Hands Helping Paws, TNR and Help!...

I ran across this great video created in support of spay and neuter programs by the Alliance For Humane Action. This is an organization in Lake Villa, Illinois (near Chicago) that works to obtain low cost spay and neuter services for feral and companion cats. Give a look and listen...you will enjoy it:


Low cost spay and neuter programs in conjunction with TNR (trap - neuter and release) activities have been shown to be the most effective way to address the many issues associated with the homeless cat population.

Hands Helping Paws is a local organization that does a phenomenal job of caring for feral cats in the Norman, Oklahoma area and engaging in TNR activities as well as finding homes for hundreds of kittens and cats. What is TNR?  You can find out more by visiting the HHP link. I also found the following definition of TNR on the web:

TNR is a comprehensive plan where entire feral colonies are humanely trapped, then evaluated, vaccinated and neutered by veterinarians. Kittens and cats that are tame enough to be adopted are placed in good homes. Adult cats are returned to live out their lives under the watchful care of sympathetic neighborhood volunteers. 

What is astonishing is that HHP found placement for so many using only a foster home network of dedicated volunteers...there is no shelter as such and all "housing" and fostering for the cats is provided by the volunteers. Last year they found homes for over 700 kittens and cats...amazing.

Kim Fairbanks, the founder and director, is a dedicated and tireless worker on behalf of homeless cats (and sometimes other animals) and she and the network of volunteers are terrific examples of what should be the norm in terms of how human animals relate to cat animals, especially those that are homeless and too wary to live with human companions. Visit the HHP facebook page to see photos of the cats and kittens needing homes and to learn more about their activities.

Seek out and support organizations in your area that support TNR activities and help them out however you can. Human animals created the homeless cat population and it is our responsibility to help the cat people suffering as a result of our carelessness.

Remember, you can reduce suffering for all our fellow animals by living as an ethical vegan.

It was 6 degrees this morning..

at my house. The change in the weather here that has occurred since my last post on January 30th is astonishing. Today, just 3 days later it is by far the coldest it has been here in many years. We have been snowed in for 2 days now...which gave me time to complete this video compilation.

The video incorporates some clips from the first two videos of the new babies along with later footage of them. The time span covered by the whole video is from January 13th to January 29th. Each transition in the video means about 2 days have passed, so you you will be able to see the remarkable development of the bunnies over about a 16 day period....from their 9th day to their 25th day.

Each of the days on the video is shown for less than a minute until the last one where you will get a bit longer glimpse of these remarkable youngsters going about their business of being bunnies. Enjoy.

The babies are a delight yet they represent a considerable strain on the resources of Heartland Rabbit Rescue as well as the time necessary for their care.......and time for simply enjoying watching them. They have already learned that being stroked or petted is pleasurable and now stand and request such attention anytime a human animal passes by. Saying no to a bunny is hard...saying no to a baby bunny is almost impossible.

If human guardians had behaved responsibly toward their mom, these babies wouldn't be here and there would be room and resources to take in bunnies whose lives may be in danger or who may be killed because there is no room for them.

Spay/neuter companion animals, and please be responsible to and compassionate toward our fellow animals and...go vegan.