Tails in the News
By Rose Strong
New humane education program
For the kids involved in the Caring People Alliance (CPA) in center city Philadelphia, learning how to be compassionate and empathetic has been made just a bit more fun.
The CPA, affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, has been serving the Philadelphia area since 1932. Through three community centers and the Child Care Information Services, the organization helps about 36,000 people each year. The mission of the group is to empower children and youth to become productive, positive citizens.
Through its initiatives, the CPA offers education about healthy lifestyles, including Caring Paws Keystone Kids. This new program is an offshoot of Caring Paws, which provides animal-assisted therapy to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, summer camps, classrooms, and after-school programs throughout Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties. Caring Paws Keystone Kids is a humane education program that teaches youngsters how to care for animals and manage their needs on a regular basis, which allows them to learn compassion and responsibility.
“There is an epidemic of animal cruelty [noted by the Pennsylvania SPCA in October of 2007] and youth violence in this city. Every day in Philadelphia these kids are exposed to violence and bad news,” says Laura Lau, CPA’s business development manager. “This program teaches them by having them care for the animals [and participate in] field trips and projects. Most of these kids only ever experience animals by seeing a stray on the street or knowing someone with a Pit Bull.”
Lau explains that the program is based out of CPA’s R.W. Brown Community Center and that its animals, most all of them rescues, are housed at this facility with an animal care person taking care of them.
The program includes ferrets, rabbits, rats, hamsters, a hairless guinea pig, and a Golden Retriever named Fleur (who is the facility dog). Children are taught the basic care, feeding, and other needs of each animal, and also learn about animal-related careers. The program reaches more than 300 children and is working on establishing an advisory board to involve the community.
On June 21, Caring Paws will be celebrating Animal Day at Whole Foods Market at 929 South Street in Philadelphia from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local animal groups will be giving out information, and there will be lots of activities, including a dog wash, crafts, and raffles. The purpose of the event is to support Caring Paws Keystone Kids Humane Education.
The CPA is also hosting a summer camp with the theme “Animals, Plants & Me.” Humane education and gardening will be the focus of the camp activities. Children and youth will learn about animal behavior with animals from the Caring Paws Zoo and grow and maintain their own gardens. They will also take field trips to animal facilities and local farms. Combining the lessons of care and respect of animals with the nurturing of growing edible gardens for healthy eating and sustainability teaches children and youth to be compassionate and caring stewards of our communities.
For more information on either CPA program, visit CaringPeopleAlliance.org.
We often hear about rescues of cats and dogs, but often forget that smaller four-footed critters need to be rescued too. This month, we’ve found a dedicated group of individuals working on behalf of some of these overlooked animals who call their organization For Bunny Sake Rabbit Rescue (FBSRR). We spoke with volunteer Isabella Pounds to find out more about rabbits needing rescue as well as how they can make great pets.
How did the rescue get its start?
The rescue started with Yvonne McCalla and Wendy Yanarella, both with the Burlington County Rescue Alliance, and that group was usually getting lots of dogs and cats. But then it seemed rabbits were a big surrender. They decided to have a rescue dedicated to just rabbits.
Do you have a dedicated shelter?
No, the rabbits are in foster care.
What kind of care do rabbits need, and are they good pets?
Rabbits are great, and we advocate them as indoor pets. They are easily litterbox trained, and if you keep your wiring wrapped in heavy plastic or up off the floor, they are safe. They can be introduced to the family dog and cat, much like any other pet you would introduce to the family. They are even affectionate.
Do you think you’re successful in your rescuing?
I think we do well. We’ve adopted out 143 rabbits out of 224 surrendered since our start in 2006. Some have died, and others we keep in foster care since they have health conditions that make them less able to be adopted.
For more information, visit ForBunnySake.Petfinder.com.
“It’s hard to believe that this little dog made it out on the streets,” says Cindy Brozenske, Last Chance Ranch (LCR) volunteer, holding a tiny body in her two hands against her chest. “Hard to imagine she lived as long as she did, but she’s got some spunk and a strong spirit.”
The Chihuahua is literally skin and bones, so malnourished that her hair is basically gone and you can see the veins and blood vessels just under her skin trying to keep her alive. Her name is Tinkerbelle, and she’s at least a year old, weighing in at only one and a half pounds. At this age, she should weigh about six pounds, if healthy.
“Her back is arched, as if she curled up in a ball to die,” says Brozenske.
“We think it’s just atrophied, but it may straighten out somewhat.”
Found as a stray in Philadelphia, Tinkerbelle was brought to a shelter where she had little chance of making it. Typically, severely ill animals are euthanized for lack of funding for their medical care when there are healthy, more adoptable animals in need of homes.
Luckily for Tinkerbelle, she was found at the shelter and brought to LCR in Bucks County on April 22.
LCR had focused solely on helping abused and neglected equines for more than a decade, but since Hurricane Katrina, LCR founder, Lori McCutcheon, has been bringing in all sorts of creatures in need.
“We are a ‘true rescue’ and take in animals [who] need our services (not just the cute little fuzzy ones). We will stop at nothing to help an animal in need. It is my reward to see these little souls happy and healthy again, no matter [whether they’re] a horse, dog, cat, chicken, pig, bird, or iguana,” says McCutcheon.
As of press time, Tinkerbelle is in need of much medical attention and is not ready for adoption. LCR is hoping to get word out that sponsorship is available to assist in this little dog’s care.
For donations to help Tinkerbelle exclusively, send a check with Tinkerbelle’s name in the memo to Last Chance Ranch, 9 Beck Road, Quakertown, PA 18951.
For more information or to donate online, visit FirstGiving.com/lastchanceranch.
New humane education program
targets kids
For the kids involved in the Caring People Alliance (CPA) in center city Philadelphia, learning how to be compassionate and empathetic has been made just a bit more fun.
The CPA, affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, has been serving the Philadelphia area since 1932. Through three community centers and the Child Care Information Services, the organization helps about 36,000 people each year. The mission of the group is to empower children and youth to become productive, positive citizens.
Through its initiatives, the CPA offers education about healthy lifestyles, including Caring Paws Keystone Kids. This new program is an offshoot of Caring Paws, which provides animal-assisted therapy to nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, summer camps, classrooms, and after-school programs throughout Philadelphia, Bucks, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties. Caring Paws Keystone Kids is a humane education program that teaches youngsters how to care for animals and manage their needs on a regular basis, which allows them to learn compassion and responsibility.
“There is an epidemic of animal cruelty [noted by the Pennsylvania SPCA in October of 2007] and youth violence in this city. Every day in Philadelphia these kids are exposed to violence and bad news,” says Laura Lau, CPA’s business development manager. “This program teaches them by having them care for the animals [and participate in] field trips and projects. Most of these kids only ever experience animals by seeing a stray on the street or knowing someone with a Pit Bull.”
Lau explains that the program is based out of CPA’s R.W. Brown Community Center and that its animals, most all of them rescues, are housed at this facility with an animal care person taking care of them.
The program includes ferrets, rabbits, rats, hamsters, a hairless guinea pig, and a Golden Retriever named Fleur (who is the facility dog). Children are taught the basic care, feeding, and other needs of each animal, and also learn about animal-related careers. The program reaches more than 300 children and is working on establishing an advisory board to involve the community.
On June 21, Caring Paws will be celebrating Animal Day at Whole Foods Market at 929 South Street in Philadelphia from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local animal groups will be giving out information, and there will be lots of activities, including a dog wash, crafts, and raffles. The purpose of the event is to support Caring Paws Keystone Kids Humane Education.
Animals, Plants & Me summer camp
The CPA is also hosting a summer camp with the theme “Animals, Plants & Me.” Humane education and gardening will be the focus of the camp activities. Children and youth will learn about animal behavior with animals from the Caring Paws Zoo and grow and maintain their own gardens. They will also take field trips to animal facilities and local farms. Combining the lessons of care and respect of animals with the nurturing of growing edible gardens for healthy eating and sustainability teaches children and youth to be compassionate and caring stewards of our communities.
For more information on either CPA program, visit CaringPeopleAlliance.org.
Spotlight on: For Bunny Sake Rabbit Rescue
We often hear about rescues of cats and dogs, but often forget that smaller four-footed critters need to be rescued too. This month, we’ve found a dedicated group of individuals working on behalf of some of these overlooked animals who call their organization For Bunny Sake Rabbit Rescue (FBSRR). We spoke with volunteer Isabella Pounds to find out more about rabbits needing rescue as well as how they can make great pets.
How did the rescue get its start?
The rescue started with Yvonne McCalla and Wendy Yanarella, both with the Burlington County Rescue Alliance, and that group was usually getting lots of dogs and cats. But then it seemed rabbits were a big surrender. They decided to have a rescue dedicated to just rabbits.
Do you have a dedicated shelter?
No, the rabbits are in foster care.
What kind of care do rabbits need, and are they good pets?
Rabbits are great, and we advocate them as indoor pets. They are easily litterbox trained, and if you keep your wiring wrapped in heavy plastic or up off the floor, they are safe. They can be introduced to the family dog and cat, much like any other pet you would introduce to the family. They are even affectionate.
Do you think you’re successful in your rescuing?
I think we do well. We’ve adopted out 143 rabbits out of 224 surrendered since our start in 2006. Some have died, and others we keep in foster care since they have health conditions that make them less able to be adopted.
For more information, visit ForBunnySake.Petfinder.com.
A tiny dog’s last chance
“It’s hard to believe that this little dog made it out on the streets,” says Cindy Brozenske, Last Chance Ranch (LCR) volunteer, holding a tiny body in her two hands against her chest. “Hard to imagine she lived as long as she did, but she’s got some spunk and a strong spirit.”
The Chihuahua is literally skin and bones, so malnourished that her hair is basically gone and you can see the veins and blood vessels just under her skin trying to keep her alive. Her name is Tinkerbelle, and she’s at least a year old, weighing in at only one and a half pounds. At this age, she should weigh about six pounds, if healthy.
“Her back is arched, as if she curled up in a ball to die,” says Brozenske.
“We think it’s just atrophied, but it may straighten out somewhat.”
Found as a stray in Philadelphia, Tinkerbelle was brought to a shelter where she had little chance of making it. Typically, severely ill animals are euthanized for lack of funding for their medical care when there are healthy, more adoptable animals in need of homes.
Luckily for Tinkerbelle, she was found at the shelter and brought to LCR in Bucks County on April 22.
LCR had focused solely on helping abused and neglected equines for more than a decade, but since Hurricane Katrina, LCR founder, Lori McCutcheon, has been bringing in all sorts of creatures in need.
“We are a ‘true rescue’ and take in animals [who] need our services (not just the cute little fuzzy ones). We will stop at nothing to help an animal in need. It is my reward to see these little souls happy and healthy again, no matter [whether they’re] a horse, dog, cat, chicken, pig, bird, or iguana,” says McCutcheon.
As of press time, Tinkerbelle is in need of much medical attention and is not ready for adoption. LCR is hoping to get word out that sponsorship is available to assist in this little dog’s care.
For donations to help Tinkerbelle exclusively, send a check with Tinkerbelle’s name in the memo to Last Chance Ranch, 9 Beck Road, Quakertown, PA 18951.
For more information or to donate online, visit FirstGiving.com/lastchanceranch.
