Friends of the CACC Animals CAT works closely with the Center for Animal Care and
Control (CACC) to provide volunteer assistance where needed. The CACC is New York
City’s municipal animal shelter. It cares for approximately 60,000 animals each
year. The CACC is forced to kill thousands of healthy animals each year for a number
of reasons:
·
People are still allowing their animals to breed and there are too many animals in New
York City and not enough adoptions.
·
People don’t take seriously their commitment to the companion animals who are totally
dependent on them. Visit one of the CACC’s shelters and read on each cage the
reason why the animal was surrendered: “No time,” “new
baby,” “too many,” “moving,” “soiled the house,”
“litter box odor,” “getting married.”
·
People continue to buy animals from pet shops and breeders rather than adopting from
shelters.
The CACC takes in about 200 animals a day and has the capacity to
house 1,000 in its five shelters. You don’t have to be a genius to see that at
that rate animals have to die, but we can help.
Cage Comforter Program – This
program recruits volunteers to sew small comforters for the cats, kittens and small dogs
at the CACC as well as making cat toys. Over the past three months, CAT members have
produced over 600 comforters and almost 700 toys. For more information on the
program, click here.
Foster
Home Program – Foster homes are needed for kittens and puppies who are too
young to be adopted. Eight weeks is the minimum adoption age since by law animals
adopted from shelters must be neutered before they are released. Babies too young to
be adopted do not do well in the shelter environment. They are more susceptible to
viruses that older animals easily withstand and they also do not get the socialization
they need to ensure their adoptability. There is a small window of time in which
kittens and puppies bond to people. Foster homes can provide the loving attention
essential to their happy and healthy development. CAT believes that there are NYCHA
employees who can fill this important role and help save innocent lives.
Vegetarian
Awareness – 97% of the cruelty to animals in this country is against food
animals. Food animal consumption is one of the leading causes of death in the United
States as a result of heart disease, cancers, etc. Food animal production is one of the
leading causes of environmental devastation including the destruction of the rainforest.
Not all CAT members have
to be vegetarians, but all should recognize and understand the consequences of eating
animals. They can also work to improve the lives and deaths of animals raised for
food on intensive factory farms. Pressure from humane groups have recently forced
both McDonalds and Burger King to require the producers of their chicken, beef and pork to
institute more humane factory farming methods thereby improving the existence of these
animals.
CAT sponsors vegetarian
information days and food sampling in recognition of World Farm Animals Day in October and
the Great American Meat-out in March.
Planned programs include:
Make
a Difference Day – each year CAT members will select a project in which its
members will participate on Make a Difference Day.
Pet
Supply Drive – Each year CAT plans to sponsor a NYCHA-wide Pet Supply Drive to
benefit animal shelters in New York City.
Poster
Contests - Recognizing that humane education is key to improving conditions
for – animals, CAT plans to sponsor a poster contest each year to commemorate
“Be Kind to Animals Week.” This is a great way to raise awareness among
young participants, their families and all who view the artwork when it is publicly
displayed.
Spay Day
– Recognizing that companion animal overpopulation is a key reason for much of the
misery and suffering among animals in New York City, CAT will sponsor activities or events
to commemorate Spay Day in February each year. This could include raffling off
spay/neuter certificates, arranging for low cost or free neutering through various humane
organizations.
Pet
Theft Awareness and Pet Tag Day – CAT would like to raise awareness of the
serious issue of pet theft that exists in New York City. Many animals are stolen
each year and later sold to laboratories or dog fighting rings. There are some
simple steps that people can take to protect their companion animals.
In addition, each year
thousands of animals are lost and those lucky enough to end up in shelters cannot be
returned to their families because they did not have identification tags. CAT would
like to provide tags to all NYCHA employees who share their homes with companion animals
and would also like to sponsor microchipping events.
Compassionate Action Alerts
– Never underestimate the power of writing letters, making phone calls, signing
petitions in protest to cruelty. Over the past few years there have been great
strides in improving the lives of animals as a result of pressure put on the entities
responsible for the cruelty. CAT will notify members from time to time of these
alerts and will provide pre-written letters to be signed and mailed. This is a very
easy way to make a big difference.
Informational
Seminars – CAT will offer informational seminars with guest speakers or videos
on a variety of animal issues.
Craft
Fair – In order to raise funds to implement some of the above-mentioned
programs, CAT will participate in planned craft fairs or will hold its own offering items
for animal lovers and their companion animals. CAT will rely on its members to
donate hand-made items to sell.
There are many ways we can make a difference. We would like to
hear your suggestions. Please e-mail your ideas or contact one of the CAT officers
if you would like to add something to the list of planned programs and if you would like
to join this exciting effort. We will be happy to send you a free informational
packet. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!
“Nobody
made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.”
– Edmund Burke
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