Still No Takers...

Earl is still at the office, but I'm not complaining! He is needier than ever and can't seem to get enough love from us. I thought since Buffy and Cujo are in their new home, office productivity would go back up, but I was wrong. Earl cries until you can't take it anymore and give in to playing with him. And it's hard to resist when you seem him jump and run after his toys -- he clears at least three feet! Here he is helping Morris with the mail = ) This great picture was taken by our wonderful co-op student, Carol.

Sorry for not writing over the past couple weeks; we've been busy preparing tax receipts for our monthly donors to our political party, the Animal Alliance Environment Voters Party of Canada. Yes, it is a mouthful -- we're working on it.

Liz just finished editing a paper written by board member and birder Barry Kent-McKay. The reason for the paper is Parks Canada's inclination to slaughter the cormorants on Middle Island, in Lake Erie, instead of leaving the native bird alone. All their reasons are scientifically unsound, so we're doing our best to talk some sense into them.

And it looks like Liz is on her way back to Guelph. They are close to a decision on the trapping issue. Please visit the link below and let council know that traps should be banned, once and for all!

http://www.animalalliance.ca/urgentalert/index.html

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope everyone had a safe and restful holiday.

It was a flurry of activity here at the office over the past few weeks. Liz is madly trying to finish editing a paper, written by Barry Kent-McKay, that is to be submitted to Parks Canada. After we campaigned against the cormorant cull in Presqu'ile by the Ministry of Natural Resources, we must now campaign against Parks Canada, a branch of Environment Canada which seems determined to kill cormorants on Middle Island, in Lake Erie.

Jacqui was burried in requests for Project Jessie packages that people wanted to give away as Christmas gifts. With some help from our wonderful co-op students, she managed to send them all out.

I've been busy with our monthly donor processing, paying bills, and preparing to send out about 800 receipts for people's contributions to our political party.

The good news is that a few kitties found their new homes over the holidays. We still have Earl here at the office. He's as needy and demanding as ever! His pictures don't do him justice; you have to see him in action! For Christmas, we gave him an empty box, which he loves -- as they all do!

And just as an update, please visit www.spaycentral.com for info on the progress of Toronto's first potential low-cost spay / neuter clinic.

The year has started off to be a busy one -- I hope for the animals' sake that it's also a successful one.

Thanks for the visit!

To all of you who visited us yesterday during our drop-in office party, thank you! We had a wonderful time meeting and chatting with you all. And for those who could not attend, perhaps another time. An open-ended invitation is extended to anyone who would like to come to the office for lunch or a quick coffee!

Teddy and Earl were very well behaved during all the chaos of the party; Earl was particularly laid back, contented to sit on anyone's lap, staying wherever he was plunked down! They're both exhausted today, though, poor little guys = ) What patience to put up with people!

That's Bijoux in the picture above. Shelly reports that Bijoux is doing very well, mischievously getting into everything, and getting away with it thanks to that beautiful little face of hers! She has an appointment with the vet soon to decide what to do about her feeding tube. Stay up-to-date by visiting www.projectjessie.ca and clicking on Bijoux's story. We have had such an outpouring of support for Bijoux, we really cannot thank you all enough for your compassion and generosity.

I hope that compassion at this time of year extends to people's dinner tables as they sit down to feast. I'm so thankful for my food as I prepare myself to eat, but I can't help cringing as my family digs into turkey. What a brief, difficult and cruel life those birds must endure. I'll have to make sure I bite my tongue before my convictions get the better of me! All I can do is hope that people are thankful and respectful of the lives that were involuntarily sacrificed for them.

(On that cheery note!) Wishing you all a safe and merry Christmas, happy Hanukkah, Solstice, Kwanzaa or whatever else you celebrate. And thank you again for all your support for our non-human friends = ^..^ =

Join Us In Celebration!

It’s that time of year again! And we’re having a party! Come join us for drinks and vegan snacks. We would love to see friends again and for those whom we have not yet met, finally to put faces to names. And the more, the merrier, so bring a friend!

Date: Sunday December 9, 2007

Time: 12 pm – 7 pm

Location: Animal Alliance office at Broadview and Dundas
221 Broadview Avenue, Suite 101, Toronto, ON M4M 2G3
(please ring the AAC bell outside the front door, street parking available)

Please RSVP: call Lia @ 416-462-9541 ext: 24

A note from Earl Grey, the cat: The wonderful humans here at Animal Alliance have been so kind to take me in. Since I’m new here, if you wouldn’t mind, please leave your canine friend at home. I do apologize but I would be ever so grateful!

Our Earl

You'll have to pardon me, but I can't help talking about Earl Grey. He's so darn cute, and I would have never expected him to come around like he has. Cujo and Buffy have left the office for their foster/forever home, but we're preparing for their possible return (things aren't going as well as we expected with their new cat-mate). In the mean time, since Cujo is gone, Earl has settled in amazingly - surprisingly, they didn't get along at all. He even turned belly-up in my arms last night when I came into the office to visit him - so cute! When he was first brought indoors, from off the street, he barely wanted us to touch him. Now he cries for hugs! He's so gentle and he's finally playing! I think he would probably do best in a home by himself but we're testing out integrating him with yet ANOTHER boy we have here, Teddy. Cross your fingers ; )

Shelly came down to the office a few weeks ago for a staff meeting and brought little Bijoux with her. Another amazing kitty! You would never know that she was sick because she's full of beans now! If you don't know about Bijoux, check out Shelly's blog on the Project Jessie website. Thanks to everyone who donated and sent best wishes for Bijoux.

Liz is in Guelph today on the trapping issue again. The committee is almost at a decision as to how to handle trapping in and around the city. Let's hope the animals win...

It's that time of year again...

Just in time for your Holiday Shopping...

Here’s how you, your family and friends can shop & save at Bay stores across Canada and, raise funds for Animal Alliance of Canada.

The Bay is holding a special day on Saturday November 03, 2007 as a special fundraiser for those Community Groups that are registered with the Hbc Rewards Program. Shoppers with a “Giving Day” ticket will have an opportunity to save 15% on almost every item in the store.

In addition to the savings, ticket holders will be treated to special entertainment and automatically be entered for a chance to win a $2,500.00 Pre-Holiday makeover or one of five $100.00 Hbc Gift Cards.

Each ticket costs only $5.00 and AAC keeps the entire proceeds.

To order tickets, please contact Jacqui at the office (416)-462-9541 ex 22 or Jacqui@animalalliance.ca or use this link (https://wwws.vex.net/aac/donation.py) to order online.

Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the 4th Annual Project Jessie Reunion. We raised over $1,000!!! Tail wags until next year!

Some good news: Tabby from our office and a few other kitties in Shelly's care have all found wonderful homes. And the other week, just before a meeting, Karen Levenson (our Guelph staff member) found a wandering kitty outside our office and scooped him up -- that's him in the pic. We had him neutered, treated for fleas and had a broken tooth removed. Since we couldn't decide on a name, the vet's office granted him the title of Earl Gray. He's just learning and becoming comfortable enough to play and sit in our laps. No more worries about his next meal or trying to stay warm. He has a comfy little bed, a food bowl that's always full and Buffy and Cujo to keep him company when we're not here, mind you, I'm not sure he's too thrilled about that : )

It's good that Earl will live a leisurely life now, but he reminds us that there are so many others out there struggling, with winter on its way. Every group will tell you that this has been a particularly bad year for cats. Unless Toronto begins to consider improving its by-laws, the situation for cats will only worsen. I'm going to sound like Bob Barker but please remember to have your pets spayed or neutered. This will save generations from a harsh and inhumane life. And please consider adopting when looking for your next companion animal. Many shelters and small groups have animals with amazing personalities, fitting into all different types of lifestyles -- young animals, old ones, playful ones, lethargic ones, you name it!

If you want to know more about Earl or any other Project Jessie adoptee, just e-mail or call us. Thanks in advance!