoil that is going on in our country, and the world, for us to try to pull together, and spread the message of “the month of love.” This month is also Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. So, please remember, if you have not had your pet spayed or neutered, or if you are considering adopting a pet, please be sure to have this done. It is healthier for the animal in the long run, and will help to ensure that he/she is able to live a longer, happier and healthier life. Also, please remember, when walking your pets after a snowstorm, to be aware of the rock salt that homeowners place on the sidewalk to melt snow, and ice. Try to avoid your pet walking on the salt, as it can cause a permanent irritation on their paws, and pain as well. Please remember to clean your pet’s paws when you come in from a walk, no matter what the weather, to get rid of any harmful germs that they might pick up. For homeowners out there, if you must put something down to melt the snow, please try to use brands that are safe for animals. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Till next time. CLOSING THOUGHT Linda will try to get all of our Tax Receipts out to you by month’s end. We are just waiting for some late checks to come in for 2024. Please share with us any good Animal Related stories that you know about. It is always nice to read something nice. Our Rescuers have been working hard taking care of their colonies. I hope that by the time you read this page, you will have read the stories from Robbin in New York, Nicki in Florida and Carol in South Carolina. As I said earlier in this newsletter, if you have a story to share, we would love to print it. Happy stories should be shared. We appreciate all that you do to help the strays through us. We are a good team. “Paw hugs, and wet kisses” from the strays for a Happy Valentine’s Day all year. 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!” Last, but not least, Be well, Stay well and love to you all again, from the strays, and us. Till next time, Waggin’ Off |
