october - 2024

 
WAGGIN TAILS      OCTOBER 2024
 
ADOPT A SHELTER MONTH
HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH
YOM KIPPUR
  COLUMBUS DAY
      HAPPY HALLOWEEN
 
Dear Friends and Members:
 
            Once again, we are in the Holiday Season.    This is our Holiday newsletter.  I like to send it out before everyone else.  I hope it makes us stand out.
 
            This newsletter goes out to everyone on our mailing list.  Our Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray contributors receive a newsletter every month.  So, to the contributors who respond yearly to our Holiday Letter, we wish to say welcome once again, with the hope that you will join our monthly contributors.   We have enclosed a member form for your convenience.
 
            It would be appreciated if you would update your mailing address, and mark on the back of the contribution envelope, whether or not you are staying with us or wish to be removed.
 
            Having said all this, I hope that you will read the rest of our newsletter.  We have true stories from New York, Florida and South Carolina.   We also have helped people in other states, i.e.: New Jersey.
 
            As many of you know, we received a bequest from
Mrs. Janet Salz.  The bequest covers veterinary costs, so we have been able to help many animals over the years.  Unfortunately, the food for the strays, and the Administrative costs, such as accountants, attorney and clerical help are not covered by the bequest.  Money has been “tight” for many of us, and funds are coming in at a minimum.   It doesn’t cover our basic needs.  We have a small amount of funds that we draw from to cover the cost each month.  When that is gone, unfortunately, so are we.  It will be sad because we receive a large sum that covers all veterinary expenses, and that does not stop, unless we are forced to close.  No Director receives any compensation.
​ 
            We started as a grass roots organization 56 years ago, and we are still a grass roots organization.  What does this mean?  It means that we are still helping Rescuers that spent all their own funds to help the strays.  We supplement them.  They watch the colonies, and bring the sick, and hurt ones to veterinarians, the cost of which we cover.  They couldn’t afford to take care of the strays to the extent that they do without YOU our contributors, and us being here.  We are a team, and in order for us to stay here we need YOU.
 
            Please read some of the rescues that are in this newsletter, and multiply them by 50 percent more.  Our veterinary bills each month range from a minimum of $15,000, and on some months, go as high as $23,000 a month.  All funded by the Salz Trust.  We NEED funds for food, and for Administrative costs.
 
 Please put our newsletter on bulletin boards, etc.
Please mention us in work newsletters, and in places wherever you might worship.  We need to get our name out there to generate donations.  We have a website: saveourstraysbrooklyn.com.  We post our newsletter, and pictures of some of the animals that we have helped.  We are a 501(c)(3) tax deductible organization, and very, very worthy of your support, and to you, who have supported us over the years.  You are very appreciated, and you are the reason we have been able to help the strays, and why we are still able to be here let us continue to work together..
 
            We are a team.  Please let’s try to get more people on the team.
 
Let’s save one stray
at a time.
It adds up.
 

LEGISLATION                                                                                                                 [REPRINTED]

New Law Review Article Condemns USDA’s Animal Welfare Act Failures
PETA Foundation Vice President Holds Agency Accountable for Relying on Meaningless Warnings to ‘Enforce’ Federal Law
Washington – The Ohio State Law Journal, a top-50 law review, has just published an article by animal-law scholar and PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel and Vice President of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders that condemns the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) use of warnings as its primary means of “enforcing” the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).
In the first half of the 2018 fiscal year, more than 80 percent of the USDA’s AWA enforcement actions were simply warnings—and Winders’ analysis in “Administrative Law Enforcement, Warnings, and Transparency” finds that such warnings frequently fail to prevent further violations of the AWA. Facilities such as roadside zoos, laboratories, and puppy mills that ignored warnings and continued violating the AWA most often faced no further consequences—except, in some cases, a second (or even third) meaningless warning.
“Over and over, we’ve seen that warnings from the USDA don’t stop laboratories, roadside zoos, and other animal exploiters from denying animals veterinary care or confining them to tiny, filthy cages,” says Winders. “PETA is calling on the USDA to levy significant fines, suspend or revoke licenses, and issue criminal penalties in order to stop abuse.”
Winders’ article comes on the heels of a sudden decline in overall AWA enforcement actions—just 47 in the first three quarters of the 2018 fiscal year, compared with 207 actions in 2017 and 252 in 2016—combined with the USDA’s refusal to disclose enforcement records, which previously were routinely posted online, publicly. The agency’s recent lack of transparency is the subject of lawsuits filed by PETA-led coalitions in which Winders is also a plaintiff.
In addition to her work with PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—Winders taught animal law at Vermont Law School this summer, was recently a visiting scholar at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and was Harvard’s first Animal Law & Policy fellow. Her other recent and forthcoming law review articles address the USDA’s assault on transparency and its policy of automatically renewing AWA licenses even when licensees have repeatedly violated the law.
 
More than 100 rabbits rescued from overwhelmed caregiver’s home in Chattanooga, Tennessee
The Humane Society of the United States is assisting the McKamey Animal Center in the rescue of over 100 rabbits from a residence in Chattanooga after an overwhelmed caregiver asked for help.
The Humane Society of the United States and the McKamey Animal Center arrived at the property around 8 a.m. on Aug. 20 to find the caregiver and more than 100 rabbits living in extremely unsanitary conditions. The rabbits appeared to suffer from a variety of ailments including flea infestations, hair loss and injuries typical of overcrowding. Multiple nursing litters and rabbits of various ages were found burrowing in furniture throughout the residence. Veterinarians noted several rabbits may be pregnant.
According to the owner, he has cared for pet rabbits for more than 30 years, but after enduring a health crisis, the population of rabbits grew out of control and beyond his capacity to provide the animals with adequate care. He eventually reached out to the McKamey Animal Center, which requested the assistance of the Humane Society of the United States.
“As with many of the rescue operations we take on, these conditions aren’t suitable for animals or humans to live in. This one stands out because it was brought about by a caregiver recognizing he was beyond his capacity—he loves his pets enough to let them go so they can find homes where they can thrive,” said Jessica Johnson, senior director of the Humane Society of the United States’ Animal Rescue Team. “We are grateful to the McKamey Animal Center for inviting us to assist in giving the caregiver and each of his rabbits a new beginning.”
“We are so thankful for the response and efforts of the HSUS,” said Executive Director for the MAC, Inga Fricke. “The house is sadly in deplorable condition and is not suited for animals to reside in at this time.”
The Humane Society of the United States is transporting the rabbits to a temporary emergency shelter, where veterinarians will conduct in-depth exams and provide necessary medical treatment.
Once they are healthy enough, the HSUS will arrange placement with shelter and rescue partners so the rabbits can seek adoptive homes.
 
LINDA’S LINE
           Can you believe how quickly the year has passed?  It’s October already, and autumn is in full swing with the trees all showing their beautiful colors of red, orange and gold.  I would like to start out by wishing all of our Jewish friends a HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH, and an easy fast.  I would also like to wish our members a HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY.  We also celebrate Halloween this month, and a reminder to please keep an eye out for pranksters, as there are a lot of sick people out there, who would cause harm to the strays, and possibly our pets.  Most children will probably be Trick or Treating this Halloween, so please keep your pets away from the candy that they bring home.  Candy is very dangerous to animals, especially chocolate.
 
          A reminder that the cold winter months will soon be upon us, so let’s all try to make sure that we have our shelters ready, so that the strays will have a warm place to go with plenty of food, and water.
 
Please remember that, even though the COVID-19 situation has improved greatly in our country, we are still not out of the woods, and we are still dealing with variants that can be dangerous to those who have not yet been vaccinated.  So
please continue to be vigilant.  In many places, wearing a mask is no longer required.  I realize that this is of great concern to many people in this country, especially senior citizens.  So, if it makes you feel more comfortable to continue to wear a mask, then by all means, do so for your protection, and that of others around you.  It is patriotic, and we are all Americans.  If you still have not been vaccinated, PLEASE do not hesitate to do so, as these vaccinations WILL help to keep you, and those around you, safe.  The cold weather is coming, and top doctors are telling us that we still need to be very careful.  So please do not let your guard down.  Continue to protect yourself and stay safe.  Remember to get your flu shots also.  We don’t want to lose you, the strays need all the friends they can get.  You are important.
 
We are still in Hurricane season.  A reminder to pet owners – if you are in an area that is affected by a hurricane, and you are forced to leave your home due to flooding etc., PLEASE REMEMBER TO TAKE YOUR PETS WITH YOU.  Do
NOT leave them behind.  Remember that they are used to being cared for by you, they are family and they could not survive without you.
 
          This month is also Adopt A Shelter Pet Month.  So, if you are thinking of adopting a pet, please consider adopting from a shelter, rather than buying one
from a pet store.  There are so many wonderful pets in the shelters that are waiting
to be adopted, and deserve a good, loving forever home.  Many of them are pets that have been displaced from their owners, due to storms etc.  Please consider giving one of these poor creatures a loving home as well.
 
          That’s all for now, but I’ll be back next month.  G-d Bless you all, be safe and enjoy the holidays.

 CLOSING THOUGHT
 
          Happy Columbus Day to our Italian friends, and to everyone else,.  Columbus discovered America, and that’s for all of us.  Enjoy the good parts of Halloween.  To our Jewish friends, have a Happy New Year and an easy fast.
 
          Please adopt from a shelter or rescue group.  These are wonderful animals who will make great pets, and family members.  They are waiting for their forever home.
 
          As always, we need more Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members.  Please get the word out about Save Our Strays.  Please keep us here.
 
          We always have many strays being treated at various veterinarians each day in various state.  Every day, through our rescuers, many strays are saved.  This work has only been able to be accomplished, through the bequest that we received from the Janet Salz Trust.  Strays have been given a new, and better quality of life.  The Rescuers find homes for the friendly ones.  The others go back into their colonies, and the Rescuers have “eyes” on them every day, and provide food and water.
 
          Let’s not let them down.  Mrs. Salz left a Restricted legacy, only to be used for medical care and adoption.  We need funds for Food, traps etc., and Administrative costs.
 
          I would like to say to everyone who is receiving this newsletter, we truly thank you for all that you have done over the years.  We love you for helping the strays, and appreciate all that you have done and hope that you will continue the journey with us.
 
          Have a wonderful Holiday Season, and may all your good hopes and dreams come true, and may ours also. 
 
Please remember – see a stray,
help a stray.
 
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’ Of