The world is full of things that divide us: borders, politics, religion, race, traditions, and most brutally of all, war. But there are also many things that connect us to one another and to our planet. One of those things is our compassion for animals and our commitment to help the helpless even at great cost.
Not even a coyote trap was going to stop Dolly — only a year old herself — from taking care of her babies. When North Carolina Animal Control discovered Dolly in the woods, she had the jaws of a trap clamped painfully onto her front paw, and her two precious puppies right by her side.
When several dogs tragically died last month after playing in a Brooklyn park, it was a grim reminder of the dangers that can lurk in our environment. Their deaths were traced to an outbreak of leptospirosis, a bacterial disease that is spread by urine. The bacteria can be easily picked up by dogs who spend time outside.
Freya arrived at our Pet Health Centers enormously pregnant, and just in time. Transported to us with the help of our Tennessee-based animal rescue partner Rescue Dog and End of Life Sanctuary, this two-year-old Cattle Dog was about to face a fight for survival.
Do I have your attention? Good, because the tragedy of feline overpopulation needs everyone’s attention all the time. FYI, kitten season is usually defined as the months between April and October, when feline reproduction goes into overdrive. But the fact is, kitten season never really stops, which means that you and I can never stop doing everything we can to educate people about the absolute necessity of spay/neuter.
The start of each New Year brings new opportunities, and each year the dedicated team at North Shore Animal League America seizes that opportunity to change the world for homeless animals - no matter the obstacles.
Experts speculate that we’re hesitant to plan too far ahead because of all the disruptions we’ve experienced with Covid. Still, despite the pandemic’s ongoing challenges, we have the power to make the world better for animals in ways both large and small. January 24 is national Change a Pet’s Life Day. So, let’s get started!
Animal League America is incredibly fortunate to have dedicated supporters who are passionate about animals, and who are drawn to us because of our no-kill mission. Clare Kaberle has been a friend to animals for many years, and recently shared with us the motivation behind her commitment. “I believe it’s our duty to help because they can’t help themselves,” Clare said. “I wish everyone felt that way. Animals bring so much joy to us, how can you not want to do whatever you can to save them?”
As Kentucky and the surrounding areas deal with the aftermath of the recent tornados that hit the region, our Emergency Rescue Team is reaching out to our local partner shelters affected by the storm. We are prepared to help in any way we can, including rescuing and taking in animals that found themselves displaced from their loved ones. Below is a listing of shelters that can use your support. Some have Amazon Wish Lists where you can order items and send supplies directly to the areas in need.
As the last month of the year, December is a very evocative period, calling up memories at the same time it asks us to think about the future. So here are some of 2021’s most memorable rescue stories as well as reasons to hope that the future will be better for animals. And with Covid marring yet another holiday season, our memories and hopes are more important than ever.