Waggin' Tails October 2025

(HOLIDAY NEWSLETTER)

ADOPT A SHELTER MONTH

YOM KIPPUR                  COLUMBUS DAY                      HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Dear Friends and Members:

            We are again in the Holiday Season.  Please consider this our Holiday newsletter.  I try to mail this out before everyone else.  There is such a great need for funds.  So, we are getting our appeal out now.  It is Christmas, and Hanukkah in the stores, so I hope that you are getting in the gift mode, and we hope that the strays are on your list.  There are many other religions, and cultures that celebrate this time of year, and we wish one and all a Happy, Healthy Holiday Season.

            This newsletter goes out to everyone on our mailing list.  Adam, Eve and Sponsor-A-Stray contributors, as well as our yearly donators.  We hope that those of you who are not Adam, Eve or Sponsor-A-Stray members, would hopefully, join our programs.  These pledges let us know just what we can, and cannot do.  We help the strays through your donations.  We are YOU.  We have enclosed a contribution envelope for your convenience, and a member form.

            It would be appreciated if you would update your mailing address, if it has changed.  Letters are only forwarded for a short period of time, and we don’t want to lose you.  If you want

to be removed, please send back the contribution envelope, and hopefully, with a final Holiday gift for the strays.  This way, in the future we don’t spend the funds on sending unwanted mail.  Hopefully, this will not happen, then you will remain on the team.

            Having said that, I hope you will check out our website: saveourstraysbrooklyn.com.  We are always updating the pictures of the strays that we help.  We can’t put all of them on the website, but you can see a sample of what Save Our Strays is doing.  These animals have been helped by you.  You can also catch up on any newsletter that you might have missed, not being an Adam, Eve or Sponsor-A-Stray member.  They are all on the website monthly.

            We are still extremely active in New York, and Florida and we are growing in our work in South and North Carolina.  We help anyone who has reached out to us for advice.  Medical help depends on funds available.

            As many of you know, we received a bequest from the estate of Ms. Janet Salz.  When we received it, it was considered a large amount, and what we could do with it, to help strays with medical needs, was a G-d send.  It is the same large amount, and it is gratefully appreciated.  We couldn’t be here without it.  The problem is, the veterinarians are now charging much higher prices.  So, the funds don’t go as far as they used to.  That’s where you come in.  The funds are for veterinary bills only.  The funds that come in are for FOOD, and some administrative costs.  NO Directors receive financial compensation.  Only the emotional high that we get from helping the strays.  We use the funds received for administrative costs, clerical, accountant, attorney, phones etc.  This is needed in order to stay operational.  So, money is tight.  This letter is long, but we feel that you should know where your donations go.  We have kept  the organization open now, 57 years, as long as we are here, we will continue our work so that next year I can say it is now 58 years.  PLEASE HELP.

About our Rescuers:

            We started as a grass roots organization 57 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 our 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 Save Our Strays 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, can go as high as $20,000 a month.  All funded by the Salz Trust.  The amount we will be able to spend going forward cannot exceed $10,000 to $12,000 a month.  The cost of veterinarians have gone up  so much.  We need to have funds for each month, so we now have to stretch the Trust.

            Have a wonderful, Happy and Heathy Holiday Season.

P.S.:-  Remember that we can each help one stray at a time.  The

            stray will appreciate it.

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

           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 an easy fast on YOM KIPPUR.  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.

It won’t be long before the cold winter months will be upon us, so let’s all try to make sure that we have our shelters up, and ready, so that the strays will have a warm place to go with plenty of food, and water.

Over the years I have received many calls from people asking for help with strays.  No matter what the issue is Save Our Strays, and I have always been there to help.  Please, if you see a stray that needs help, DON’T pass it by.  Try to do what you can to help, whether it be with food, and water or a medical issue.  I am on the phones Monday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and at all other times, please leavea message.  I will get back to you as soon as I can.  I am always willing to help with any questions or issues that you may have.  Please do not hesitate to call.

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 holiday.

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 states.  Every day, through our rescuers, and Save Our Strays, many strays are saved.  This work has been 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.  Save Our Strays, and the rescuers provide food and water for the strays.

          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,  and that is YOU.

          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 to keep Save Our Strays here, and hope that you will continue the journey with us.

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

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.  Please join us in continuung this very important work in helping the strays.  They are lost without us.

          We are a team.  Please let’s try to get more people on the team.

          Have a wonderful Holiday Season, and may all your good hopes and dreams come true. May our hopes, and dreams come true for the strays, and that is 0 stray population. 

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