Waggin' Tails November 2025

WAGGIN TAILS          NOVEMBER 2025

ELECTION DAY

VETERAN’S DAY

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME ENDS 11/2/25

Dear Friends and Members:

          We have come to the month that we give thanks, for everything that is good in our lives – Thanksgiving.

          We here at Save Our Strays, and the strays, wish you and your families all the good in this world.  We want to thank you for keeping us here 57 years, and still counting.  You are all very appreciated.

          The weather has been getting colder, and more storms are happening, which makes it harder on the strays, and homeless people, many of whom adopt animals to make a “family.”  If you see someone in this situation, if you can, please offer them some assistance.

          I am writing this on the eve of the settlement in Gaza.  We give thanks for the hostages being released.  We can only hope that the war in the Ukraine will be over soon.

          The wars in these two countries, and wars in all countries are devastating, to the people and for us, in humane work for animals.  There are organizations that are equipped to try to help.  Please investigate which are legitimate, and see if you can help in some way.

          We would like to thank everyone who responded to our October2025 Holiday Newsletter, with a donation.  If you did not, or cannot at this time, PLEASE keep us in mind.  We only sent to everyone on our mailing list once a year.  Please think about becoming an Adam, Eve or Sponsor-A-Stray member, and you will receive our newsletter each month.  We need more members, so that we can continue to help the strays.

WAGGIN TAILS          NOVEMBER 2025

(CONT.)

        The Salz Trust only allows for medical, and adoption.  The veterinary costs have doubled.  They now also charge from 3% to 4% to use our credit card.  We cannot send a check because the veterinarian want to be paid before the stray is released from the hospital.  So, costs are higher, but the donations that come in are limited.  We are thankful to all that continue to support us, and hope that our once-a-year supporters will join the above mentioned programs.

          Our Food program is still feeding our colonies, and eyes are on the strays.  If and when they need medical care, they receive it.

          A special SHOUT-OUT to our Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members, and to those of you who help during the year, when you can.  We are only doing this work because of you.  We are a team.  Let’s hope that we can grow the team so that we can continue to help all new strays, that come our way.

          We appreciate all that you, our Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray members, and all the non-members that help when they can.  If the strays could speak, they would say thank you.  We are their voice.

          The bottom line is, to care about family, friends, neighbors and especially about the voiceless strays, that live among us.  If we all do not take care of each other, who will?  The strays need us, please help us find a way to continue.

Peace to everyone on this planet.

The only way we all survive is to help

each other, strays

included.

LEGISLATION                                                                                                                 [REPRINTED]

ASPCA

What Lawmakers Did for Farm Animals in 2025

In March, we told you about a concerning trend of lawmakers rolling back laws that establish basic animal welfare standards, environmental policies and more.

Many states’ legislative sessions have ended for the year.* Here are some of the major developments you don’t want to miss:

1. Confinement Bans Took Effect in Colorado and Michigan

Laws banning the use of battery cages and the sale of eggs from hens confined in battery cages went into effect in Colorado and Michigan, benefiting over 12 million birds [PDF] annually. Similar bills were introduced this year in Maryland, New York, Tennessee and Vermont [PDF] — the momentum is building!

2. States Suspended or Delayed Confinement Bans, Blaming Avian Flu

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs issued an executive order delaying implementation of its cage-free egg law from early 2025 to 2034, citing egg shortages caused by the bird flu outbreak. Some lawmakers still wanted to use the bird flu crisis to eliminate Arizona’s confinement ban and passed Senate Bill 1721 [PDF], completely eliminating the state’s law. Governor Hobbs vetoed the bill, preserving the confinement ban and affirming that it will be implemented in 2034.

The Nevada Legislature passed a law allowing for the temporary suspension of its cage-free sales ban, reversing animal welfare requirements during “times of emergency” like the current bird flu epidemic.

Fortunately, similar “repeal” bills in Colorado [PDF] and Michigan [PDF] failed to gain any traction.

3. Wisconsin Tried Boosting Higher-Welfare Pasture-Based Farms

Wisconsin lawmakers attempted to create a grant program providing up to $40,000 to farmers to implement grazing practices that benefit soil health, animal welfare and water quality. The bipartisan bill was making progress at the committee level but did not pass this year.

A bill supporting higher-welfare and pasture-based farmers was introduced in Oregon, sowing the seeds for a more humane and sustainable farming system.

4. Industrial Ag Pivoted

With the Farm Bill still stalled in Congress, industrial agribusinesses turned to states where they have historically been successful in capturing power and building policies that benefit the factory farm system.

This routinely takes the form of ag-gag and right-to-farm legislation, which reduce accountability for factory farms both in the public eye and with their neighbors. This session, lawmakers in South Dakota and North Dakota [PDF] passed ag-ag bills, and right-to-farm legislation passed in Vermont [PDF].

Lawmakers in Michigan introduced a bill to eliminate local control of animal agriculture, while various bills introduced in Missouri, Nebraska and New Mexico attempted to limit transparency and access to information about factory farms. We’re happy to report that these bills did not pass this year.

5. States and Animal Advocates Continue Pushing for More Humane Farming System

Numerous good bills were introduced this year, from incentivizing more humane food in public institutions in Illinois and New York, to increasing local control over the location and zoning [PDF] of factory farms, and bills that would require meat processing plants to better protect farm animals and farm workers [PDF].

FYI                                                                                                                    [REPRINTED]

RIU Hotels Group commits to a 100% cage free egg supply chain globally

MEXICO CITY, Mexico—RIU Hotels Group, with 100 locations in over 20 countries, announced its commitment to implement a fully cage-free procurement policy for all types of eggs utilized by its hotels around the globe by the end of 2025.

The hotel group has been working with Humane Society International/Mexico since 2021 to begin this supply chain transition, supporting egg producers who have made the change to higher animal welfare systems and cage-free living for thousands of hens.

The cage-free systems provide the laying hens with space to walk and develop their natural behavior. In caged systems, the laying hens do have not enough space to walk, nest or perform other fundamental behaviors. RIU Hotels has been committed to sustainability and animal welfare initiatives throughout its global operations. This commitment represents an important step in fulfilling its path as a socially responsible company.

“Within the framework of our Animal Welfare Policy, we commit that 100% of the eggs consumed in all our hotels and in all our products come from cage-free birds by the end of 2025. We will not accept breeding systems combined. This transition will be gradual, and we will work hand in hand with expert organizations in the field, as well as local suppliers and producers to achieve it. We will publicly report our progress toward full compliance with this commitment on our website or other means annually, said RIU Hotels Group.”

“HSI congratulates RIU Hotels for its commitment to farm animal welfare and for taking steps to implement better conditions for hundreds of thousands of laying hens worldwide. We commend RIU for taking action to ensure that this important commitment will be met and are excited to collaborate further in Mexico and beyond,” says Arianna Torres, corporate relations, and public policy manager at HSI/Mexico.

Reference in this article to any specific commercial product or service, or the use of any brand, trade, firm or corporation name is for the information of the public only, and does not constitute or imply endorsement by HSI/Mexico or any of its affiliates of the product or service, or its producer or provider, and should not be construed or relied upon, under any circumstances, by implication or otherwise, as investment advice. Links and access by hypertext to other websites is provided as a convenience only and does not indicate or imply any endorsement with respect to any of the content on such website nor any of the views expressed thereon.

LINDA’S LINE

          Hi.

          November is here, and 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.  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, who have friends, 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, Gaza and Israel.  Let us all be especially thankful for the peace settlement that has been reached in Gaza this.  It is Thanksgiving, and this is a good Thanksgiving.  May we have an end to the wars, and peace for everyone.

          The weather is getting cooler, 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, think about having your pet microchipped, so that if   G-d forbid the animal gets 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, to 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.

          A reminder that Daylight Savings Time ends on November 2nd, so don’t forget to set your clocks back an hour the night before.

          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

          I am repeating last November’s closing.  I always look back at what has changed.  Unfortunately, not too much, has.  So, this is appropo.

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 plea 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 strays.  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 adding new pictures of the strays that we help.  Please see what we do, on our website saveourstraybrooklyn.com.

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