| Dear Emily, No one can deny that 2008 has been a year of change -- some good, some troubling. While we look forward to our nation beginning to move in a new direction with new leadership in 2009, we also are dealing today with the consequences of a difficult economy that's bringing more animals into our shelters and challenging our ability to maintain robust adoptions. But through it all, our coalition of shelters and rescue groups working to bring positive change for homeless animals in New York City has remained focused and proactive in its efforts to save lives and create better tomorrows for the animals. This holiday issue of Out of the Cage! describes some of our collaborative endeavors over the past months, and our progress toward achieving the four core objectives set forth in our ten-year strategic plan. You'll read about our efforts to increase pet adoptions in NYC, especially around the holidays, spay/neuter initiatives to reduce the number of homeless animals entering our city shelters, and use of the media to increase public awareness of the wonderful animals available for adoption and the increased challenges facing shelters and rescue groups in these difficult economic times. And you'll read about how we are working to strengthen our resources by providing training and concrete support to the Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) to help them accomplish more for the animals. Despite the challenges we face, we forge ahead with optimism and determination, and the knowledge that yes, we can continue to save lives and remain on course to reach our goals. As we stand on the threshold of Year 5 of the Maddie's Pet Rescue Project in NYC, we are fortified by the continued faith and financial support of Maddie's Fund. We continue to rely upon the generosity of the ASPCA, a founding member of the Mayor's Alliance and a continued supporter. We depend upon the generosity of the PETCO Foundation and PetSmart Charities to keep our free cat spay/neuter clinics running, Broadway Barks for its continued support of our Picasso Veterinary Fund, and numerous other organizations, businesses, veterinary partners, and private individuals, including volunteers, whose ongoing support is helping us to do more. In 2009 we can do more, and we will do more, fueled by the unwavering dedication and can-do attitude of the more than 140 animal shelters and rescue organizations that participate in our Alliance. They are the heart of our organization, just as the animals we seek to help are our soul. We hope you enjoy this issue of Out of the Cage! And we wish you and your family members -- human and non-human alike -- a happy, healthy, and humane New Year. Best wishes, 
Jane Hoffman
President, Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals
Mayor's Alliance Promotes Holiday Pet Adoptions in a Big Way
|  |  Animal homelessness doesn't take a holiday. This year, at a time when economic hardships are resulting in an increase in the number of animals entering the shelters, promoting adoption is more crucial than ever. To keep pet adoptions in New York City brisk throughout the holiday season, the Mayor's Alliance this year implemented several tactics designed to bring out more adopters and increase the number of cats and dogs finding new homes this season. |
Great Ideas for Holiday Giving
| |  Want to give a gift this year that carries extra impact for the animals? We have several suggestions you might consider. |
Free Cat Spay/Neuter Clinics Continue to Book to Capacity
| |  Mayor's Alliance free spay/neuter clinics for companion cats, currently taking place three times each month at the NYC Animal Care & Control (AC&C) Brooklyn facility, are proving that New York City residents indeed want to have their cats spayed or neutered -- all many of them need are the means to do it. |
Picasso Veterinary Fund in Action: Sneakers Just Might Be the Right Fit for You!
| |  In October, Sneakers fell victim to the same fate that befalls many a stray dog and cat in the city -- a run-in with a speeding car. Luckily for Sneakers, only her rear right leg was broken. A Good Samaritan found the injured two-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier/Lab mix and took her to NYC Veterinary Specialists, a specialty animal hospital on Manhattan's West Side. Again, luck was on her side: the hospital is a Mayor's Alliance partner in the care of animals whose treatment is paid for by the Picasso Veterinary Fund (PVF) of the Mayor's Alliance. |
Tough Economic Times, Holiday Adoptions Gain Media Attention
| |  Not surprisingly, media coverage of homeless animal issues over the past several months has focused heavily on the effects of the economic downturn on pet owner/guardians and their pets, and the shelters and rescue groups that are responding to the increasing number of animals entering the shelter system. As more and more people find it necessary to surrender their companion animals to shelters because of job loss, foreclosures, and other economic stresses, more animals are at risk of becoming fatalities of these difficult times. |
Strength Trainings Equip APOs to Work Harder, Smarter
| |  This year, Mayor's Alliance Participating Organizations (APOs) had the opportunity to expand their knowledge and improve skills in a wide range of areas -- from preventing the spread of disease in the shelter and preparing for disasters to using the Internet and other media to promote adoptions and designing more effective adoption agreements. These and other topics were the focus of Mayor's Alliance Strength Trainings -- monthly training sessions created specifically for APOs to help them work more efficiently and effectively. In 2009, our Strength Training program will continue to offer specialized informational sessions and skill-building workshops. |
The Good Neighbor: How Caring Collaboration Saved the Lives of 28 Cats
| |  by Meredith Weiss, NYC Feral Cat Initiative / Neighborhood Cats We've all heard the adage "life is unpredictable," yet many of us know it only as a saying. We stride ahead, day after day, year after year, with little to shake up our routines or expectations. But sometimes, on any ordinary day and, by definition, without warning, the unpredictable strikes. This is a true tale of such an experience. |
Planning for Your Pet's Care if You're Not Around
| |  The lifetime commitment you've made to your companion animals involves many things, including planning for their care should something happen to prevent you from caring for them. Just as with any member of your family, having a plan in place for their care in your absence can give you peace of mind and ensure that their well being is maintained. |
Mayor's Alliance Acknowledges Generous Fundraising Efforts
| |  Raising money to help homeless animals is becoming quite a trend in New York City, and we want to acknowledge those caring individuals whose recent efforts raised much-needed funds for the Mayor's Alliance efforts to save lives. |
Help for NYC's Stray and Outdoor Cats
| |  The New York City Feral Cat Initiative, a joint program of the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals and Neighborhood Cats, is continuing to build momentum in its efforts to humanely reduce New York City's stray and outdoor cat population through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). |
| Newsletter Team | | | Editor-in-Chief: Steve Gruber
Art Director: Krista Menzel
Senior Writer: Steve Gruber
Contributing Writer: Meredith Weiss
Photographers: Dennis Ardigo, Jessica Del Guercio, Rick Edwards, Janell Granier, Bryan Kortis, Meredith Weiss The Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals welcomes reprints of articles from Out of the Cage! To request permission to reprint any of these articles, please contact us at info@animalalliancenyc.org. |
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