In December, 2007, we read about a horrifying case in Aberdeen, NJ concerning Anthony Appolonia who was charged with animal cruelty. He convinced at least 22 cat owners that he would provide a safe environment for their pets after responding to their "free to good home" advertisements. Once he adopted the cats, he allegedly tortured and/or killed them.
Homeless Animal Lifeline is recruiting volunteers to contact people who place "Free To Good Home" ads and warn them of the dangers, as well as work within our "Safe Placement" program, which helps people find safe homes for animals.
Some of our goals are:
1 - to have a volunteer for every Internet list in NJ that allows "Free to Good Home" ads. These volunteers would contact people who place ads and not only warn them of the dangers of "Free To Good Home" ads, but offer to work with them to ensure that the animal is placed into a safe, loving home.
2 - sending a Letter To The Editor and/or place classified ads in NJ newspapers that warns about the dangers of "Free To Good Home" ads.
This volunteer effort costs you nothing and could be done from the comfort of your own home!
We also have a free information pack that is ready to use. The info pack includes a "Finding A Safe Home" tip sheet, a "Free To Good Home Ad" warning sheet, news article, and sample letter, as well as a sample adoption contract.
Interested in helping or want more details? Let us know!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Advocate Alert: The Cats of Cape May are Still In Danger!
The following is a letter from the President of Alley Cat Allies, Becky Robinson.
COPIED MESSAGE
Last night’s city council meeting proved that the citizens of Cape May and this country care deeply about the lives of stray and feral cats. More than 100 dismayed residents packed the auditorium to discuss a plan that would virtually eliminate the city’s groundbreaking and highly successful twelve-year old Trap-Neuter-Return initiative.
The city is in a terrible predicament. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are essentially holding an unrelated program hostage until the city council approves a flawed, ineffective beach-management plan that would lead to the trapping and ultimate killing of the local stray and feral cats.
The fact is, for most cats, impoundment is a death sentence! 72% of cats entering shelters nationwide are killed. And statistics are even worse for feral cats – like those in Cape May. Virtually 100% of feral cats that enter shelters are killed.
I’m proud to say that I opened the public comment period by questioning what would happen after the city eliminated the proven and effective Trap-Neuter-Return program.
Fortunately, the city council chose to delay a vote on the beach-management plan and try to find a solution that would genuinely protect the endangered shorebirds while respecting the community’s twelve-year old efforts to manage feral cats with Trap-Neuter-Return.
It is clear that the city council and residents of Cape May want to do the right thing to maintain the city’s place at the forefront of progressive and innovative communities.
Alley Cat Allies is committed to continuing to protect the cats of Cape May – and cats across the country. With your support, we will continue to fight for the cats of Cape May and make sure the world knows that feral and stray cats deserve humane care.
For the Cats,
Becky Robinson
President
COPIED MESSAGE
Last night’s city council meeting proved that the citizens of Cape May and this country care deeply about the lives of stray and feral cats. More than 100 dismayed residents packed the auditorium to discuss a plan that would virtually eliminate the city’s groundbreaking and highly successful twelve-year old Trap-Neuter-Return initiative.
The city is in a terrible predicament. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection are essentially holding an unrelated program hostage until the city council approves a flawed, ineffective beach-management plan that would lead to the trapping and ultimate killing of the local stray and feral cats.
The fact is, for most cats, impoundment is a death sentence! 72% of cats entering shelters nationwide are killed. And statistics are even worse for feral cats – like those in Cape May. Virtually 100% of feral cats that enter shelters are killed.
I’m proud to say that I opened the public comment period by questioning what would happen after the city eliminated the proven and effective Trap-Neuter-Return program.
Fortunately, the city council chose to delay a vote on the beach-management plan and try to find a solution that would genuinely protect the endangered shorebirds while respecting the community’s twelve-year old efforts to manage feral cats with Trap-Neuter-Return.
It is clear that the city council and residents of Cape May want to do the right thing to maintain the city’s place at the forefront of progressive and innovative communities.
Alley Cat Allies is committed to continuing to protect the cats of Cape May – and cats across the country. With your support, we will continue to fight for the cats of Cape May and make sure the world knows that feral and stray cats deserve humane care.
For the Cats,
Becky Robinson
President
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Coming Up! 3rd Annual Multi-Household Yard Sale May 18th / 9AM-3PM
Mark Your Calendars!
3rd Annual Multi-Household Yard Sale
to benefit Homeless Animal Lifeline!
Sunday, May 18th
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1326 Watchung Avenue
Plainfield, NJ 07060
Find great deals on…
Clothing, household items, antiques and collectibles, books, furniture, and more!
Many thanks to Carol and Michael for organizing and hosting this event!
3rd Annual Multi-Household Yard Sale
to benefit Homeless Animal Lifeline!
Sunday, May 18th
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1326 Watchung Avenue
Plainfield, NJ 07060
Find great deals on…
Clothing, household items, antiques and collectibles, books, furniture, and more!
Many thanks to Carol and Michael for organizing and hosting this event!
Advocate Alert: Take a Stand To Protect The Cats of Cape May!
From Alley Cat Allies
Tell Cape May, NJ to resist the US Fish and Wildlife Service pressure to
kill cats:
Click here for sample letter
Tell Cape May, NJ to resist the US Fish and Wildlife Service pressure to
kill cats:
Click here for sample letter
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
HAL Happenings!
~*~*~*~*~Homeless Animal Lifeline (HAL) Happenings~*~*~*~*~
Homeless Animal Lifeline
A NJ Nonprofit Corporation
Internet: www.halrescue.org
Email: RescueHAL@aol.com
February 12, 2008
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
HAVE A HEART FOR RESCUED ANIMALS!
In honor of Valentine's Day, add your name to a RED HEART for a $1 donation. Buy a heart to honor someone you love whether they have two legs or four!
www.halrescue.org/valentine.html
Happy Valentine's Day from Homeless Animal Lifeline!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
DONATIONS: Monetary donations are always needed to help fund our programs and help the cats within our foster system. Donations can be made safely through PayPal by visiting our website: www.halrescue.org or contact us at RescueHAL@aol.com for a postal address. HAL has no paid employees; we are a 100% volunteer organization.
Where have your donations gone recently?
- HAL has been helping with an urgent situation regarding a crowded home where cats were suffering from various ailments and one required emergency surgery. Since mid-January, twenty cats have been helped. This effort has cost HAL over a couple of thousand dollars, with other charges paid for out of pocket by HAL volunteers.
- HAL recently completed a rescue effort in Manalapan, NJ for homeless feral and stray cats who were under attack by residents. Fourteen cats total were rescued; they were spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Feral cats were relocated to private, confined property where they can live in peace and be cared for by a permanent caretaker. Seven cats were tame and placed up for adoption. Three cats are still waiting for homes; contact us at RescueHAL@aol.com for more information on Cara (tortie), Ellie (orange), and Carmen (Tortie Siamese)!
- Valentine, a long-haired 4 year old female cat, was brought to our adoption day by PetSmart customers who could no longer keep her because of "allergies." Valentine was so badly matted that she needed an emergency grooming! Lyn from People For Animals was kind enough to remove the severe mats causing skin irritation, and Valentine's foster mom Ilene brought her for a professional grooming. Valentine was vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV (she's negative), and is now up for adoption! Her photos will soon be available on Petfinder.
- HAL purchased Friends of Animals spay/neuter certificates to help with cat overpopulation.
- Your donations helped us supply food to dedicated volunteers who care for feral cat colonies in New Jersey.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU!
The following volunteer positions are available:
-Foster Parent
-Public Outreach
-Fundraising
Contact RescueHAL@aol.com if you can assist with one (or more!) of the above volunteer positions!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
FEATURED CAT
Cara and Ellie are 11 month old sisters who are extremely bonded. They are searching for a permanent home where they can remain together. Trapped by Animal Control because people complained about these homeless girls, they were brought to a shelter and then brought to a HAL foster home. They have been moved around a lot in the past few months and are quite shy, but very sweet. Ellie (orange short-haired) is a bit braver than her sister Cara (tortie short-haired); Ellie can often be found grooming and cuddling her sister. They are very calm and gentle and would do best in a calm household with a patient person who will give them the love and care they deserve. Both girls are spayed, up to date on vaccines, FIV/FeLV negative, and microchipped. You can visit their Petfinder page and see their photos here:
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9961199
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
UPDATE ON HAL'S RESCUE PROGRAM:
HAL's foster homes are currently filled and we are unable to accept animals from the public at this time. If you are interested in fostering, please fill out our Foster Application, which can be found at:
http://hal.digital-mind.net/hal_foster_application.php.
However, while we have stopped intake, the calls to place animals have not. In light of that, we have expanded our Humane Education and Public Outreach program. Our website includes a Companion Animal Education section, which addresses issues such as finding a safe home for your companion animal, the dangers of "free to good home" ads, living with allergies, and more.
We also offer free information packets on a variety of issues, as well as host public outreach tables and write letters on behalf of abused and homeless animals.
Although we are a limited rescue operation, we are an active advocacy group. We still answer email and phone inquiries and are happy to offer advice based on our own experiences.
We have set up an emergency fund program, Animal Care Assistance, that assists the community by providing food, supplies, and/or medical care for companion animals during times of need in an effort to decrease the amount of animals abandoned or relinquished to shelters.
Donations made to HAL, in addition to going to the care of our current fosters and permanent animals (those whom for various reasons will never be adopted), are going to the aforementioned programs, as well as educational materials.
We hope that our programs will have a positive impact on the animal community!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
VEGAN RECIPE
General Tao's Tofu
Ingredients:
1 box of firm tofu
egg substitute for 1 egg
3/4 cup cornstarch
vegetable oil for frying
3 chopped green onions
1 Tablespoon minced ginger
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2/3 cup vegetable stock
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
4 Tablespoons sugar
red pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon sherry (optional)
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
steamed broccoli
Directions:
Drain, dry and cut tofu into 1 inch chunks. You can freeze tofu the night before to get a more chicken-like consistency, but it isn't necessary. Mix the egg replacer as specified on the box and add an additional 3 tablespoons water. Dip tofu in egg replacer/water mixture and coat completely. Sprinkle 3/4 cup cornstarch over tofu and coat completely. Watch out that the cornstarch doesn't clump up at the bottom of the bowl.
Heat oil in pan and fry tofu pieces until golden. Drain oil.
Heat 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil in pan on medium heat. Add green onions, ginger and garlic, cook for about 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn garlic. Add vegetable stock, soy sauce, sugar, red pepper and vinegar. Mix 2 Tablespoons water with 1 Tablespoon cornstarch and pour into mixture stirring well. Add fried tofu and coat evenly.
Serve immediately with steamed broccoli over your choice of rice.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30-40 Minutes
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
ADOPTION DAYS: Don't forget to visit us at the Bridgewater PetSmart every Saturday from 11:30 AM to 4 PM!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NETWORKING WORKS!
Do you live in the New Jersey area and want to help animals? Join the NJCare Email Network for information on animals needing homes, volunteer opportunities, and animal news!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEWSLETTER: Want to join our newsletter mailing list? Visit:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/homeless_animal_lifeline/.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart."
Homeless Animal Lifeline
A NJ Nonprofit Corporation
Internet: www.halrescue.org
Email: RescueHAL@aol.com
February 12, 2008
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
HAVE A HEART FOR RESCUED ANIMALS!
In honor of Valentine's Day, add your name to a RED HEART for a $1 donation. Buy a heart to honor someone you love whether they have two legs or four!
www.halrescue.org/valentine.html
Happy Valentine's Day from Homeless Animal Lifeline!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
DONATIONS: Monetary donations are always needed to help fund our programs and help the cats within our foster system. Donations can be made safely through PayPal by visiting our website: www.halrescue.org or contact us at RescueHAL@aol.com for a postal address. HAL has no paid employees; we are a 100% volunteer organization.
Where have your donations gone recently?
- HAL has been helping with an urgent situation regarding a crowded home where cats were suffering from various ailments and one required emergency surgery. Since mid-January, twenty cats have been helped. This effort has cost HAL over a couple of thousand dollars, with other charges paid for out of pocket by HAL volunteers.
- HAL recently completed a rescue effort in Manalapan, NJ for homeless feral and stray cats who were under attack by residents. Fourteen cats total were rescued; they were spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Feral cats were relocated to private, confined property where they can live in peace and be cared for by a permanent caretaker. Seven cats were tame and placed up for adoption. Three cats are still waiting for homes; contact us at RescueHAL@aol.com for more information on Cara (tortie), Ellie (orange), and Carmen (Tortie Siamese)!
- Valentine, a long-haired 4 year old female cat, was brought to our adoption day by PetSmart customers who could no longer keep her because of "allergies." Valentine was so badly matted that she needed an emergency grooming! Lyn from People For Animals was kind enough to remove the severe mats causing skin irritation, and Valentine's foster mom Ilene brought her for a professional grooming. Valentine was vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV (she's negative), and is now up for adoption! Her photos will soon be available on Petfinder.
- HAL purchased Friends of Animals spay/neuter certificates to help with cat overpopulation.
- Your donations helped us supply food to dedicated volunteers who care for feral cat colonies in New Jersey.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
VOLUNTEERS - WE NEED YOU!
The following volunteer positions are available:
-Foster Parent
-Public Outreach
-Fundraising
Contact RescueHAL@aol.com if you can assist with one (or more!) of the above volunteer positions!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
FEATURED CAT
Cara and Ellie are 11 month old sisters who are extremely bonded. They are searching for a permanent home where they can remain together. Trapped by Animal Control because people complained about these homeless girls, they were brought to a shelter and then brought to a HAL foster home. They have been moved around a lot in the past few months and are quite shy, but very sweet. Ellie (orange short-haired) is a bit braver than her sister Cara (tortie short-haired); Ellie can often be found grooming and cuddling her sister. They are very calm and gentle and would do best in a calm household with a patient person who will give them the love and care they deserve. Both girls are spayed, up to date on vaccines, FIV/FeLV negative, and microchipped. You can visit their Petfinder page and see their photos here:
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=9961199
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
UPDATE ON HAL'S RESCUE PROGRAM:
HAL's foster homes are currently filled and we are unable to accept animals from the public at this time. If you are interested in fostering, please fill out our Foster Application, which can be found at:
http://hal.digital-mind.net/hal_foster_application.php.
However, while we have stopped intake, the calls to place animals have not. In light of that, we have expanded our Humane Education and Public Outreach program. Our website includes a Companion Animal Education section, which addresses issues such as finding a safe home for your companion animal, the dangers of "free to good home" ads, living with allergies, and more.
We also offer free information packets on a variety of issues, as well as host public outreach tables and write letters on behalf of abused and homeless animals.
Although we are a limited rescue operation, we are an active advocacy group. We still answer email and phone inquiries and are happy to offer advice based on our own experiences.
We have set up an emergency fund program, Animal Care Assistance, that assists the community by providing food, supplies, and/or medical care for companion animals during times of need in an effort to decrease the amount of animals abandoned or relinquished to shelters.
Donations made to HAL, in addition to going to the care of our current fosters and permanent animals (those whom for various reasons will never be adopted), are going to the aforementioned programs, as well as educational materials.
We hope that our programs will have a positive impact on the animal community!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
VEGAN RECIPE
General Tao's Tofu
Ingredients:
1 box of firm tofu
egg substitute for 1 egg
3/4 cup cornstarch
vegetable oil for frying
3 chopped green onions
1 Tablespoon minced ginger
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
2/3 cup vegetable stock
2 Tablespoons soy sauce
4 Tablespoons sugar
red pepper to taste
1 Tablespoon sherry (optional)
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
steamed broccoli
Directions:
Drain, dry and cut tofu into 1 inch chunks. You can freeze tofu the night before to get a more chicken-like consistency, but it isn't necessary. Mix the egg replacer as specified on the box and add an additional 3 tablespoons water. Dip tofu in egg replacer/water mixture and coat completely. Sprinkle 3/4 cup cornstarch over tofu and coat completely. Watch out that the cornstarch doesn't clump up at the bottom of the bowl.
Heat oil in pan and fry tofu pieces until golden. Drain oil.
Heat 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil in pan on medium heat. Add green onions, ginger and garlic, cook for about 2 minutes. Be careful not to burn garlic. Add vegetable stock, soy sauce, sugar, red pepper and vinegar. Mix 2 Tablespoons water with 1 Tablespoon cornstarch and pour into mixture stirring well. Add fried tofu and coat evenly.
Serve immediately with steamed broccoli over your choice of rice.
Serves: 4
Preparation time: 30-40 Minutes
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
ADOPTION DAYS: Don't forget to visit us at the Bridgewater PetSmart every Saturday from 11:30 AM to 4 PM!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NETWORKING WORKS!
Do you live in the New Jersey area and want to help animals? Join the NJCare Email Network for information on animals needing homes, volunteer opportunities, and animal news!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
NEWSLETTER: Want to join our newsletter mailing list? Visit:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/homeless_animal_lifeline/.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart."
Friday, February 8, 2008
Today!! February 9 - Valentine's Day Adoption Event
Valentine's Day Adoption Event!
When: February 9, 2008 between 11 AM and 4:00 PM
Where: Bridgewater PetSmart, 145 Promenade Blvd.
Find the love of your life at our Valentine's Day Adoption Event. Enjoy some sweet treats as you visit with our many cats available for adoption. Be sure to ask about our extra special promotion for adopting a Pair of Sweethearts!
When: February 9, 2008 between 11 AM and 4:00 PM
Where: Bridgewater PetSmart, 145 Promenade Blvd.
Find the love of your life at our Valentine's Day Adoption Event. Enjoy some sweet treats as you visit with our many cats available for adoption. Be sure to ask about our extra special promotion for adopting a Pair of Sweethearts!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Have A Heart For A Rescued Animal!
In honor of Valentine's Day, add your name to a RED HEART for a $1 donation. Buy a heart to honor someone you love whether they have two legs or four!
www.halrescue.org/valentine.html
Happy Valentine's Day from Homeless Animal Lifeline!
www.halrescue.org/valentine.html
Happy Valentine's Day from Homeless Animal Lifeline!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
ORGANIZATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Please be advised that Annette Van Tassel has, at the request of the Board, been asked to resign from her position as President/Treasurer of Homeless Animal Lifeline (HAL). Please note that Annette can no longer intake animals for HAL, is no longer a foster home for HAL and can no longer act in any capacity as a member of HAL.
Michelle, the former Vice-President, has been elected to fill Annette's former role as President. We welcome Catherine Padovani as our new Vice-President/Treasurer. Catherine has over 15 years experience working with stray, feral, and special needs cats.
Positions currently available with HAL are: foster homes, fundraising volunteers.
We thank you for your continued support during this change.
Michelle, the former Vice-President, has been elected to fill Annette's former role as President. We welcome Catherine Padovani as our new Vice-President/Treasurer. Catherine has over 15 years experience working with stray, feral, and special needs cats.
Positions currently available with HAL are: foster homes, fundraising volunteers.
We thank you for your continued support during this change.
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