december - 2024

WAGGIN TAILS          DECEMBER 2024
 
MERRY CHRISTMAS
HAPPY CHANUKAH
HAPPY KWANZAA
 
Dear Friends and Members:
 
          Another year has passed, and we come to the Holidays again.
 
          We had hoped that things would be better  Unfortunately, the wars continue and the animals are suffering.  That is our focus.
 
          We appreciate the donations that we received from many of our supporters.  We hope that they continue, and that the economy improves, and our donations will improve.
 
          We will continue to help the strays as best we can.  We are very careful of how we spend the funds.
 
          We hope that next year will be a happier time for everyone.  We are very thankful for the animals that have crossed our path, and we were able to help.  We are very proud of the lives we have saved.  Our Rescuers place many of the strays that they pick up, after we have sent them through the veterinary process.
 
          This is the time of year that we must look on the bright side.  Enjoy family, and friends and have a wonderful, Happy Chanukah, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy Kwanzaa and to anyone and everyone that celebrates a holiday that we have not mentioned, Enjoy!
 
          Please help one animal at a time.  It all adds up to hundreds.  The world will be a better place if we are kind to friends, family and our fur babies and the strays.
 
          We all come from the same G-d, no matter what name we know him by.  My hope for the holidays is kindness, respect and caring for every living being on this earth.
                            
LEGISLATION                                                                                                                 [REPRINTED]

Lawsuit challenges federal failure to protect hippos
US Fish and Wildlife Service drags its feet while hippo parts flood the US market
WASHINGTON—Animal protection and conservation groups sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today for missing its deadline to decide whether the common hippopotamus should be protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
In 2022 Humane Society International, the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society Legislative Fund and the Center for Biological Diversity filed a legal petition seeking Endangered Species Act protection for hippos. The Service was required by law to respond and determine whether hippos should be protected under the ESA by March 24, 2023. Eighteen months later, the agency still has not done so. Today’s lawsuit challenges the agency’s failure to make this critical determination.
Hippos are in a precarious position in the wild, with population levels declining as much as 20% between 1996 and 2008, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Habitat loss and degradation, drought, poaching and the international trade of hippo parts, including their teeth, skulls, ivory, skin and meat, all threaten this keystone species.
The United States is the primary driver of demand for hippo products, responsible for nearly half of global imports between 2019 and 2021. At least 3,081 hippos were killed to meet U.S. demand between 2009 and 2018, and the popularity of hippo products has continued.
Sophie Nazeri, senior coordinator of wildlife for Humane Society International, speaking on behalf of HSI and the Humane Society of the United States, said: “Hippos face a myriad of threats that are unnecessarily exacerbated by the international trade in hippo products like tables made with their skulls, boots made from their skin and trinkets carved out of their ivory. These animals are ecologically indispensable and deserve more than being reduced to mere accessories. The U.S. government’s delay is tragic since Endangered Species Act protections are essential to curbing the gruesome U.S. market for hippo products.”
“Hippos are disappearing from Africa’s freshwater ecosystems and lagging action from U.S. wildlife officials isn’t helping. These chunky icons belong in the water, not carved up for fashion, knickknacks or trophies for U.S. consumers,” said Tanya Sanerib, international legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “With the extinction crisis accelerating, all species under threat need protections, from three-ton hippos to the Earth’s smallest creatures. We’ll keep fighting for them all.”  
Hippo parts and products are easy to find and purchase across the United States. An undercover investigation by Humane Society International and the Humane Society of the United Statesrevealed thousands of hippo products for sale on the U.S. market. The most common items were made from hippo leather — including belts, shoes and purses — and from hippo ivory, such as handles on knives and bottle openers and decorative carvings. Vendors also sold hippo hunting trophies, including shoulder mounts (the animal’s head and neck) and teeth.
Brianna DelDuca, regulatory specialist at the Humane Society Legislative Fund, said: “The U.S. government must stop stalling when it comes to protecting highly imperiled species across the globe. As the top importer of sport-hunted trophies, the U.S. is further pushing hippos to the brink of extinction. At a minimum, the Fish and Wildlife Service must grant this iconic species required protections under the Endangered Species Act.”
While the U.S. government drags its feet, hippos continue to be killed in the wild to fuel this legal trade, and ESA protections would help guard hippos against U.S. fueled exploitation. The protections requested in the petition would substantially restrict the commercial import and sale of hippo parts and products while also promoting public awareness and providing funding to achieve the ESA’s conservation goals.
Today’s lawsuit, filed in federal court in the District of Columbia, seeks a court-ordered deadline for the Fish and Wildlife Service to determine whether hippos should be protected under the ESA.

FYI                                                                                                                                                   [REPRINTED]

Statement on Petco ending rabbit sales
The Humane Society of the United States applauds Petco’s decision to commit to an adoption-only policy for rabbits, the third-most common companion animal in the United States, and one of the pets most frequently held in animal shelters.
By discontinuing its limited pilot program that offered rabbits for sale in some of its stores, Petco is re-committing to its long tradition of matching loving families with pets in need and thereby enhancing and supporting the communities it serves.
A number of consumers, animal advocates and animal welfare organizations had expressed deep concerns after Petco recently began selling commercially raised rabbits in some of its stores.
Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said: “Petco is doing right by rabbits by recommitting to an adoption-only policy. We celebrated the company's decision years ago to commit to a humane business model that offers adoptable cats and dogs instead of puppies and kittens from massive commercial breeding operations. Adding rabbits to this policy reflects a commitment to animal welfare and sets an example for other retailers. There's simply no need for puppy, kitten or rabbit mills when there are already so many wonderful adoptable companions in need of homes.”
The HSUS has been a leader in ending puppy sales in pet stores, with eight states and more than 475 localities now prohibiting the sale of puppies in pet stores. Many of these policies also prohibit the sale of kittens and rabbits in pet stores.
Petco’s updated policy will help the many shelters and animal welfare organizations across the country that are already struggling to care for more rabbits than their local communities can readily adopt. Visibility is a significant issue for shelter pets, and bringing some of these rabbits to Petco will help expose them to many more families while increasing adoption numbers, a win-win for all involved. 
 

LINDA’S LINE 
          Hi.
           December is here again, and the Holiday Season is in full swing.  Where has this year gone?  I would like to start off this month, by wishing all of our friends and members, and their families a MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY CHANUKAH and a HAPPY KWANZAA.  I hope that everyone has their shelters set up with food, and water for the strays.  Please remember to use dry food in the winter months, as moist food tends to freeze in the cold weather.  Fortunately, we haven’t had any snow yet, which is good for the strays, but the cooler weather will soon be upon us, so let’s be ready.  Please remember to keep the people in the Ukraine, and in Israel in your prayers this Holiday Season, as well as all the people in the world that are caught in harmful situations.
 
Please remember to protect your pets from the cold with a sweater or coat, when taking them out for a walk at this time of year.  Remember that they feel the cold the same way that we do, and their fur is not enough to keep them warm.
 
I know that I have said this before, but I feel that it is important enough to repeat.  I would like to offer a few tips to keep our pets safe during this Holiday
Season.  A reminder that there are many plants that are dangerous to animals.  Among these are Poinsettias, Holly and Mistletoe, all of which can be deadly to
animals, if ingested.  If you must have any of these plants in your home for the holidays, to be on the safe side, try to get artificial plants.  If you would like to know more about plants that are good, and bad for pets, you can contact the ASPCA and ask about a wonderful book that they have, which gives you a complete list of good and bad plants.  Also, if you have kittens or puppies, please be careful to keep them away from electrical wires (extension cords, etc.) that you may use to connect Holiday decorations, as these things can be very dangerous to them.  Remember that young pets are no different than human toddlers – they can be just as mischievous.  Also, we all like to make special tasty dishes for our friends, and family during this holiday season, but let’s not forget our pets.  You can give them healthy treats, such as Ideal Balance Chicken and Apple
treats for Dogs or even treats put out by Plato, such as chicken, flavor and Turkey with cranberry flavor.  They are very healthy, and my dog loves these, and the ingredients are good for them.  Ideal Balance, Wellness and Plato put out a number of healthy treats for dogs.  If your pet has health issues, always check with your veterinarian first to make sure that these items are suitable for them.  WE DO NOT ENDORSE ANY PRODUCT.
 
If you are thinking of giving someone the gift of a pet this Holiday Season, make sure that they go with you to pick out the appropriate pet that they can love.  Also, consider adopting a dog or cat from a shelter rather than buying one.  There are many wonderful animals at shelters like ASPCA, and Animal Care and Control, as well as other shelters, that are waiting for a good, loving home.
 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all!
                                                                     Till next time.
 

CLOSING THOUGHT
 
          We would like to wish our Rescuers a Happy, Healthy Holiday.  They work very hard all year, caring for the strays.  They are the heroes.  These women, and men go out in all kinds of weather to care for their flock.  They are special people that G-d has put on this Earth.
 
            To Those of you who read our newsletter, the funds that you send in enable these wonderful people to do their work, we say to you – you are heroes also.
 
            Our last good thought for this newsletter is:
 
This is the season to open our hearts to those less fortunate than we are.  We must help the homeless, who go out of their way to adopt stray animals, and give them love and caring.  For anyone, animals complete a family.  Please don’t pass them by.  Show them kindness, if you can, i.e.: coins, food, clothing.  It will make you feel so very good.  As the old saying goes, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”  This will make a better world.
 
If you are part of our Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray programs, you receive a newsletter every month updating you as to what we are doing.  The application for membership in Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray is enclosed in this newsletter.  Please give it to a friend.  These three programs are the backbone of our organization.  We are able to budget, and project what we can and cannot do by the pledges that are made.  So please ask your friends to join. It is so important.  We are continuing to work very hard to help the strays.  Funds that are needed, are for food, traps, carriers and Administrative, and as I have said to keep our phones open, and to keep you informed.
 
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!”
 
          We need more Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members.
 
P.S.:  Remember, we have a website, and we try to keep it updated.  Please pass this
          newsletter around.  On our website, we have a button for a PayPal donation, and
          a Go Fund Me page – please visit saveourstraysbrooklyn.com.
 
                                                          Till next time -
                                      
 
Waggin’ Off