Sunday, October 16, 2011
Franklin Celebrates National Feral Cat Day
Franklin says "thank you" to everyone who helps ferals, and former ferals, like him!
Friday, October 14, 2011
There's Still Time to Take Part in the Biggest National Feral Cat Day Ever
The big day is almost here—National Feral Cat Day is this Sunday, October 16! How are you going to celebrate?
Join us in showing America’s compassion for cats from coast to coast by participating in National Feral Cat Day 2011. With more than 320 events registered nationwide—far exceeding our goal of 250 events in all 50 states—this will be the biggest National Feral Cat Day in history. Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of it!
Here’s a few ideas of how you can help protect cats’ lives on Sunday (visit http://www.alleycat.org/NFCD for links to each idea!)
Attend an event near you to show your support for humane cat care.
Talk up National Feral Cat Day on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
If you have a blog, write a post about feral cats, TNR, and/or National Feral Cat Day. Feel free to link to our online resources and add a National Feral Cat Day banner to your website!
Download and hand out materials like posters and truth cards to educate your community about feral cats.
Make a special National Feral Cat Day donation to Alley Cat Allies so we can continue helping cats year round.
Find more ideas and the instructions and information you need to make them happen on our National Feral Cat Day website.
However you decide to improve the lives of cats this weekend, be sure to let us and the entire National Feral Cat Day community know about it. Post about it on Twitter using the hashtag #NFCD2011, tag us in your Facebook posts, and don’t forget to show us your pictures!
Sincerely,
Alley Cat Allies
P.S. Make the biggest National Feral Cat Day ever even bigger! Share this message with your friends.
Join us in showing America’s compassion for cats from coast to coast by participating in National Feral Cat Day 2011. With more than 320 events registered nationwide—far exceeding our goal of 250 events in all 50 states—this will be the biggest National Feral Cat Day in history. Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of it!
Here’s a few ideas of how you can help protect cats’ lives on Sunday (visit http://www.alleycat.org/NFCD for links to each idea!)
Attend an event near you to show your support for humane cat care.
Talk up National Feral Cat Day on your Facebook and Twitter accounts.
If you have a blog, write a post about feral cats, TNR, and/or National Feral Cat Day. Feel free to link to our online resources and add a National Feral Cat Day banner to your website!
Download and hand out materials like posters and truth cards to educate your community about feral cats.
Make a special National Feral Cat Day donation to Alley Cat Allies so we can continue helping cats year round.
Find more ideas and the instructions and information you need to make them happen on our National Feral Cat Day website.
However you decide to improve the lives of cats this weekend, be sure to let us and the entire National Feral Cat Day community know about it. Post about it on Twitter using the hashtag #NFCD2011, tag us in your Facebook posts, and don’t forget to show us your pictures!
Sincerely,
Alley Cat Allies
P.S. Make the biggest National Feral Cat Day ever even bigger! Share this message with your friends.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
OCTOBER 16 IS NATIONAL FERAL CAT DAY
Alley Cat Allies’ national day celebrates strength of the movement to educate communities and protect cats
BETHESDA, MD – The 11th annual National Feral Cat Day is October 16, and Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for stray and feral cats, is celebrating the broad support seen across the country for humane and effective policies that protect the lives of feral cats.
“Alley Cat Allies launched National Feral Cat Day in 2001 to raise awareness about feral cats, promote Trap-Neuter-Return, and recognize the millions of compassionate citizens who care for cats,” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “On National Feral Cat Day and all year round, people all across the country work to draw attention to the cause and press their local leaders for humane policies for feral cats. This is truly a national movement.”
Feral cats live and thrive in every landscape, from urban to rural. Because they are not socialized to people and are not candidates for adoption, feral cats taken to animal shelters are almost always killed. Although many communities have embraced Trap-Neuter-Return—which ends the breeding cycle and stabilizes the population—being killed in an animal shelter remains the leading documented cause of death for cats, Robinson said.
“There is much more work to do to educate our neighbors and leaders about the need to launch humane programs that really work for our communities,” she said.
Robinson noted that America is responding to this need. This year’s National Feral Cat Day is a resounding success, with 250 events planned in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, including spay/neuter drives, community celebrations, and workshops that educate neighbors about the best and most humane ways to help cats in the community.
For the first time, Alley Cat Allies also gave awards to a number of local nonprofits across the country for the most creative and innovative community programs, including five “National Feral Cat Day Superstars,” who were awarded $1,000 each for their unique life-saving programs.
A full listing of national events, as well as more information about how people can get involved on National Feral Cat Day, is available at www.alleycat.org/NFCD. Poster, T-shirts, and other fun NFCD-themed items are also available.
###
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than 260,000 supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives cats and kittens nationwide. Their web site is www.alleycat.org.
BETHESDA, MD – The 11th annual National Feral Cat Day is October 16, and Alley Cat Allies, the national advocate for stray and feral cats, is celebrating the broad support seen across the country for humane and effective policies that protect the lives of feral cats.
“Alley Cat Allies launched National Feral Cat Day in 2001 to raise awareness about feral cats, promote Trap-Neuter-Return, and recognize the millions of compassionate citizens who care for cats,” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “On National Feral Cat Day and all year round, people all across the country work to draw attention to the cause and press their local leaders for humane policies for feral cats. This is truly a national movement.”
Feral cats live and thrive in every landscape, from urban to rural. Because they are not socialized to people and are not candidates for adoption, feral cats taken to animal shelters are almost always killed. Although many communities have embraced Trap-Neuter-Return—which ends the breeding cycle and stabilizes the population—being killed in an animal shelter remains the leading documented cause of death for cats, Robinson said.
“There is much more work to do to educate our neighbors and leaders about the need to launch humane programs that really work for our communities,” she said.
Robinson noted that America is responding to this need. This year’s National Feral Cat Day is a resounding success, with 250 events planned in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada, including spay/neuter drives, community celebrations, and workshops that educate neighbors about the best and most humane ways to help cats in the community.
For the first time, Alley Cat Allies also gave awards to a number of local nonprofits across the country for the most creative and innovative community programs, including five “National Feral Cat Day Superstars,” who were awarded $1,000 each for their unique life-saving programs.
A full listing of national events, as well as more information about how people can get involved on National Feral Cat Day, is available at www.alleycat.org/NFCD. Poster, T-shirts, and other fun NFCD-themed items are also available.
###
About Alley Cat Allies
Alley Cat Allies is the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. Founded in 1990, today Alley Cat Allies has more than 260,000 supporters and helps tens of thousands of individuals, communities, and organizations save and improve the lives cats and kittens nationwide. Their web site is www.alleycat.org.
Friday, September 23, 2011
A victory for Cats and Dogs in Toronto
Here's some great news from Canada -- let's hope some U.S. cities follow suit!
Toronto Council bans pet shop sale of dogs, cats, unless they're from shelters
by Carys Mills
Dogs and cats sold in Toronto pet shops must now come from animal shelters, rescue groups or people giving up animals for free.
Toronto city council voted unanimously on Wednesday to make the changes, which aim to put an end to puppy and kitty mills.
Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker put forward the motion. He said puppy mills are bad for pets and consumers.
Read more in the Globe and Mail
Toronto Council bans pet shop sale of dogs, cats, unless they're from shelters
by Carys Mills
Dogs and cats sold in Toronto pet shops must now come from animal shelters, rescue groups or people giving up animals for free.
Toronto city council voted unanimously on Wednesday to make the changes, which aim to put an end to puppy and kitty mills.
Councillor Glenn De Baeremaeker put forward the motion. He said puppy mills are bad for pets and consumers.
Read more in the Globe and Mail
Thursday, September 15, 2011
HSI Applauds European General Court Ruling on Seal Products Ban
MONTREAL—Humane Society International commended a landmark decision by the European General Court to dismiss a case challenging the 2009 European Union prohibition on trade in products of commercial seal kills. The world’s largest commercial sealing interests, together with fur industry lobby groups and a number of Inuit sealing advocates, put forward the case in 2010.
“This cynical attempt to overturn European law, by those who seek to profit from the mass commercial slaughter of baby seals, has failed,” said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International/Canada. “This is an important victory for the overwhelming majority of Europeans and Canadians who want the seal slaughter to end, and for the countless seals who will be spared a horrible fate because of this decision. Today’s ruling is yet more evidence that the commercial sealing industry is coming to an end. It is time for the Canadian government to respect Canadian and global opinion and implement a fair plan to compensate sealers and bring the seal slaughter to a final close.”
The dismissed case (T-18/10) was an application to the European Court requesting an annulment of European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, which prohibits the placing on the market of products from commercial seal hunts throughout the European Union. The European Court did not have to reach the merits of the case having found that the applicants were not “directly concerned” by the seals regulation, a key factor in determining whether a legal challenge is admissible.
Case T-526/10, a secondary application by the same group, is still before the Court. It requests an annulment of European Parliament and Council Regulation No 737/2010, which outlines how the ban is enforced.
This ruling comes on the heels of the Canadian government challenge of the EU ban at the World Trade Organization, which has been perceived by many in the EU as a baseless attack on European values and democratic processes. In response, a number of Members of the European Parliament have indicated they are less likely to ratify the pending Canada-European Union Economic and Trade Agreement—a deal reportedly worth $12 billion annually to Canada’s economy—unless Canada withdraws its WTO challenge.
“This cynical attempt to overturn European law, by those who seek to profit from the mass commercial slaughter of baby seals, has failed,” said Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane Society International/Canada. “This is an important victory for the overwhelming majority of Europeans and Canadians who want the seal slaughter to end, and for the countless seals who will be spared a horrible fate because of this decision. Today’s ruling is yet more evidence that the commercial sealing industry is coming to an end. It is time for the Canadian government to respect Canadian and global opinion and implement a fair plan to compensate sealers and bring the seal slaughter to a final close.”
The dismissed case (T-18/10) was an application to the European Court requesting an annulment of European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1007/2009, which prohibits the placing on the market of products from commercial seal hunts throughout the European Union. The European Court did not have to reach the merits of the case having found that the applicants were not “directly concerned” by the seals regulation, a key factor in determining whether a legal challenge is admissible.
Case T-526/10, a secondary application by the same group, is still before the Court. It requests an annulment of European Parliament and Council Regulation No 737/2010, which outlines how the ban is enforced.
This ruling comes on the heels of the Canadian government challenge of the EU ban at the World Trade Organization, which has been perceived by many in the EU as a baseless attack on European values and democratic processes. In response, a number of Members of the European Parliament have indicated they are less likely to ratify the pending Canada-European Union Economic and Trade Agreement—a deal reportedly worth $12 billion annually to Canada’s economy—unless Canada withdraws its WTO challenge.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
From the ASPCA: People Saving Pets: Debunking Myths About Homeless Animals
Myths about homeless pets abound, but the ASPCA is working overtime to counter those misconceptions. You can find the pet of your dreams at an animal shelter. Here are just a few of the many myths that exist about homeless pets: The Myth: I want a purebred animal, but all homeless pets are mixed breeds.The Truth: In the U.S., an estimated 30 percent of all homeless pets are purebred. Right now, at the ASPCA, we have several purebred pets ready for adoption, including Amber, a purebred Miniature Poodle who adores people and other dogs.
The Myth: Homeless pets must be unwanted for good reasons.
The Truth: Pets end up in shelters for a number of reasons, most of which have nothing to do with the pet. Adoptable pets typically come from loving homes that simply cannot care for them anymore. Or they are strays who’ve been on their own without the loving care they deserve. Homeless pets make great family members!
The Myth: You never know what you’re getting with an adopted pet.
The Truth: While the background of some homeless pets is a mystery, many waiting for homes have long and happy histories with families who simply can no longer care for them.
For information about how we can all help solve pet homelessness and keep debunking the myths, please visit www.peoplesavingpets.org. People Saving Pets is a national campaign to help save the lives of homeless pets in which the ASPCA is a leading partner. Getting involved is easy—visit www.peoplesavingpets.org and share the link with your friends. Just a few simple actions can make a big difference for animals!
Monday, August 15, 2011
ALLEY CAT ALLIES SPONSORS MONESSEN NEUTER CLINIC
More than 75 cats neutered at day-long clinic; highlights critical need for services
MONESSEN, PA—A total of 78 cats were neutered on Sunday at a day-long veterinary clinic sponsored by Alley Cat Allies, the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. The services were provided at no cost to residents of Monessen, many of whom brought their house cats to be spayed or neutered.
“There is an enormous need for accessible and affordable spay and neuter services for the cats in Monessen, both owned house cats and feral cats in colonies” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “We stepped in to help fill this tremendous need.”
Monessen was the subject of much controversy last March after city leaders hired a private trapper to trap cats and bring them to a local shelter where most were immediately killed. The trapping, which was carried out with no prior notice to town residents, resulted in the deaths of dozens of cats. Many of the cats’ caregivers did not discover their fates for nearly a week following the trapping.
“The big turnout for services we saw on Sunday is yet more indication that residents of Monessen don’t support killing—they want humane care for the city’s cats, including Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats and affordable spay and neuter for all cats,” said Robinson.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) ends the breeding cycle, stabilizes the population and helps feral cats lead healthier lives. It also makes the cats better neighbors by ending behaviors associated with mating, like yowling and fighting. Many communities across the country have embraced TNR after realizing that catch and kill is cruel, expensive, and doesn’t achieve its goal.
Still, Robinson noted, being killed in an animal shelter remains the leading documented cause of death for cats nationwide. More than 70 percent of cats brought to shelters are killed there, at enormous expense to taxpayers and shelter donors.
“Trap-Neuter-Return is the only effective course of action for feral cats,” said Robinson. “If Monessen city leaders had invested in spay and neuter, dozens of cats could have been saved.”
“We applaud the local residents who came out today and those who helped to organize this important event. We hope city leaders are paying attention and are finally ready to be responsive to the needs of the community,” Robinson said.
MONESSEN, PA—A total of 78 cats were neutered on Sunday at a day-long veterinary clinic sponsored by Alley Cat Allies, the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats. The services were provided at no cost to residents of Monessen, many of whom brought their house cats to be spayed or neutered.
“There is an enormous need for accessible and affordable spay and neuter services for the cats in Monessen, both owned house cats and feral cats in colonies” said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. “We stepped in to help fill this tremendous need.”
Monessen was the subject of much controversy last March after city leaders hired a private trapper to trap cats and bring them to a local shelter where most were immediately killed. The trapping, which was carried out with no prior notice to town residents, resulted in the deaths of dozens of cats. Many of the cats’ caregivers did not discover their fates for nearly a week following the trapping.
“The big turnout for services we saw on Sunday is yet more indication that residents of Monessen don’t support killing—they want humane care for the city’s cats, including Trap-Neuter-Return for feral cats and affordable spay and neuter for all cats,” said Robinson.
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) ends the breeding cycle, stabilizes the population and helps feral cats lead healthier lives. It also makes the cats better neighbors by ending behaviors associated with mating, like yowling and fighting. Many communities across the country have embraced TNR after realizing that catch and kill is cruel, expensive, and doesn’t achieve its goal.
Still, Robinson noted, being killed in an animal shelter remains the leading documented cause of death for cats nationwide. More than 70 percent of cats brought to shelters are killed there, at enormous expense to taxpayers and shelter donors.
“Trap-Neuter-Return is the only effective course of action for feral cats,” said Robinson. “If Monessen city leaders had invested in spay and neuter, dozens of cats could have been saved.”
“We applaud the local residents who came out today and those who helped to organize this important event. We hope city leaders are paying attention and are finally ready to be responsive to the needs of the community,” Robinson said.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Updating the Paws website
If you're a regular follower of Our Place to Paws, you've probably realized that besides updates on this blog, we haven't been posting new information on the main website for a number of months. Our Place to Paws has always been a labor of love, and as finances ran out and advertising failed to come in, we had to make the decision to let the site lie dormant for now. We have a great Facebook Group that anyone can join for regular updates of animal news, photos, and other fun tid-bits, and we are hoping to update the website again in the coming weeks or months. For now, we hope the information that's already available is still useful to anyone who stops by to visit. And we'll keep updating the blog, of course!
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