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| Pangolin |
We can work to control some things; others, not so much or not at all.
Dare we hope that for animals, 2020 will be a better year? I’d love to say that African elephants and
other endangered wildlife will make a comeback; that pangolins will no longer be
the world’s most trafficked animal; that migratory birds -- and Monarch
butterflies -- will travel more safely and reach their destinations . . . .
But I can’t.
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| Monarch butterfly |
We can’t despair and give up.
We can’t fix everything that’s wrong for animals, but we can choose our
battles -- “No one can do everything, but
everyone can do something” --.and keep fighting. This may be a time to “think globally, act
locally.”
And we can appreciate and laud other good things that have happened for
animals, such as a heroic rescue of animals in one Australian zoo and a
brighter (alive!) future for countless fur-bearing animals here.
Words nearly fail in describing the wild fires raging in Australia:
apocalyptic, hellish, end of the world. To people and animals in the fires’ relentless
paths, it must be terrifying. Human
deaths are mounting, while animal deaths are incalculable.
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| Koala |
Either they took animals home with them -- the zookeeper housed monkeys
and pandas in different rooms at his home, while a tiger was sheltered in
another staff member’s back yard -- or they sheltered zoo residents in place (how do you take a giraffe or rhino home?!),
sprayed down their enclosures and stamped out small fires as they occurred.
No such good news
for Australia’s “fragile colonies of koalas,” hit so hard by the fires that their
deaths in great numbers have (already!) been called “a national tragedy.”
fur-bearers rejoice
The HSUS last year
announced two great steps forward for fur-bearing animals: First,
“Macy’s Inc. — the parent company of the
iconic American department stores Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s — says it will go fur-free by the end of
2020. This includes permanently closing all of its fur vaults and salons, areas
of the store dedicated to fur products.”
Probably Macy’s Inc. saw the financial writing on the wall: fur sales
are declining as anti-fur activists gain influence. But that’s OK! We welcome this move for whatever reason, and as
HSUS and HSI have done, we’ll work to make “fur-free” a universal concept.
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| Fox & kits |
more cozy cats!
Long impressed by a cat rescue volunteer who faithfully cared for feral
cats in her neighborhood, I’ve followed the subject. And now, it’s winter, cold
and uncomfortable for New Jersey’s outdoor cats. Unlike us, they can’t just bundle up.
Here are two links for caring “cat people” wanting to help cats living
outside, with options ranging from the simple to the practically palatial. As you help, please remember: “straw” is the
magic word.
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| Tortie in snow |
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