WAGGIN' TAILS - APRIL - 2026
- jgoozh
- May 15
- 9 min read
WAGGIN TAILS APRIL 2026
HAPPY PASSOVER
HAPPY EASTER
PREVENTION OF ANIMAL CRUELTY MONTH
Dear Friends and Members:
HAPPY PASSOVER, and HAPPY EASTER. The holidays are back to back this year. It is a time to reflect on what has happened in our lives this past year. Have we achieved our “New Year’s” goal? Or do we regroup our goals. A goal for Save Our Strays is to be here for the strays, and help as many as we can, as long as we can.
The world is changing – some good, a lot not so good. As I have mentioned in past newsletters, small towns and areas in some cities in Europe have set up feeding stations, and places to sleep for stray animals. There is a new group on Facebook that is helping FYI. It’s called, “Saving the Paws.” Contact information@savingthepaws.com. They are in Seattle, Washington, but may feed in other places. Look them up, it may be something you can pass on to relatives or friends in their area of operation. You can find them on Facebook.
Save Our Strays starts its 58th year this April. We received our 501(c)(3) on April 9th, so that is the official start of this organization. So, Happy Birthday to us. We formed in 1968, but it took us 5 years in 1973 to achieve our goal of 501(c)(3). We worked from the first day in 1968 to help animals. We are still here, and with your help, we will see a 59 and 60 etc birthdays. Whatever happens, let’s just keep helping one animal at a time until the job gets done.
Enjoy your holidays, but remember the strays have none. Their joy comes when we can feed them or take them to the veterinarian to take away their pain.
You bring them joy with your donations. That is their holiday. Take care, and please help at least one stray at a time, and no animals as a gift for Easter, unless it will have a forever home..
LEGISLATION [REPRINTED]
Campaigners welcome inclusion of the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill in Indonesia’s 2026 National Legislation Program
“One step closer to a ban on the dog and cat meat trade in Indonesia”
JAKARTA―The Dog Meat Free Indonesia coalition welcomes the decision of the Indonesian House of Representatives (known as the DPR RI) to include the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill in the 2026 Priority National Legislation Program, or Prolegnas. The bill is one of 67 included by the Plenary Session on 23 Sept. and marks a major step in strengthening legal protections for companion animals in Indonesia, including ending the dog and cat meat trade. More than one million dogs and countless cats are trafficked for meat across Indonesia eat year, despite the fact that most citizens don’t eat dog or cat meat. The trade’s mass movement of dogs of unknown disease or vaccination status facilities the spread of rabies. The ban on the dog and cat meat trade is urgently needed to protect public health from zoonotic disease risks, prevent animal cruelty and strengthen Indonesia’s commitment to international animal welfare standards.
Several political groups in the DPR RI have expressed commitment to banning the dog and cat meat trade within the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill, including the Golkar Party Faction, National Democratic Party Faction, National Mandate Party Faction and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle Faction. This cross-party support demonstrates the growing political consensus to end the dog and cat meat trade in Indonesia. The Deputy Chair of the DPR RI Legislative Body, Mr. Sturman Panjaitan, and the Deputy Chair of Commission IX of DPR RI, Mr. Charles Honoris, also expressed support for a ban on the trade in the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill. Inclusion of the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill in Prolegnas 2026 comes following years of persistent advocacy by DMFI, Indonesia’s largest national coalition of animal groups, with a network of more than 100 organizations and communities across the archipelago. To date, 116 regencies/cities and provinces across Indonesia have issued circular letters banning the dog and cat meat trade. With the inclusion of the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill in Prolegnas 2026, DMFI is ready to actively participate in the deliberation process with DPR RI and others.
Karin Franken, national director of DMFI, said: “The decision of DPR RI to include the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill in Prolegnas 2026 is a historic moment. We appreciate the cross-party political support, especially from the Golkar, PAN, NasDem, and PDI-P factions. We also extend special thanks to the Chairs of these factions for their full support of the prohibition of the dog and cat meat trade.
Adrian Hane, S.H., legal manager of DMFI, said: “The inclusion of this bill proves that DMFI’s consistent advocacy as Indonesia’s largest national coalition with a network of more than 100 organizations and communities has driven real change. This support, together with the commitment of Mr. Sturman Panjaitan and the four political party factions, is a major force in realizing regulation that protects both animals and the people of Indonesia. DMFI is committed to continuing to oversee the legislative process and mobilize broader support until a firm prohibition is achieved.”
Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society International) is a founding member of DMFI. Julie Sanders, principal, Ending Dog Meat at Humane World for Animals, said: “This brings us one step closer to ending the brutal dog and cat meat trade in Indonesia. A national ban would spare countless dogs and cats from immense suffering, help protect communities from the spread of rabies and enhance Indonesia’s international reputation. We urge lawmakers to ensure the bill includes a clear and enforceable ban on the dog and cat meat trade, and we welcome the strong momentum toward making this milestone a reality.” Mr. Sturman Panjaitan, deputy chair of the DPR RI Legislative Body, said: “The proposal for the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill came directly from the DPR RI Legislative Body. We are ready to receive input, information and proposals from DMFI regarding the article on dog meat trade. I personally commit that DMFI will be invited again to a public hearing. The prohibition of the dog meat trade (as proposed) will be included as a separate chapter in the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill.”
Mr. Charles Honoris, deputy chair of Commission IX of DPR RI, said “I believe the main distinction between humans and animals is reason and the ability to change behavior. I have faith that we, as humans and as a society, can change behavior. In essence, we strongly support the prohibition of the dog meat trade.”
Mrs. Irene Roba, Commission X of DPR RI, said: “Animal protection is part of our moral responsibility as humans. Animals also have the right to live, to live freely, to receive good treatment, a decent life and not be exploited. The discussion of the Animal Protection and Welfare Bill can be carried out within the 2026 Priority Prolegnas. Broadly, we hope there will be a chapter or article that accommodates our shared concern about the dog and cat meat trade. The drafting of this bill is expected to accommodate all the needs to protect and ensure the welfare of animals.”
FYI [REPRINTED]
Animal advocates welcome cage-free fund approved in Italian budget law
Animal protection groups see funding as ‘a good first step’ to a cage-free future, but seek a more ambitious scope
ROME—Animal protection groups across Italy have welcomed the new cage-free fund established in the 2026 Budget Law of the Italian Parliament, calling it “a good first step for animal welfare.”
The fund is the first permanent public funding in Italy dedicated exclusively to supporting the transition to cage-free animal farming systems. With the first signature of Senator Domenica Spinelli, from the Government majority, it allocates €500,000 for 2026, followed by €1 million annually from 2027 onwards. More than 40 million farmed animals in Italy are still confined in cages every year.
“The approval of the cage-free fund is a first step toward encouraging this fundamental and inevitable transition,” said Martina Pluda, country director of Humane World for Animals Italy (formerly called Humane Society International), alongside NGO partners in the Italian End the Cage Age coalition.
“The confinement of farmed animals in cages is a cruel and outdated practice, incompatible with any meaningful concept of animal welfare. This is not only an ethical position, but a scientific one as well: the most recent opinions of the European Food Safety Authority clearly acknowledge the limits of cage systems in animal farming and recommend a transition to alternative ones.”
“While we are disappointed that the allocation was significantly reduced, we will continue working to ensure that funding is increased and to push for the phase-out of cages on Italian farms with the aim of improving the lives of millions of animals farmed for food.”
Annamaria Pisapia, head of Compassion in World Farming Italy, said: “The initial proposal for the fund was a clear political signal, and we thank Senator Domenica Spinelli and cross-party co-signatories Senators Patuanelli, Cucchi, Malpezzi, Potenti, Unterberger and Biancofiore for promoting this measure, as well as all the parliamentary forces that responsibly supported it. We regret that this intention was then watered down during the review by the Senate Budget Committee.”
Animal welfare is a growing priority for European citizens: according to the latest Eurobarometer survey, 91% of Italian citizens oppose the use of individual cages, and 1.4 million people signed the European Citizens’ Initiative “End the Cage Age” in 2019.
“Despite its regrettably low endowment, the cage-free fund is now law,” Pisapia added. “While waiting for comprehensive EU legislation, now more ambition is needed. As animal protection NGOs, we are ready to work with the Italian Government and Parliament to help devise a smooth cage-free transition. We will continue to advocate for the cage-free fund to be increased in the coming years.”
LINDA’S LINE
Hi.
I would like to start off this month by wishing all of our friends, and members a Happy Passover, and a Happy Easter. By the time you read this newsletter, spring will be in full swing (we hope). Thank G-d for April. The warmer weather will soon be upon us, and this is a welcome break for us, and the strays. We are all looking forward to it.
A reminder, that this month is also Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, which should be celebrated all year long. So please be alert, and if you see an incidence of abuse toward an animal, or any indication that an animal needs help, please don’t ignore it.
Also, please remember that puppy, and kitten season is also in full swing. So, whether it be here at home or if you are traveling, let’s try to remember to carry pet food, and bottled water with us in case we come across any strays that need our help. Please don’t pass them by.
I know that I have said this before, but I feel that it is important enough to repeat. Please try to avoid giving gifts of bunnies for Easter, as too often these poor animals wind up being abandoned in someone’s front yard or in a park. This is not a good life for the animal. If you are given a gift like this and you don’t want the animal, please bring it to a shelter, or a petting zoo in your area, i.e.: Central Park. If you don’t know where the shelters are, please feel free to call me (718-332-3956), and I will help you to find one. When you are thinking about adopting an animal, please be sure that you really want it before doing so.
Easter is also the time that children are given baskets containing different kinds of candy, including chocolate. Please remember never to give any of these treats to a pet, especially chocolate, as it can be very dangerous to them.
Once again, a reminder that I am on the phones Monday to Friday from 11;30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. I will be happy to try to help with any animal related questions or concerns that you may have. All messages left on our answering machine, will be returned within 24 hours.
That’s all for now, but I’ll be back next month. G-d Bless you all, and enjoy the coming Holidays.
CLOSING THOUGHT
Spring is here. Happy, and not happy, it is kitten season. So many animal are born to die or live a terrible life. That is why it is so very important to spay, and neuter your pet. Animals get lost, and they reproduce while living in the streets. We all have to work on this. Have your pet microchipped also, in case it gets lost. It is a terrible world out there for stray animals, especially lost pets – cats and dogs, they are not used to fending for themselves to find food, water and shelter.
Please pass our newsletter around. We need more Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members. These programs keep us going.
This month with Easter, and Passover together it is a time to help wherever we can. A homeless person with or without a pet, but especially with a pet, which is his or her family. Give them clothes, water, something. Please don’t pass them by. We are all G-d’s children, 2-legged or 4-pawed.
Our website, saveourstraysbrooklyn.com, is still being worked on. It’s volunteer, so it takes more time, but it will get done. We have some changes that we will be working on April 15th. It is a work in progress, and there have been some changes.
We also have PayPal, and Go Fund Me, as a way to make a donation. We need new donors also. Food is expensive, and the veterinarian’s prices have really gone up. You don’t need our website for PayPal or Go Fund Me donations.
Enjoy the Holiday, and the better weather.
Help us celebrate our birthday with a birthday gift for the strays.
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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