It’s Be Kind to Animals Week
The photo of exquisitely cute kittens above is not gratuitous—two of them are up for adoption, and you can read about them below! But they help to draw attention to a week set aside for recognizing the need to be kind to animals, all animals, cute kittens and injured opossums alike.
The American Humane Association (AHA)has celebrated Be Kind to Animals Week® every year since 1915 to celebrate “the role animals play in our lives, promote ways to continue to treat them humanely, and encourage others, especially children, to do the same.”
Being kind to animals is likely something we all do on a daily basis with our own pets and those animal companions of people we know, but truly being kind to animals extends beyond the animals we consider our companions and the animals we meet personally.
- Consider the wild birds in your yard, or the groundhogs and rabbits you see along your trails, and the animals who are raised for our food and our pets’ food.
- Also consider the animals you hear about who may be neglected or, worse, abused in any way.
- Pets, livestock and wildlife caught in a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado or fire should be given the same opportunities for safe shelter and medical care by organizations devoted to animals at the same time humans are given their assistance.
- Each year in every state and in the federal government humane laws are discussed, approved and amended regarding the health and welfare of companion animals, working animals and wild animals.
These animals may not all live in our homes but they are all part of our lives, and we can make a difference for them and for all animals by simply supporting what is best for their welfare. Working for the welfare of all animals is the same as working for the welfare of all humans regardless of where they are and whether or not we know them personally.
Here are AHA’s suggestions for how to be kind to animals.
- Adopt a pet from a shelter or rescue
- Take care of your pet
- Appreciate wildlife
- Report animal abuse
AHA has been working to protect children, pets and farm animals since 1877 and is a leader in assuring the welfare of animals through legislation and direct action, be sure to visit their page and read more about this organization.
Now, about those kittens…
“We came out to play in the fresh cut grass and guess where everyone is?? In my lap,” their rescuer reported. “We’re finally at that age where we look at kissy sounds so now I can get adorable pics….Yeah!!!”
These kittens were born to a black silky panther girl that their rescuer trapped after she had found the kittens. She estimates they were born April 1 as they still had their umbilical cords when she found them and began the start of opening their eyes about 8 days later. They are nearly five weeks here.
The top two kittens are spoken for but the bottom two are still looking for homes. Both are female, both are medium haired, one is black, one is gray.
Wouldn’t you like an “April Fool” kitten?
These kittens are a private adoption from a rescuer who has been performing TNR for several years on a large stray/feral colony near a bar and restaurant. Her adoption fee is $70 which includes both FVRCP shots, 1st/2nd worming, rabies and spay/neuter. One kitten of every litter is tested for FIV/FeLeuk, and if an adopter wants them to be microchipped that is an extra $30. She requires a vet reference, home visit, and contract, and if you rent proof from the landlord you can have pets. They are currently in the Pittsburgh area, and you can contact me if you are interested in adopting.
About to be euthanized, Moses is a star in the home
Moses was being signed over to a shelter to be killed because he was aggressive. This rescuer agreed to take him in, and with a little effort discovered a social and affectionate cat who greets visitors at the door.
“Well, he loved people but when we walked in the front door and he saw cats he was as nasty as nasty can be,” she said, and added she was sure she’d be stuck with…a very bad cat…as a permanent resident (she used a slightly different description 🙂 ). She did a “VERY slow step-by-step introduction” and reports, “Moses now is doing wonderful and even joins everyone on the bed at sheet turn down time…he’s doing real good with the rest of the kitties and has free run of the house…he’s actually been welcoming all the strangers who have come over to meet kittens.”
Moses is ready for his new home. He’s six years old, neutered, just got his three-year rabies shot and is microchipped. If he’s adopted by a multi-cat household the adopter must be willing to do a gradual introduction considering his history.
Remember, Moses would not be alive now if this rescuer hadn’t taken a chance on him. Give Moses a chance at a good long life and open a spot in this rescuer’s home for another cat in need. They are currently in the Pittsburgh area, and you can contact me if you are interested in adopting.
Updates on adopted cats
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Puddin is in his new home and happy as can be!
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Stevie is in his cat-free foster home getting his antibiotics, doing very well and being very sweet and affectionate.
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Unfortunately one of the two rescued kittens placed with the mom cat who’d lost all her babies didn’t make it, but the one surviving one—also named Moses—has plumped up and is thriving! Scroll down in the article to read about the rescue.
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Several other cats are still looking for foster or adoptive homes, and are on a tight schedule. Often we hear about pets who need homes at what seems like the last minute, before someone moves or a house is sold or situations like that, but often people have not been looking for a home for months and not been able to find one. These people are looking early, and even a foster would be a help to both of them.
Lucky‘s human has Parkinson’s Disease and needs to move to personal care. She needs to know 11-year-old Lucky has a good home before she moves.
Tiger is living in the unoccupied home of his rescuer’s grandmother, which is up for sale. He can’t stay there while the house is being shown, and he still needs a little time for socialization. Scroll down in the article to find Tiger’s story.
Why all this fuss?
The rescuers who often spend day and night chasing and trapping cats and kittens, running them to veterinarians, finding foster homes and eventual adoptive homes aren’t doing this for the sake of just these cats, but for the collective health and welfare of the populations of cats on the streets. The goal is to spay and neuter, foster and rehome as many cats as possible, especially all kittens, with the goal of reducing populations of unowned cats living outdoors, and track, manage and ensure the health of the cats who do live outdoors.
This is done not only by working with the cats themselves but with the people around them, spreading information about low-cost spay and neuter and low-cost veterinary care, and assisting people in managing the cats they own and the cats they care for outdoors. Like the carrier full of cute kittens above, a phone call, a conversation, and another household of cats and people are in the loop, receive the assistance they need, and spread the word to others. This is called managing community cats.
Browse more rescued cats for adoption.
All photos courtesy the cats’ foster homes.
And read about other kittens and adult cats who are looking for homes.
Can’t adopt? Foster! Can’t foster? Donate or volunteer.
There are so many ways you can help cats who need homes and care. You may not have room to adopt another cat, but can foster a cat or kitten for a few weeks. If not that, you can volunteer at a shelter or with a rescue, or donate. You do this because you love your cat, and by doing so you help all cats. No matter which of these actions you take, you help to save a life, and make life better for all cats.
- Adopt one of the cats I’ve posted here, or from any shelter or rescue near you, or from Petfinder, to open up a space for another cat to be rescued and fostered.
- Offer to foster cats or kittens for a shelter or rescue near you.
- Volunteer at a shelter or rescue.
- Find a group of volunteers who work with homeless cats and help them with their efforts.
- Donate to a shelter or rescue near you.
If you can foster kittens or adults cats to help prepare them for a forever home, please run to your nearest shelter and find a cat who needs you! Anyone can help with this effort at any level, even if all you do is donate to a shelter or rescue so they can help to pay for the food or medications needed for their foster, or the spay/neuter/veterinary care during a clinic.
Need to know more? Read Fostering for Your Shelter and Fostering Saves Lives.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
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glad to see someone else helping to spread the word. We blogged about it too!
Caren, I saw that once I got the chance to read blogs yesterday! There are so many “days” and “weeks” to celebrate, but this one is one of the originals and with all the bad news about cats and birds, the laws about puppy mills and pigeon shoots that won’t pass because of the influence of business lobbies, and a shocking amount of abuse and outright torture of animals, I think our society needs a reminder.