SPEAK FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T
IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT AN ANIMAL IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
PLEASE CALL ANIMAL CONTROL,
202-576-6664
OUR OFFICERS ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP 24/7



Friday, May 24, 2013

Busy Students Make Time for the Animals

I was invited to visit Newport Mill Middle School's Green Club and Student Government yesterday.  I knew that the Montgomery County, Maryland students were collecting linens for the animals and I figured I'd carry out a bag or two.      After my visit a half dozen students packet my car with boxes and bags of the donated goods. 
We have lots and lots of puppies right now, which means we use lots and lots of linens.   
This is a busy time of year for students -- especially middle and high school students -- with exams and end-of-the-year activities.  Obviously, not too busy to think of the cats and dogs at the Washington Animal Rescue League.  Thanks Newport Mill Middle School Green Club and Student Government members!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Be Kind, Prevent Dog Bites

So, this is National Dog Bite Prevention Week -- there is a week or day to commemorate  everything.   Be Kind to Animals Month started out nearly 100 years ago as Be Kind to Animals Week.   I'm a little perplexed by both of these celebratory events  -- Be Kind to Animals and Dog Bite Prevention should be every day, all day, 365 days of the years.  
If we are kind to animals, train them well, make them integral parts of our family and if we don't tease , taunt,  or frighten dogs (and cats), we can be kind to animals while preventing dog bites! 

Friday, May 10, 2013

Kudos to the Lafayette Elementary School 7

When the League received a check on school letterhead,  I thought that there must have been a school organized event that netted $225 for the animals.  But, then I read further and learned that the money was raised by seven very compassionate and proactive Lafayette Elementary School fifth graders.  Torin, Anaily, Iona, Claire, Emma, Miranda and Daniela created  Animalicious (check out animalicious.webs.com) as a way to help animals.  And, according to Anaily, it all started when she decided to make a piggy bank for her sister!   Lots of cute piggy banks are pictured on the group's web site.  The girls were eager to acknowledge the help and support of their awesome art teacher, Ms. Laurie McLaughlin. The friends also sold cookies at school basketball games to raise money the animals, and they  are planning more events that will benefit the animals, including an outdoor movie night! 

Visiting the girls was a great way to celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week.  Thank you, Anaily, Torin, Iona, Daniela, Miranda, Emma & Claire, for caring and working to make the world a better place for animals!

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

E. L. Haynes Public Charter School 5th Graders Surprise Me With Their Gratitude!

The saying,  a picture is worth a thousand words, does not adequately describe this photo of Nigel admiring a framed thank you photo, colorful notes of appreciation, and a jug of money collected for the animals at the League.   Actually, when the fifth graders at E.L. Haynes Public Charter School presented me with the plaque highlighting their trip to the League, I was totally speechless.  Not only was the thoughtful  gesture totally unexpected, but the fifth graders in Mr. Goff's health class and Ms. Hutchins' math class have demonstrated kindness to animals (and to each other) all year long.   I've written about them several times highlighting their posters proclaiming kindness and their letters to the president asking that animal issues be taken seriously.  Caring about animals comes naturally to this group of soon-to-be middle schoolers.  I am really going to miss them next year.  But, as I tell them, they make my job so much easier -- I know that each and every one of them are life-long advocates for  animals.  Spreading the word is what will make a difference and these kids are all about making a difference!

Nigel, obviously, was doing his best to read every comment! 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Boy Panther Doing Quite Nicely!


Minke Macan lounging & posing.
There's only one thing better than watching an animal go home, it's getting an update from that forever home. 

It is well-documented that I am total mush in the company of big, hunky male cats.  The cat, formerly known as Mickey, and now and forever known as  Minke Macan, is one of those cats.   Immediately upon meeting the panther-looking cat, I was fantasizing about him moving into my house, sleeping on my bed and putting that troublesome little Charlotte in her place.  He paraded around Kitty City like he owned it, and gave head-nudges that could nearly knock you over.  And, just two weeks ago he moved to his forever home -- not mine -- and has settled in quite nicely.

His new family gave him a fitting name.  Minke Macan means "Boy Panther" in Indonesian, they reported.  Minke is the last in a long line of palace cats (miniature panthers) from the Islamic kingdoms of Java. Minke's family came to the US as part of a trade mission in the latter part of the 16th century. Minke has now settled into daily life consisting of taking over our lounge in full stretch, chasing our feet in bed and leaping to his high perch on top of the scratch tower. His adoptive parents look forward to many years of love and affection with our own royal panther.