november - 2023

WAGGIN TAILS          NOVEMBER 2023
 
ELECTION DAY
VETERAN’S DAY
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS 11/5/23
 
Dear Friends and Members:
 
          I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, and your families and friends a very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.  This is a time for appreciating our friends, families (which include our pets), and neighbors.
 
          We have had so many horrible things that have happened these last few months.  Earthquakes, floods and now TWO wars.  Our hearts go out to the families, whose lives have been so grievously affected..
 
          We here at Save Our Strays, and I am sure that you agree, feel for the animals that have been abandoned because people flee from war.  Animals are hurt in floods, and earthquakes.  We have to help fund the organizations that go in, with hands on, to help these animals.  Unfortunately, we are not “rich” enough to be able to do that, nor do we have the man power for such a crisis..
 
          What we do is Rescue on a smaller scale.  We help abandoned, and stray animals here in our community and our community covers a few states.
 
          We recently were called by someone who witnessed a cat being thrown out of a moving car, and a dog that was found tied up on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn.  Luckily, there was a good, kind person there to pick up the animals.  We paid the veterinary bills, and homes were found for them.  This is OUR WAR, and it is never-ending.  We need you to help us also.  War is a terrible thing no matter where it is, big or small.  We hope that we start to see some peace both abroad, and here.  That would make a Happy Holiday.
 
          The bottom line is let’s care about each other.  Let’s take care of each other, and our pets and strays here and around the world.
 
          Peace to everyone on this planet – woman, man,
child and animal.
 
          The only way the world will survive is if we care about each other.
 
 
LEGISLATION                                                                                                                 [REPRINTED]

Animal welfare prevails at the Supreme Court
In October, the Supreme Court heard a pork industry challenge to California’s Proposition 12, the world’s strongest law to protect farm animals. The Humane Society of the United States and its allies defended the law, which requires that mother pigs, egg-laying hens and calves raised for veal in California are not cruelly confined. It also bans the sale of pork, eggs and veal from animals raised in tight confinement.
After the oral argument, the HSUS and animal welfare advocates waited. And waited. Through the winter and most of the spring. So much was riding on the decision—not just the California law, approved by 63% of voters in 2018, but similar laws in other states and state animal protection legislation in general. “We were all extremely hopeful,” says Rebecca Cary, the lead attorney for the HSUS team. “But it [was] a lot of anxious months.”
As the Supreme Court’s summer recess approached, members of the HSUS legal team checked for a decision every day at 10 a.m. In May, exactly seven months after oral argument, the ruling came down: The high court rejected the National Pork Producers Council argument that Proposition 12 was unconstitutional because it interfered with interstate commerce. The Supreme Court landed on the side of animal welfare.
HSUS attorneys, working remotely, celebrated in their separate homes, hugging their pets. Cary felt a mix of emotions as she saw the decision. “Relief. Joy. Shock in terms of the fact that it had finally happened. I was just staring at that word: ‘affirmed’ … This is the hugest victory.”
Twenty minutes after the news broke, the legal team joined a video call with other HSUS staff members who had worked on the case. People were crying. One staff member was so overcome with feeling, she could not speak.
Jonathan Lovvorn, HSUS chief legal counsel, says the decision is probably the biggest ever for the HSUS and animal advocates: “It’s the first time the Supreme Court has ever ruled in favor of animal welfare.” For years, the HSUS has sought to end animal cruelty in part through state laws. Now the Court has ruled that creating laws to protect animals is a key function of state governments, Lovvorn says.
It’s the first time the Supreme Court has ever ruled in favor of animal welfare.
JONATHAN LOVVORN, THE HSUS
While the parts of Proposition 12 relating to hens and veal calves had already gone into effect before the May Supreme Court decision, the part relating to mother pigs finally went into effect on July 1 (legal challenges by the North American Meat Institute and Iowa pork producers continue in California federal courts). The state is requiring all pork sold in the state to comply with the law by January 1.
Most of the pork industry has been confining mother pigs in crates barely larger than their bodies. Now pigs raised by farmers who sell their pork in California will finally be guaranteed at least 24 square feet. At long last they will be able to stand up, lie down and turn around.
  
FYI                                                                                                                                                         [REPRINTED]
 CalAnimals launches new program to help keep people, pets together amidst disasters
The Humane Society of the United States is providing funding to support disaster preparedness project
SACRAMENTO, Calif.—California Animal Welfare Association, the state association representing and supporting more than 260 animal shelters and animal control agencies, is pleased to announce the launch of a three-year project to improve disaster preparedness. With funding generously provided by the Humane Society of the United States, CalAnimals will hire an experienced disaster program manager to lead the development of resources and improved coordination to support the effective evacuation, care and reunification of animals with their families during disasters. 
“We are extremely excited about this opportunity to drive significant improvement in disaster preparedness to support the safety of pets and livestock,” says Jill Tucker, CEO of CalAnimals.  “Animal services agencies play an important role as first responders in disasters, and ensuring that processes, resources, relationships and trained personnel are in place will make a lifesaving difference. We are profoundly grateful to the HSUS for making this project possible.” 
When people are ordered to evacuate for their safety, a common occurrence in wildfire-prone California, they are often unwilling to do so if they are unable to secure safe transport or housing for their pets. This results in greater risk for residents, their pets and the first responders trying to help. 
“This position will greatly improve California’s response to disasters, keeping more pets safe throughout ongoing incidents like wildfires, major storms and flooding,” said Jenny Berg, California state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We are happy to support this role as it will not only help streamline California’s response to major disasters, but it will also serve as an example to states across the country experiencing similar effects because of climate change.” 
California’s shelters and animal control agencies are eager to work collaboratively with California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Veterinary Emergency Response Team and California Department of Food and Agriculture to create an effective and sustainable response infrastructure. As first responders, shelters are typically responsible for coordinating local activities, including the evacuation and care of animals. The state agencies are tasked with assisting when local resources have been exhausted. The more rural the community, the higher the fire danger and the leaner the resources. 
The disaster program manager will represent California’s animal shelters at the state level, develop training standards, support the implementation of disaster management best practices, facilitate inter-agency coordination and directly assist during active incidents. 
 
LINDA’S LINE
           Hi.
 
          November is here, the fall season is in full swing.  It is hard to believe that the year has gone by so quickly.  This month we also celebrate Thanksgiving – a time for families to be together, and to show thankfulness for all the blessings that G-d has given us in our lives, especially our families, friends and our wonderful pets.  Hopefully, since the worst of the COVID situation is behind us, people will once again be able to spend Thanksgiving with their families this year.  For those of you who will be traveling to family for the holiday this year, please remember to continue to be careful, so that you can enjoy the holidays celebration with family and friends.  Let us also not forget that the past few years have been difficult, what with the pandemic and all, and we should remember to give thanks for those of us, and our families and pets, who have come through this unscathed.  Please remember to include our troops, and their families in your prayers, as well as the people in the Ukraine and in Israel, this Thanksgiving as well.  A reminder that Daylight Savings Time ends on November 5th, so don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour the night before.
 
          Before long the cold weather will be upon us, and we do not know what kind of a winter we may be facing this year, so please be sure that your shelters are in place for the strays, and be sure to put out food (preferably dry, as moist food tends to freeze in the cold weather), and water for them as well.  The more food they eat, the thicker their fur will be – this is especially true of cats.  This will give them some protection, at least, from the weather.  Also, there have been stories on the news about people who have been going around stealing certain dog breeds from their owners, and selling them to other people.  Please be alert when walking your pet.  It would be a good idea to have your pet microchipped, so that if G-d forbid the animal does get lost, there is hope that it can be found and returned to you.  I know how much pets mean to their owners.  Mine mean the world to me, and I wouldn’t want this to happen to me or anyone else.
 
          On another note, please remember to have dog sweaters, and coats on hand to keep your pets warm when walking them in the cold weather.  Contrary to what some
pet owner’s may believe, an animal’s fur is not enough to keep them warm in the cold weather.  Believe it or not, they can, and do catch cold the same as we do.
 
          Also, please remember when walking your dogs during the cold months, please watch out for the rock salt that homeowners put down on the sidewalks to melt the snow, and ice.  Try to make sure that your pet does not walk on it as it can cause an irritation on their paws that can be uncomfortable, and difficult to get rid of.
 
          We here at Save Our Strays wish all of our friends, members and their families a HAPPY, HEALTHY THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, and a salute to our veterans.
 
          G-d Bless, and stay safe.
 
                                                          Till next time.
 
CLOSING THOUGHT
 
The cold weather is here, and the strays go from hot to cold.  Each season brings its own misery.  Please, if you can, put up shelters with dry food, and water.  The lucky ones are the ones that we take care of in our colonies.  If you run into a stray, please feed it, if you can.  At least it will give them another day of strength.
 
All life is important.  As we all get older, we learn to appreciate life.  Let’s work together while we still can.  Things have to change, for the better.
 
Help an animal one by one – do not look away.  It is a child, like our children.  It thinks, feels pain, cries and feels what we feel.  It walks the streets alone, hungry and frightened.  If you believe in reincarnation, this could be you next time.
 
This is the time of year to open our hearts more than usual.  Remember the homeless, who go out of their way to adopt a stray, and create a “family.”  Please don’t pass them by.  Give food for both the person, and the animal.  A warm coat or blanket to keep both warm.  They will truly appreciate any kindness.  Sometimes I think there is too little of it.
 
          To those of you who responded to our plee for financial help, thank you.  For those who are not in a position now to help, if things change for you for the better, please keep us in mind.
 
We need more Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members.  An extra donation, when you can, is appreciated.  We watch our pennies, and spend with thought.  Incoming funds are light.  Please pass our newsletter around where you can – bulletin boards, at work or church, friends, family etc.
 
            Save Our Strays maintains a hotline (718-332-3956) Monday – Friday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, and an answering machine for all other times to take messages – all messages are returned.  This is to address our member’s concerns, and needs and for animal emergencies.  We invite like-minded individuals to join with us to become members, to help us in helping the animals.  Individuals may even wish to include us with a charitable donation in their wills.  Please help us spread the word about Save Our Strays, and the things that we do.  As we have said before, if you have a bulletin board in your place of worship or business, please let people know what we do, we need funds to continue.  Remember, we have a website: saveourstraysbrooklyn.com.  We are always changing the pictures of the animals that we help.  See what we do.
 
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