more animal advocacy in st. catharines

Another animal advocate is speaking at Brock - this time it's Nathan Runkle, founder and Executive Director of U.S. based Mercy for Animals. The talk is free, open to the public, and will take place in the Sankey Chamber at Brock University in St. Catharines from 12-2 p.m. on Tuesday, October 11th.

From the press release:

The presentation, titled "Inspiring Compassion: Putting Our Ethics on the Table", will focus on how industrial farming has changed the way cows, pigs and chickens are treated and how our food choices can become a powerful tool in preventing cruelty to animals. Nathan’s presentation at Brock is sponsored by the Department of Sociology.

Mercy for Animals is the fastest growing farm animal protection group in the United States, gaining international attention with their undercover investigations and powerful ad campaigns. Founded in 1999, Mercy for Animals has 75,000 members and a growing list celebrity supporters, including Ellen DeGeneres.

Again, thanks to Niagara Action for Animals for the information.

talk against animal experimentation in medical science: Sept 17 at Brock University

An announcement, courtesy of Niagara Action for Animals:

Dr. Ray Greek, MD and critic of animal research

• Friday, September 17, 7–9 p.m. @ Brock University, Pond Inlet

Sponsored by Brock's Department of Sociology

Teacher, author, and research, Dr. Gray is also president of the not-for-profit Americans For Medical Advancement.

able to foster a rabbit?

Back home and back to work... More of the usual posts to come, but in the meantime here is a request for help from a group called Rabbit Rescue. Get in touch with them if you can lend a hand.

Via Niagara Action for Animals:

Friends of Rabbit Rescue,

Many of you may have heard by now that we are involved in helping in a specific case with hundreds of rabbits that desperately need us! We have until Thursday to gather as many foster homes as we can to help these wonderful bunnies. Most of them are Holland lops or dwarfs, ranging in age from babies to adults, with every colour under the sun!

We are specifically concentrating on helping the adult bunnies. These rabbits have been through hell and back, and while we cannot share details on this specific case right now, we will be able to shortly. What we can tell you is that if we do not get enough foster homes for these bunnies, the outcome is not going to be positive for them. There are still about 70 rabbits that need foster homes.

If you can foster a bunny, please email us immediately! We will provide a cage with supplies, plus a bag of food kindly donated by Martin Mills!

If you cannot foster right now, or miss this Thursday deadline, please contact us when you can foster! As our current foster homes are going to be completely filled up, this means we will not be able to offer our help to the shelters that rely on us to take their rabbits in when they become full. The situation for them, will become dire quickly too.

We need your help, and the bunnies need your love. Please consider fostering or adopting today. If you can't foster, donations are greatly appreciated. We will be spaying/neutering every rabbit that comes in, plus providing them all with medical care. You can donate
here: http://www.rabbitrescue.ca/donate.html

Thank you for your support!
Haviva Lush
Executive Director, Rabbit Rescue Incorporated
www.rabbitrescue.ca
Finding Rabbits Loving Homes

april 9 is love a cat day

Here at the keew household I have declared April 9 annual Love A Cat day.

It's been one year since one of the awesomest cats ever, Xavier, passed away. Rather than being sad about it, I've decided to celebrate his memory by spreading and encouraging a little extra cat love. (though feel free to include in the affection any dogs or other critters you come across today as well)

Love A Cat day is also a good excuse to highlight some cats in particular need of love and some of the organizations making an effort to help them. (other recommendations welcome)

Close to home, the Burlington Humane Society is a no-kill shelter for cats and dogs. I happily volunteered there for a short time when I had the chance, and I can attest to the quality of care and attention the animals receive until they find humans to bond with and take them home. All the cats (and dogs) available for adoption are profiled on BHS's website, but you can also go and visit them in person during operating hours. Besides donating volunteer hours and cash, you can also help out BHS by shopping in or donating to either of their two volunteer-run second-hand stores.

A few years ago I worked in a Waterloo Pet Valu location where we regularly fostered cats and kittens who were looking for homes. The organization we partnered with is still in operation - a KW-based cat rescue and adoption group called Pet Patrol, though now they also have a website profiling all their adoptable felines. The cats that came into the store were always well cared for and I got a chance to visit Pet Patrol headquarters while profiling cat rescue groups for local alternative weekly Echo. Founding volunteer Jan rescued and adopted out numerous cats, providing clean and healthy accommodations for them in her own home or finding foster care with other caring volunteers.

While living in St. Catharines I also had a chance to get involved, in the tiniest of ways, with local organization Niagara Action for Animals. NAfA has a much broader animal protection mandate but their actions include adoption and spay-and-neuter programs for companion animals (as well as a monthly vegan potluck social). Checkout Petfinder for info on NAfA-connected adoption-ready animals.

Several years ago, through the yearly Vegetarian Food Fair in Toronto, I also discovered Toronto Cat Rescue, another volunteer-run, no-kill organization dedicated to finding homes for homeless cats. Like many similar groups, Toronto Cat Rescue features photos and descriptions on their website of cats who are up for adoption.

These are just a few of the groups in Southern Ontario that are involved in spreading a little cat love. I thank them for their hard work and encourage you to show them a little love and support too.