Treegans.com: the continuing adventures of KC and Dooz - two vegans living in the woods

national feral cat day - october 16

Friday, October 16th is National Feral Cat Day - a day to think about outdoor cats in your neighborhood.  We have a number of feral cats where we live, and you probably have a few near you, too.

Feral cats exist in every community. A feral cat is really no different than a domestic cat, with one very big exception:  they're not socialized to humans and can’t be adopted into homes.  Instead, feral cats want to live outdoors, in a family group (colony), where they can live healthy, content lives.

Here's something else to keep in mind:  bringing a feral cat to your local animal shelter is practically a guaranteed death sentence.  Over 70% of cats who enter shelters are euthanized, and nearly all feral cats are killed right away. The best - and most humane - way to help a feral cat is through a program called "Trap-Neuter-Return", which ends the breeding cycle and helps cats and people coexist peacefully.

If you'd like to learn more about feral cats. and what you can do to help in your community, visit Alley Cat Allies website.

baby on board

Last night, we attended a local book signing in support of a new work by Jana Kohl, A Rare Breed of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She Inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere. 

Baby is a puppy mill survivor who lived through a 9-year ordeal before being adopted by the author.  She lost a leg as a result of the abuse she suffered while in the puppy mills, but Baby finally gained a permanent home.  She's wrapping up a cross-country tour to help raise awareness about cruelty in the dog breeding industry. 

If you're a Pennsylvania resident, you have a opportunity right now to tell your government to put an end to the incredibly cruel practices of the puppy mill industry.  Governor Ed Rendell's comprehensive puppy mill bill, H.B. 2525, is in the House Appropriations Committee.  This measure which would make it illegal to debark an animal, dock tails or perform surgical births without a veterinarian using anesthesia.  Just before the house adjourned for summer, opponents added over 100 amendments to the bill in an attempt to slow down and eventually bury the measure in red tape.

Although the legislature has adjourned for the summer, you can still contact your local representative, as well as  members of the Appropriations Committee, urging them to drop the amendments to H.B. 2525 and allow a vote on the measure by the full House of Representatives.

And if you're looking for a new pet, please don't buy from a pet store or breeder!  Adopt from your local shelter, or go to Petfinder.com.

philly zoo elephant

We regret to pass along this bit of crappy news:  Petal, one of the last three remaining African elephants at the Philadelphia Zoo, died unexpectedly this morning.  Reportedly in good health, zoo officials have not yet identified the cause of Petal's death.

On average, elephants in zoos die at roughly half their natural average lifespan of 70 to 80 years. The leading cause of death for elephants in zoos is foot and joint-related problems created by the lack of space in the zoo environment. 

The surviving pair of Philadelphia Zoo elephants, Kallie and Bette, are slated to move to a breeding facility later this year, where they will be forcibly bred in attempt to produce more elephants for display. Philadelphia Zoo Director Vik Dewan has expressed uncertainty about their future, stating that Kallie and Bette will first be shipped to the breeding facility.  After that, their fate is unknown.

Two years ago, the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in California offered a lifetime home to the remaining Philadelphia Zoo elephants at no charge.  Sadly, this offer was declined by zoo officials. Instead, the zoo opted to keep Petal, Kallie, and Bette in Philly - in conditions that the zoo admits are inadequate - while awaiting the construction of the PA breeding facility (sponsored by the Pittsburgh Zoo). Dulary, an Asian elephant, was granted sanctuary last year by the Philadelphia Zoo and is living happily at The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, where we're proud to be one of her many sponsors.

If you'd like to share your thoughts with Director Dewan and the Philadephia Zoo, you can send an email through the zoo's website.

happy tofurky day, part deux

So we went to our favorite local animal sanctuary, Chenoa Manor, and took Thanksgiving to them: lots of leftovers and especially the 15-20 decorative pumpkins we'd had around the house and deck.

Pumpkins are clearly everyone's favorite, as you can see from the photos.

adopt a turkey

October is in the books, which means that the holiday season is fast approaching.  This Thanksgiving, consider starting a new holiday tradition by participating in Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey project. 

If you've never actually spent time with a turkey, they're pretty amazing animals -  friendly, curious, and affectionate.

By participating in Farm Sanctuary's Adopt-A-Turkey project, you'll receive a photo of your turkey, along with a brief biography.  Our adopted turkey, named "Moth", is waaaay cooler than other turkeys...AND she's an honor student. 

support California wildfire animal rescue

As the effects of wildfires in Southern California continue to unfold, we ask that you consider making a donation to the Humane Society of the United States' Disaster Relief Fund. 

HSUS responders were deployed to the region on Monday to assist local animal rescue efforts in San Diego county.  While it's too soon to know how many animals have been displaced, rescue operations could continue for several weeks.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the HSUS Disaster Relief Fund today.