by Nomi Berger
 
Started in 1974 by the American Humane Association, June has, since then, been known as National Adopt a Cat Month. And its significance is doubly meaningful because June is also the month of the year when the most kittens are born.
 
Animal rescue groups and shelters everywhere are filled with kittens and cats seeking forever homes: felines of every breed and combination of breeds, featuring as many diverse personalities as they have coats and colors, born on the streets or in a shelter, surrendered or abandoned by their owners.
 
And never was it more vital than NOW to consider adopting one of the millions of available kitties, thereby making YOUR homes their forever homes. Not only are kitties good for your health, they’re amusing and affectionate, sociable and silly, playful and precocious, chatty, snuggly and cuddly, and as eager to lap up your loving as they are to return it. But before you make such a life-altering decision – for them and for you – carefully consider the following three factors: dedication, finances and lifestyle.
 
Dedication: This is the initial and therefore the most important factor. Unequivocal and unquestioned commitment to a kitten or cat as the newest member of your family will assist you in successfully managing whatever future, unforeseen problems, obstacles or inevitable challenges lie ahead. And because cats can now live for 20 years or more, you and your chosen kitty are destined to experience a lifetime of changes, positive and negative, sweet and bittersweet, together.
 
Finances: Although anyone at any income level can be a good pet parent, remember that the kitten or cat you adopt will be entirely dependent on you for life. If you want your home to be as feline friendly as possible, this means, among other things, paying for food, water and food bowls, litter boxes and litter, cat trees, scratching posts and cat tunnels, games and toys – all of which can cost thousands of dollars over your cat's lifetime. But most importantly, there are the costs of caring for your cat’s health: the vet vists, both routine and urgent, the unexpected accidents, unanticipated illnesses, diagnostics and medications, and the money all of that entails. And since kittens are typically more costly than adult cats, they’ll require extra vaccinations, vet visits, food and supplies over the span of their lives
 
Lifestyle: More independent, lower maintenance and more self-sufficient than dogs, ideal for people who either work long hours or lead busy personal lives, anyone adopting a kitten or cat MUST care for them daily -- from training and feeding them to cleaning and playing with them. Think emptying soiled litter boxes and disposing of litter, vacuuming carpets and removing cat hair from furniture. Think interacting with them to build and strengthen your bond through playtime – from beaming laser lights around walls and floors to having them chase wand toys with feathers attached to them.
 
For a potential adopter living on your own, the decision is yours and yours alone. If, however, you have a roommate, spouse or an entire family, one potential obstacle is allergies. Is anyone either a highly allergic person or allergic specifically to cats? Do you have a baby, toddler or very young children who wouldn’t know how to treat a kitten or a cat? Does everyone in your household even want to adopt a kitty?
 
Once you’ve chosen to invite a feline friend into your life, visit our website or Facebook page to view the kitties available, and hopefully one or more will “speak” to you. The next step is to email us your application, and when you’re contacted, to visit us. More often than not, the purr-fect kitty or kitties will choose you!
 
While in our care, the kittens and cats are provided with the best food and medical treatment as well as with constant attention and ongoing socialization. We know their personalities, what they like to eat and how they like to play. This vital information enables us to match the right kitten or cat with the right adopter, and ensure, to the best of our ability, that, together, they live happily and lovingly forever. 
 
And while Adopt a Cat Month may be celebrated in June, the need to adopt a kitten or cat continues month after month, all year round.

by Nomi Berger
 
Have you ever been in the position of finding a litter of kittens and wondering what to do next? To keep or not to keep, that is the question.
 
Here, then, are some answers -- together with more questions.
 
1. If you find a litter of kittens on or near your property, quickly assess their health. If they appear healthy, watch them, but don’t move them. Their mother is likely nearby. Stay far enough away – several car lengths – that you’re not considered a threat by their mother if she’s feral. If, however, the kittens seem distressed or are very vocal, and if their mother hasn’t returned by the end of the day, she may NOT be returning.
 
2. Unless they're in danger, however, it's best to give their missing mother another chance to return and tend to them. Place them in a carrier or cardboard carton to keep them warm, safe and secure.
 
3. Try to determine the age of the kittens. Are they newborns with their eyes closed and weighing less than 8 ounces? Or are they 8 weeks old, weighing 2 pounds, and resembling miniature cats? Not to mention every age and weight in between. Each age brings with it a different set of criteria as to their proper maintenance and care. If they’re newborns, contact local rescue groups or no-kill shelters ONLY that may be willing to take them in immediately.
 
4. Are they feral (part of a colony of cats born to live and survive outdoors) or domestic kittens born to a family’s lost companion cat? Once again, this will determine the steps you take next.
 
5. If it’s either too hot or too cold outside, raining or snowing, bring the kittens indoors and confine them to a clean, quiet and small room -- whether a spare bedroom, bathroom or laundry room. Leave them in their carton or carrier with the door open, and provide them with a high-quality kibble, fresh water and cat litter.  If the kittens are too young to feed themselves, you’ll need to bottle feed them every couple of hours. Should you choose this course, either contact a local vet or rescue group for advice and guidance.
 
6. Within a few days, decide whether you want to temporarily foster them, bearing in mind that socializing them as quickly as possible will improve their chances of ultimately being adopted.
 
7. Although adorable and impossible to resist, kittens do have little claws and sharp teeth. To protect yourself from unnecessary “battle scars”, wear gloves until the kittens grow comfortable with being handled.
 
8. If you have other pets, keep them separated from the kittens to minimize the risk of their transmitting either parasites or infections to them.
 
9. To make fostering the kittens easier, speak with the volunteers at the rescue group you’ve already contacted and ask for their advice – on all matters from A to Z.
 
10. When it’s time for the kittens to “leave the nest”, either contact your vet, one who operates a re-homing center that will welcome yours if there’s room, or the rescue group. Relinquish the kittens into their care where they’ll be spay/neutered, then set on the right path towards finding their fur-ever homes.
 
By your actions, compassionate and caring, you’ll have not only saved several small lives, but you’ll have shared in an extraordinary experience, one you’re unlikely to ever forget.

by Nomi Berger
 
The problem of cat overpopulation is a global one and requires a solution on a global scale. But like every journey that begins with a single step, this particular journey must begin with every cat owner in every community, town and city in the country. Those conscientious owners who act responsibly by spaying and neutering their cherished family pets.
 
Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is the surgical removal of a female cat's ovaries and uterus, while neutering (castration) is the removal of a male cat's testicles. To minimize discomfort and pain, both procedures are performed under general anesthesia. Most cats are back to their “normal” selves within a few days, the surgery site usually heals within two weeks, and any skin stitches removed by your vet at a follow up appointment.
 
Did you know that in seven years, an unspayed female and unneutered male cat (and their offspring, if none are spayed or neutered) can result in the births of a staggering 781,250 kittens?
 
And the inevitable outcome? Hundreds of thousands of cats being euthanized each year through no fault of their own. Why? Because they are the tragic, but avoidable, results of over breeding and overpopulation. Why? Because there are too few shelters to house them and too few homes to either foster or adopt them. Why? Because there are still too many cat owners unwilling to spay and neuter their family pets.
 
Both intact male and female cats may try to escape their homes in order to roam outside. Neutering your male will eliminate roaming, urine spraying, and fighting with neighborhood cats. Spaying your female will eliminate the estrus or “heat" behavior of yowling that attracts and invites mounting by roaming males.
 
Despite some owners’ fears, spaying and neutering will not alter their cat's basic personality – except many males will be less aggressive and more docile. Their playfulness, general activity levels, excitement, and vocalization will remain the same. Although neutered males and spayed females may gain weight due to decreased roaming and other sexual behavior outdoors, keeping them active indoors and managing their weight through diet will keep this potential problem under control.
 
Spaying and neutering cats before the age of six months is growing in popularity and the benefits to their health and well being are well documented. Spayed females are less likely to develop breast cancer and won’t be at risk for either ovarian or uterine cancer. Neutered males won’t develop testicular cancer, and without the need to roam, their risk of being injured or infected by other cats is drastically reduced. And males neutered prior to puberty (six months) won’t develop the large head and thick skin of intact males. Early spaying and neutering may also prevent problem behaviors before they occur and may either eliminate or reduce certain behaviors in older cats.
 
Imagine if every conscientious cat owner in every community, town and city in the country took responsibility for spaying and neutering their family pets. Imagine what we, as part of the global community, could accomplish then.

by Nomi Berger
 
For far too long, colonies of feral cats have been a blot on the landscape of far too many communities.
 
But there’s a solution that benefits both these communities and the colonies that live in them. It’s called Trap-Neuter-Return or TNR.
 
Endorsed by such august groups as Alley Cat Allies, the ASPCA, the American Humane Association, and the Humane Society of the United States, TNR is considered to be the most humane, effective and financially sustainable method of controlling the growth of free roaming cats, estimated to be in the tens of millions throughout the country.
 
TNR entails humanely trapping all of the feral cats in a specific colony, having them spayed, neutered, and medically treated if needed, then returning them to their original locations, where their community “caretakers” can continue to provide them with regular food, water and shelter. If these locations are no longer feasible, appropriate or safe, the colonies can, hopefully, be relocated to farmyard homes.
 
Kittens still young enough to be socialized and friendly adults may find placement with local rescue organizations, placed in foster homes for continued socialization and training, spay/neutered, micro chipped and brought up to date on all vaccines. Then they are adopted out to loving homes as well adjusted pets and companions.
 
There are many advantages to Trap-Neuter-Return. The most significant one is that, when practiced on a large scale, it greatly decreases the number of kittens and cats flooding the thousands of shelters countrywide. This, in turn, results in lower euthanasia rates and higher adoption rates for those kittens and cats already there.
 
On a community level, TNR swiftly stabilizes the size of each returned colony by eliminating new litters. In urban areas, in particular, the returned cats continue their natural control of the rodent population. The “nuisance” behaviors associated with feral cats -- the yowling and fighting that come with mating and the odor of intact males spraying to mark their territory -- are dramatically reduced. And finally, the returned colony now guards its territory, preventing intact cats from moving in and starting the cycle of overpopulation and problem behaviors all over again.  
 
To date, TNR is not just the best method of managing feral cat populations, it is the only one that works.

by Nomi Berger
 
With the approach of the holidays, everyone’s thoughts turn naturally to the happy chore of gift giving to those nearest and dearest to them. While some people opt for the tried and true, hoping another gift certificate isn’t too impersonal or another sweater or tie, scarf, box of chocolates or bottle of perfume isn’t too predictable, they’re much safer choices than those being considered by others: a kitten!
 
The gift of a kitten is not the same as the gift of a small, stuffed plushy toy. More often than not, wrapping a red and green ribbon with a matching bow around the neck of a living, breathing animal signals only one thing: trouble. Animals are not toys and should never be anyone’s holiday surprise. Unlike other holiday purchases, there are no refunds or exchanges on kittens, only serious, possibly dire consequences. Although the idea of a kitten as a present may seem thoughtful, it is, in reality, thoughtless. 
 
Why? Because the gift of a kitten means someone else must accept responsibility for that kitten. (Grandparents, parents and “empty nesters” come quickly to mind). Because the gift of a kitten means a potential commitment of 10 to 15 years or more on the part of these recipients. What you consider an act of generosity may, unfortunately, be seen instead as an imposition. If they want a kitten, it’s up to them to make that choice.
 
The same holds true when considering a kitten for your own family. And it must be a carefully considered choice. An informed decision made by everyone involved. Does anyone suffer from allergies, particularly to cats? Does everyone even want a kitten? Does everyone understand what it means to share in the many responsibilities of raising a kitten? Because adding a kitten to your family not only involves time and money, it means providing that same innocent kitten with a loving and stable home – forever.
 
Children should never be presented with a kitten at any time of the year. Typically, they will be charmed by this small, furry plaything that leaps and jumps, purrs, meows and nips, runs here, there and everywhere, and gets into all manner of appealing and amusing kitten mischief. Until the novelty wears off and reality sets in. The reality of actually caring for their cute little bundle of undirected energy. Kittens are not so cute when they have to be patiently taught proper kitten manners – not to bite fingers, pull hair or scratch skin, not to scratch furniture and not to jump up on counters.
 
Kittens must be trained how to properly and politely use a litter box, respond to their name when called, and eat and drink out of their designated bowls. Kittens must be kept creatively occupied to both burn off their exuberant energy and strengthen the bond between them and their family. Kittens must be provided with the means to keep themselves constructively occupied when left on their own – from cat trees and cat towers to cat tunnels and puzzle toys.
 
Long before that kitten matures into a cat, you, as the well-intentioned gift giver, will, in all likelihood, be that same kitten’s full-time caregiver. And, unfortunately, some of you won’t be prepared for this eventuality. If the result isn’t a poorly trained, ill-mannered and destructive pet, the alternative is even worse. Another well-intentioned but misguided “gift” either dropped off at a pound or surrendered to a shelter, potentially to be euthanized.  
 
In lieu of a kitten, consider a holiday “gift” that keeps on giving in the most paws-itive sense of the word by supporting an animal organization like ours! Make a one-time tax-deductible donation to us in the name of your grandparents, parents or “empty nesters.” Make a monthly donation to us in your name and/or the names of your children.
 
In short, to ensure that your own holidays are both happy and harmonious, ensure that your gift list never includes pets.

by Nomi Berger
 
Have you ever been in the position of finding a litter of kittens and wondering what to do next? To keep or not to keep, that is the question.
 
Here, then, are some answers -- together with more questions.
 
1. If you find a litter of kittens on or near your property, quickly assess their health. If they appear healthy, watch them, but don’t move them. Their mother is likely nearby. Stay far enough away – several car lengths – that you’re not considered a threat by their mother if she’s feral. If, however, the kittens seem distressed or are very vocal, and if their mother hasn’t returned by the end of the day, she may NOT be returning.
 
2. Unless they're in danger, however, it's best to give their missing mother another chance to return and tend to them. Place them in a carrier or cardboard carton to keep them warm, safe and secure.
 
3. Try to determine the age of the kittens. Are they newborns with their eyes closed and weighing less than 8 ounces? Or are they 8 weeks old, weighing 2 pounds, and resembling miniature cats? Not to mention every age and weight in between. Each age brings with it a different set of criteria as to their proper maintenance and care. If they’re newborns, contact local rescue groups or no-kill shelters ONLY that may be willing to take them in immediately.
 
4. Are they feral (part of a colony of cats born to live and survive outdoors) or domestic kittens born to a family’s lost companion cat? Once again, this will determine the steps you take next.
 
5. If it’s either too hot or too cold outside, raining or snowing, bring the kittens indoors and confine them to a clean, quiet and small room -- whether a spare bedroom, bathroom or laundry room. Leave them in their carton or carrier with the door open, and provide them with a high-quality kibble, fresh water and cat litter.  If the kittens are too young to feed themselves, you’ll need to bottle feed them every couple of hours. Should you choose this course, either contact a local vet or rescue group for advice and guidance.
 
6. Within a few days, decide whether you want to temporarily foster them, bearing in mind that socializing them as quickly as possible will improve their chances of ultimately being adopted.
 
7. Although adorable and impossible to resist, kittens do have little claws and sharp teeth. To protect yourself from unnecessary “battle scars”, wear gloves until the kittens grow comfortable with being handled.
 
8. If you have other pets, keep them separated from the kittens to minimize the risk of their transmitting either parasites or infections to them.
 
9. To make fostering the kittens easier, speak with the volunteers at the rescue group you’ve already contacted and ask for their advice – on all matters from A to Z.
 
10. When it’s time for the kittens to “leave the nest”, either contact your vet, one who operates a re-homing center that will welcome yours if there’s room, or the rescue group. Relinquish the kittens into their care where they’ll be spay/neutered, then set on the right path towards finding their fur-ever homes.
 
By your actions, compassionate and caring, you’ll have not only saved several small lives, but you’ll have shared in an extraordinary experience, one you’re unlikely to ever forget.

by Nomi Berger
 
Have you thought of adding some new and different resolutions to your traditional New Year’s list?
 
Have you ever thought about getting involved in the world of cat rescue, but didn’t quite know how?
 
Here then, are twelve different ways – one for each month – for you to resolve to make a difference in the lives of rescue kittens and cats this year. Even if you choose only one, that choice will make all the difference in the world to them.
 
1. Contact a local cat rescue and ask to volunteer for them. Since volunteers form the backbone of every nonprofit organization, no group can function successfully without them, and there are many ways (it varies from rescue to rescue) to help out.
 
2. Refer ONE feline-loving friend to the same rescue to volunteer alongside you.
 
3. Click onto their web site and make a monetary contribution to them online either as a onetime payment or as recurring monthly payments.
 
4. Purchase and donate items to them from the “wish lists” featured on their site such as Amazon and Chewy.
 
5. Follow their Face Book page, “like” them, “comment” and “share” their postings on a daily basis, and vote for them in every online competition.
 
6. Respond with donations to as many pleas for funds as possible – from one kitty’s medical needs to GoFundMe appeals.
 
7. Instead of accepting birthday gifts this year, ask your family and friends to make contributions to the rescue in your name.
 
8. Host a small fundraiser (bake sales, garage sales and yard sales are among the most popular) and donate the proceeds to them. You will receive not only their gratitude, but a tax receipt as well.
 
9. Sign petitions calling on your city to ban the sale of cats in all pet stores unless they’re from animal shelters, rescue groups or people surrendering them for free.
 
10. Sponsor a kitty.
 
11. Foster an available cat. Learn precisely what’s required of you, then welcome one very needy and deserving animal into your home temporarily, until he or she can be placed in a permanent home.
 
12. Adopt a rescue cat and save two lives – the life of the one you’re adopting, and the life of the one immediately taking his or her place.
 
As for next year? Either continue working your way down this list, or resolve to draw up a list of you own.

by Nomi Berger
 
A cat diagnosed with Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is still an ADOPTABLE cat.
 
What, then, is FeLV?
 
FeLV is a virus that weakens a cat’s immune system, predisposing it to certain infections, severe anemia, and potentially leading to cancer. Most at risk are kittens born to FeLV positive mothers, cats under the age of one, cats living with an infected cat, and cats bitten by an infected cat if they’re allowed outside.
 
Although it is NOT transmittable to humans, dogs or other non-feline pets, before adopting a FeLV positive cat, ensure that you and your vet are “on the same page”. Whereas some vets warn against it, others are fully sympathetic and supportive of the idea. And these vets will be your best allies.
 
Of utmost importance, when adopting a FeLV positive cat, is to always keep that cat indoors -- whether as your only cat or with other FeLV positive cats. Immediate spaying will prevent a female from giving birth to infected kittens. Some cats can even fight off the virus and become immune to it. Others can be healthy carriers that never get sick themselves but can still infect others.   
 
While the disease CAN be managed, even going into remission, flare-ups are always a possibility. Most FeLV positive cats are likely to live a shorter life than other cats, and 85% of persistently infected felines will die within three years of diagnosis.
 
However, regular vet check-ups and good preventive health care can keep your cat feeling well for some time and protect it from secondary infections. Twice-yearly physical exams, lab tests and parasite control can both prevent complications and identify problems quickly. While there may be no cure for the virus itself, secondary infections can be treated promptly if and when they occur.
 
To help your FeLV positive cat live as healthily and normally as possible:
 
Feed your cat a balanced diet (no raw meat, eggs or non-pasteurized dairy products that can harbor bacteria and parasites and lead to infection), using only the highest quality food to provide your cat with all required and essential nutrients. Some vets also recommend adding daily doses of vitamins and antioxidants.
 
Remove all uneaten wet food within a half-hour to prevent the potential growth of harmful bacteria.
 
Ensure that your cat has easy access to a continuous supply of FRESH water.
 
Keep your cat’s purr-sonal “belongings” scrupulously clean, including food and water bowls, litter boxes and cat beds, blankets, towels and toys.
 
Because your cat may require more warmth than other cats, ensure that a comfy cozy place, equipped with a cat bed and blankets, is always nearby.
 
Maintain as stress free an environment as you can. Be alert to whatever frightens or agitates your cat, and if possible, eliminate it. Ask your family members and any visitors to speak in low voices when inside your home.
 
Check regularly for parasites, including fleas, ticks, ear mites and worms. Treat the offender promptly, but if there’s more than one culprit, treat each separately to avoid overtaxing your cat’s already delicate system.
 
Ask your vet for a list of physical and emotional changes vis-a-vis progression of the disease, and contact him/her immediately if you notice any of these changes in your cat.
 
And so, despite the fact that a FeLV positive cat may not use up all of its fabled nine lives, living a loved, pampered and protected one may be just what the vet ordered.
 

by Nomi Berger
 
Do you own a cat but want to rent an apartment or condo, town home or house?

If so, it’s vital that you’re fully informed before initiating this all-important process.
 
Why? Because too many cats are either abandoned or surrendered to animal shelters as a result of housing problems encountered by their owners.
 
It’s understandable that many landlords may be leery of renting their premises to cat owners. Some tenants are thoughtless and irresponsible, allowing their pets to damage property through destructive scratching or odoriferous spraying and/or disturb their neighbors because of such issues as poor litter box hygiene and neglectful maintenance, inappropriate disposal of soiled litter and hissing or mewling especially at night.
 
It’s therefore incumbent upon YOU to prove to prospective landlords that your cat is well mannered, fastidious and kept constructively occupied, and that renters like you will not only be respectful of their rental property but will illustrate, by your example, that most pet owners are both conscientious and trustworthy.
 
Since finding a rental property that welcomes pets may prove difficult, increase your chances of success by considering the following:
   • Allow as much time as possible for as thorough a search as possible.
   • Research all “animal-friendly” listings and all “animal-savvy” realtors by placing classified ads online.
   • Reach out to your neighbors and co-workers, friends and family, through networking sites and social media for an even
     broader range of potential rentals.
   • Stop by the supermarkets and drug stores in your area to pick up free publications of rental opportunities and visit such
     web sites as https://www.apartments.com and https://www.rent.com for even more listings.
 
Create a “feline resume” detailing your cat’s positive personality traits. Include several photos guaranteed to win hearts, list your cat’s favorite activities, food and treats, and a brief adoption story. You should also include a letter from the vet showing that your cat is spayed or neutered and up-to-date on vaccines and a letter of reference from your current or most recent landlord (if applicable).
 
While some landlords may advertise “no pets”, others may also be willing to make an exception -- particularly if they own pets or are pet lovers themselves. It’s worth making an inquiry over the phone and even inviting the more amenable ones to meet with you and your cat.
 
NEVER sign a lease that states, “no pets allowed” even if you happen to observe other pets on the premises. But most importantly, never accept the word of a realtor, manager or landlord that having one is “okay.” The only words that count are those WRITTEN in the lease. If the lease clearly states “no pets allowed”, ensure that it’s either crossed out or replaced with language approving your pet, and that all changes are initialed by both you and the landlord.
 
Any pet deposit or monthly fees should be specified in the lease, but before signing it, first discuss the matter with the landlord and/or renegotiate the amount.
 
Keep a signed copy of the lease with all of your other important documents where it can be readily retrieved if needed.
 
Then, once you and your purr-ecious kitty companion are happily ensconced in your new home, it remains your responsibility to reassure the landlord that he made the right choice in renting to you.

by Nomi Berger
 
“Every sixty seconds, an animal is abused.”
 
This is according to the ASPCA. And so, they have designated April as “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” Month. They have also urged their supporters everywhere to “Go Orange for Animals” to increase public awareness.
 
The following are ways YOU can help.
 
START A FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
 
Using your personal Facebook account, create an ASPCA fundraising page for an important event in your life and share it with friends and family. Whether you “donate” your birthday, honor the memory of a beloved pet or run a 5k with Team ASPCA, the money you raise will benefit needy animals nationwide.
 
SUPPORT A LOCAL ANIMAL SHELTER OR RESCUE GROUP
 
Drawing on your own, personal contacts, team up with a local shelter or rescue in sponsoring a ”Go Orange for Animals” event (wearing orange, of course). Whether it’s an adoption event or a donation drive, give them the proceeds and/or supplies you’ve collected, and know the difference you’re making is huge!
 
SHOW YOUR VIRTUAL SUPPORT
 
Spread the word about “Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” Month by posting on your social media networks using the hashtag #fightcruelty and tagging @aspca. Encourage your family and friends to follow the ASPCA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
 
BECOME AN ANIMAL ACTIVIST
 
Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center online, join their Advocacy Brigade to receive emails about important animal welfare-related legislation, and learn how YOU can become a voice for the voiceless.
 
MAKE ADOPTION YOUR FIRST OPTION
 
Looking for the perfect fur friend for your family? Both shelters and rescue groups have loving dogs and cats of all breeds, ages and colors, desperate to find their own perfect families. By adopting, not shopping, you’re saving two lives: the life of the animal you adopt and the life of the animal taking its place.
 
How To Report Animal Cruelty
 
If you witness the act yourself, you can go to your local police commissioner and ask to swear out a warrant summoning the accused person to court.
 
Or you can find out precisely where to report the incident in your area. Then, either call or email them, providing a concise, factual statement of what you observed, including the date and approximate time of the abuse.
 
If possible, photograph the abusive situation and date your pictures.
 
If possible, gather brief, factual written statements from other witnesses.
 
If you have documents pertinent to your complaint, always make copies for your own records before giving them to anyone else.
 
If you call to report a case of animal cruelty, keep a record of the person you contact, the date, and the content and outcome of your discussion. Make it clear that you are interested in pursuing the case, and that you will help in any way you can.
 
If you don’t receive a response from the agent/officer assigned to your case within a reasonable length of time, follow up. Present your information to his/her supervisor and, if necessary, to local government officials, such as the county commissioner, and ask them to act.
 
Remember. If YOU don’t speak up, this abuse is likely to happen again.