March - 2024

WAGGIN TAILS                 MARCH 2024
 
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME BEGINS – 3/10/24
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY
HAPPY PURIM
 
Dear Friends & Members:
 
          The year is moving faster than usual.  I guess it’s because we are getting older.  When we were going to school, the months just crawled by.
 
          The only thing that stays the same is the hardship on the strays.  The extra cold winter, and recent snow storms.  Climate change is so real.  Stray animals, and the homeless are the ones that suffer the most.  My fear is that younger people are not picking up the slack, as older Rescuers get too old to continue, and they themselves pass over the Rainbow Bridge.  It is so important that smaller organizations such as ours, be supported, in order for us to continue to help the strays.  Encourage younger people that you know, to perhaps get into the Rescue community.  We will do all that we can until our funds are gone.  Please pass our literature around.  Funds are not coming in to meet the needs of what we are doing.  We are using our resources up, and when that is gone, unfortunately, so are we.  Ou administration’s #1 need is Food for the strays.  Everything else is #2,3,4 etc., such as other supplies, phone, small salaries for staff, attorneys and accountant.  It all adds up.
 
          We recently bought a mailing list, which should be sent out this month.  Hopefully, it will bring in new people and much needed funds.
 
Let’s save one stray at a time.
It all adds up.

LEGISLATION                                                                                                                 [REPRINTED]

Indiana animal welfare organizations unite against controversial pro-puppy mill bill, HB 1412
The Humane Society of the United States joins Hoosier animal shelters, rescues and local governments in strongly opposing HB 1412. This cruel bill would force cities and counties across Indiana to allow pet stores to sell puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers, voiding ordinances in 21 Indiana localities that restrict the sale of puppies in pet stores. If this measure passes, it will force communities such as Indianapolis, already struggling with pet overpopulation and other challenges facing animal shelters, to allow the sale of cruelly bred puppies in their overburdened community.  
Despite intense opposition from local animal services agencies and the constituents of the 21 communities that have enacted ordinances to limit the sale of puppy mill puppies in their communities, HB 1412 is being rushed through the Indiana General Assembly by the puppy selling pet store Petland and the puppy mill industry. It passed the House of Representatives last week and is set to be heard in the Senate Agriculture Committee in the coming days.  
“It is shocking to see some Indiana legislators prioritizing the business interests of Petland—a corporation known for duping customers into buying sick puppy mill puppies—over the wellbeing of Hoosier pets and families,” said Samantha Chapman, Indiana state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “This bill would be a disaster for animals, the communities that would be forced to let pet stores sell puppy mill puppies and our animal shelters that are at crisis capacity levels. We urge the Senate to stand with the Hoosier animal welfare community and local governments to swiftly defeat this cruel, deceptive bill.” 
It appears that Petland, other puppy-selling pet stores and commercial breeders have worked with legislators to craft a weak regulation that has no reliable enforcement mechanism.  
Concerns about the bill include: 

• It would allow puppy stores to continue sourcing from particularly problematic puppy mills, including those listed here, as it would continue to allow stores to sell dogs any breeder who is licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and does not have a recent “direct violation” of the Animal Welfare Act. It is important to note that USDA inspectors rarely cite even egregious violations found during inspections as “direct,” despite USDA and state inspectors documenting issues at those facilities such as failing to meet cage size requirements, housing dogs on painful wire flooring, feces accumulation, open wounds, poor body condition, lack of dental care and other serious issues. 
• It would not incentivize pet stores to start sourcing puppies from Canine Care Certified breeders, since they could still purchase dogs from massive puppy mills and brokers who can more easily fill their cages.  
• It would force cities and counties to allow pet stores to sell dogs from hundreds of puppy mills across the nation, since few have the “direct” violations that would disqualify a breeder. See here for details on the limits of USDA oversight, “direct violations” and a photo library of cruel conditions and violations that are deemed acceptable under the provisions of HB 1412.  
• It would impose an unfunded mandate on the Indiana Board of Animal Health by requiring the agency to oversee shelters, rescues, hobby breeders and pet stores for the first time without providing any additional funding. State employees would have to become experts on pet store sourcing and out-of-state puppy mill conditions to even attempt to enforce the complicated provisions of this 23-page bill. 
• It would require already stretched-thin local law enforcement agencies to assist with enforcement without any resources or training to take on that responsibility.

  
FYI                                                                  [REPRINTED]

VICTORY! 
Dear Shirley,
It’s a major victory for donkeys! After years of pressure from PETA and other animal rights organizations, African Union leaders announced a 15-year continentwide ban on slaughtering donkeys for their skin, which is boiled down to make a traditional Chinese medicine known as ejiao. The move follows PETA Asia investigations into donkey farms and slaughterhouses as well as international pressure from hundreds of thousands of PETA entity supporters. 
This moratorium on donkey slaughter deals a massive blow to the Chinese ejiao industry—which
relies heavily on imports of donkey skins from Africa and elsewhere to fuel itself—and will prevent millions of donkeys from enduring painful, terrifying deaths.

Donkeys are sensitive, smart, social individuals who don’t want to suffer or be killed--and they still need your help. Millions of them continue to be slaughtered in China to produce ejiao.

Please keep the momentum going by sending a message to Xie Feng, the ambassador of China to the U.S., asking him to use his influence to stop the cruel treatment of donkeys in that country 
 
Take Action for Donkeys

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​ 
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, and HAPPY EASTER.  So far, as of this writing, we have had a few bouts of cold weather, but until now, there was very little or no snow.  However, this week we finally got our first real snowstorm.  Thankfully, it wasn’t as bad as they had predicted.  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, spring will arrive soon, 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 we be very grateful for the help.
 
          A reminder to please think very carefully before giving a rabbit to someone as an Easter gift.  Too many times we have seen, and heard of incidents where after a while, the recipients decide that they no longer want the animal, and it is often left somewhere to fend for itself.  Please be sure that the animal is definitely wanted, before considering adopting it.
 
          Remember that Daylight Savings Time begins on March 10th, 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
 
          Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all our Irish friends, and to all our Jewish friends,  a Happy Purim.
 
          This month Easter is coming earlier than usual, so have a Happy Easter – March 31, 2024.  Please remember do not give gifts of Rabbits, Birds or any other kind of animal.  They are cute as babies, but like children they grow up and sometimes it is hard to care for them in the way they should be cared for.  The parents of the household need to be consulted, otherwise animals are turned loose and sent back to nature, where these poor creatures do not have the benefit of learning, from their parents, how to fend for themselves.  Stuffed animals are wonderful, and grandchildren will have them for a long time.
 
          We also will see light again.  Daylight Saving Time starts March 10, 2024.  I am looking forward to that for many reasons.  The longer day gives the feeders a longer time to feed, and makes it safer for some places they go into to feed.
 
          So, in closing, Happy Holiday to one and all.  If I didn’t acknowledge your Holiday, may I wish you also a Happy Holiday.
 
          If you see a Rescuer feeding in your area, if you can, please offer food for the strays.  It will be appreciated.
 
          Please enlist others to become Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members.
 
          Thank you to everyone that supports our organization, and other Humane organizations.
 
          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!”
 
          Have a wonderful, and happy month throughout the year.
                            
 
                                                          Till next time.
 
                                                                   Waggin’ Off