#Volunteer efforts at animal sanctuaries

[lions-tigers-and-bears-blog]

Helping Animals through Sanctuary Volunteering

As a volunteer, you'll have access to a wide range of roles, each one vital to the daily operations and well-being of the animals. You can pick volunteer programs that match your preference and experience level. Helping animals through sanctuary volunteering involves role of volunteer that makes meaningful impact every day which is given as follows:

Feed and Care for the Animals

Animal care is one of the greatest joys of volunteering at an animal sanctuary. As a volunteer, you’ll assist sanctuary staff in feeding and care for the animals. You’ll help prepare and deliver meals to animals, from majestic big cats to curious bears. It’s more than just feeding them; it’s about ensuring each animal gets the nutrition they need to stay healthy and happy.

You’ll also help with general care tasks like cleaning habitats, providing fresh water, and maybe even grooming. It’s hands-on work, but it’s fulfilling and rewarding when you love animals like we do!

Create Enrichment Activities

Animals in sanctuaries need mental stimulation for their well-being. Enrichment activities keep them engaged and healthy as they mimic the challenges they would face in the wild. As a volunteer, you might help create toys, set up challenges, or organize activities that keep the animals engaged and active.

For example, you may set up scent trails for the big cats to follow, hide food in puzzle feeders for the bears to solve, etc. These activities are essential for encouraging natural behaviors and keeping the animals mentally sharp.

Participate in Supporting Medical Care

You won’t be performing medical procedures, but you may still help support the health of the animals. This could involve assisting with routine health checks, helping administer medications, or supporting the sanctuary staff during treatments. Your help ensures that the animals get the care they need, and you’ll learn a lot about each animal's health and welfare along the way.

Help Maintain Their Homes Your role will also involve keeping the animals’ habitats clean and safe. This could mean cleaning enclosures, repairing fences, and ensuring everything is secure. It’s physically demanding work, but it’s also deeply satisfying to know that you provide a comfortable and safe environment for the animals. Plus, you’ll see firsthand how much they appreciate a clean, well-maintained home.

Grounds keeping

As a volunteer in this department, you'll spend most of your time outdoors, doing hands-on physical work. Understanding native and exotic plants, landscaping, and gardening is helpful. Your tasks include grounds keeping activities such as trimming, pruning, mulching, raking, and weeding. You might also be asked to perform maintenance tasks, ensuring the sanctuary's grounds stay in great shape.

Participate In Educational Programs and Fundraising

You might help with educational programs, sharing the stories of the animals and the importance of conservation with visitors or school groups. This helps inspire others to care about animal welfare and can be a rewarding part of the experience.

You could also assist with fundraising efforts, whether it’s organizing events or helping produce content for some of our social media campaigns. Every bit of support helps the sanctuary continue its important work.

[felinefractious]

Warning: This post will contain mention of animal death, animal injury and burns. If you wish to donate without further information here is the link.

If you at all follow the animal rescue community online you may have already heard about this tragedy, I have even seen articles out of the UK and India about what happened - the international rescue communityis shaken by the enormity of this loss.

At around 7:15am EST yesterday afire occured at the sanctuary in Medford, New York on Long Island. It ultimately claimed the life of the owner and sources estimate at least 100 feline residents, leaving a potential ~200 more cats in need of aid.

This is local to me.

The clinic I work at is not one of the primary veterinarians that served the sanctuary, but some of our clients are volunteers there and would bring some of the cats to us… we have patients who we don’t know yet what happened to.

This is a link to the official fundraiser for the care of the surviving cats. 🔗

If you live on Long Island or the surrounding area there is a desperate need for fosters so the rescued cats have somewhere to go. I have seen The North Fork Country Kids and Strong Island Animal Rescue League put out a call for fosters.

Both of these organizations are accepting donations directly in addition to the main GFM.

Make a Donation to North Fork Country Kids

Make a Donation to Strong Island Animal Rescue League

There is also a seperate GFM for a cat named Crystal who was rescued from the fire and is being treated at an emergency and specialty hospital, the fundraiser was made by an employee of the hospital who is fostering her.

A link to this post will be added to my pinned and I’ll update this post as information becomes available.

I do not intend to turn reblogs on for the post, I don’t want to deal with comments… I’m just talking to my followers. Thank you for understanding.

04/01 Update [Link 🔗]

A warehouse has been secured in Holbrook, NY to work out of as a makeshift sanctuary to temporarily house the cats as they are vetted and fosters as sought. Paws of War is assisting with their mobile veterinary clinic, they don’t appear to be requesting donations for the situation at this time.

04/09 Update

04/04 The fire was not deemed suspicious and arson isn’t being suspected, a definite cause hasn’t been identified. [Link 🔗]

04/05 57 cats were removed from the property, 5 cases were in critical condition and severely burned. [Link 🔗]

04/06 Cat Wrangler Rescue formally joined the trapping efforts. [Link 🔗]

04/06 148 cats and received FeLV/FIV testing, vaccinations, flea/tick treatment, deworming and microchipping from 50+ volunteer veterinary staff. [Link 🔗]

04/08 Rescue agencies were finally permitted access to the home, an additional 54 deceased cats were recovered on top of the original 100 reported. [Link 🔗] [Link 🔗]

04/08 One of the cats rescued by NFCK dubbed “Tuxie” passed away [Link 🔗]

04/08 Wipeout is a cat from the sanctuary rescued by NFCK and is doing well. [Link 🔗]

04/09 Crystal passed away. [Link 🔗]

04/09 Another injured cat from the sanctuary was found by a neighbor. [Link 🔗]

04/09 Moonshine/Salem and French Fry continue to do well, French Fry begins laser treatment for his paws. [Link 🔗] [Link 🔗]

04/09 Sir Arthur is an FIV+ cat from the sanctuary rescued by NFCK and is doing well. [Link 🔗]

04/09 AnimalKind has a FeLV+ survivor rescued from the sanctuary that is available for adoption. [Link 🔗]

04/10 Update

Cat Wrangler Rescue trapped 14 sanctuary survivors. [Link 🔗]

20 cats were brought into the temporary location, an estimated 20 remain at the burned down sanctuary needing to be trapped. [Link 🔗]

Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons took 8 sanctuary survivors. [Link 🔗]

Bideawee took 8 sanctuary survivors. [Link 🔗]

Little Shelter also took some sanctuary survivors. [Link 🔗]

North Shore Animal League took 20 sanctuary survivors to be housed at their “Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center.” [Link 🔗]

Southhampton Animal Shelter Foundation has also taken some sanctuary survivors. [Link 🔗]

04/13 Update

04/12 One of the burn survivors passed away. [Link 🔗]

04/12 Moonshine/Salem and Salty French Fry continue to recover. [Link 🔗]

04/13 Last Chance Animal Rescue took 12 samctuary survivors. [Link 🔗]

04/13 The Patricia H Ladew Foundation took 4 sanctuary survivors. [Link 🔗]

04/17 Update [Link 🔗]

The North Fork Animal Welfare League took 14 survivors.

04/22 Update

46 cats were brought into the temporary location, an estimated 10 remain at the burned down sanctuary needing to be trapped. 1 cat is being treated for FIP. [Link 🔗]

Paws of War and Strong Island caught another injured survivor in a neighbors yard after receiving a report. [Link 🔗]

The badly burned cat caught by Strong Island on 4/09, named “Mittens,” continues to receive veterinary care and may need part of his tail amputated. [Link 🔗]

04/24 Update

04/23 A sanctuary cat named “Dusty” has been adopted out through North Fork Country Kids to a loving pet home. [Link 🔗]

04/23 There are currently 310 cats in the sanctuary database with more waiting to be added. [Link 🔗]

04/24 4 of the cats North Fork Animal Welfare League took have been introduced to one of their cat rooms. [Link 🔗]

04/24 The cat famously rescued from a tree stump in a neighbors yard, now named “Shelley,” is in the care of AWAP and looking better through her long road to recovery. [Link 🔗]

04/24 A cat with burned paws is doing welll in AWAP’s care, named “Sebastian.” [Link 🔗]

04/25 Update

French Fry is moving from the hospital into his foster home. [Link 🔗]

Moonshine was able to leave 24-hours critical care, a tremendous landmark even though he still has a long recovery ahead of him. [Link 🔗]

Final Hope Animal Rescue took in 4 sanctuary survivors that are FeLV+ [Link 🔗]

05/05 Update [Link 🔗]

TNR Taskforce is fundraising to purchase an airconditioner for Final Hope Animal Rescue to benefit the FeLV+ cats they took in.

[call-me-casual]

Okay, so I’m still thinking a lot about that au I came up with like what, a month ago? Two? It’s still marinading in my brain

But at the same time I’ve come up with something that sort of branches off of that but takes a slightly different approach.

I’m calling it the Anderson Rescue and Conservation Centre AU. Basically instead of being brought to life by humans and their dubious methods, in this universe marionettes are an entire living species. They look exactly like they do irl and move the same, but are alive. How exactly is still fairly unknown, they are probably part of the reason humans developed the uncanny valley and they’re an endangered species due to over hunting and habitat encroachment. So in England (because that’s where the studios were), there’s a rescue centre that works pretty much like a private RSPCA for marionettes, rescuing them, nursing them back to health and ultimately releasing them back into the wild if the individual is capable of surviving on its own. If not (or if they want to closely monitor the individual), then they live in the sanctuary.

This is (rather obviously) Thunderbirds oriented, but if people want to it can include basically any and every puppet-based production from AP films (or whatever they’re called). I know that most of the main TOS cast would be permanent fixtures at the centre, such as:

Lady Penelope - I envision her as having been hand raised by humans, and is as a result very calm and composed when compared to her “wild” counterparts. She works as a sort of ambassador, helping distrustful marionettes come out of their shells and being involved in education efforts to better teach people about marionettes. As an addition to this, Parker may be a marionette who has always been around her (perhaps they were rescued from the same place), or she was introduced to him in a similar vain to how some places will give grieving animal parents orphaned young (so this would sort of align towards the TAG dynamic).

The Tracy family - the brothers were all brought to the rescue at a very young age along with their father after being found living in a collapsed building by a volunteer. They don’t really remember life before the sanctuary, and for whatever reason couldn’t be released back into the wild. Either they each have a problem that would hinder their survival chances or are simply too socialised to humans. As a result, they’re in training to take up a similar role to Lady P, sort of serving as mascots for the rescue. Their father Jeff was a bit of a legend to humans and his own kind for his years of daredevil escapes and trickery, rescuing fellow marionettes from hunters.

This is just another idea toying around in my brain. Like the others I don’t know when I’ll really have a good chance to put them to writing or art, but this is completely open for anyone to run wild with. And like I said, it doesn’t just have to be Thunderbirds! It can be anything supermarionation!

[tboycamilo]

in the spirit of the season (mutuals posting about their encanto aus) i wanted to post about mine bc i love them and am not active enough on here and wanna change that bc sharing my stuff is fun! so without further ado here they are lol

next gen au

pretty self explanatory. the story outlines what all the madrigals (mostly the grandkids) are up to in the years following the movie. mirabel gradually takes on more of a leadership role as time passes and eventually becomes the matriarch after alma's death and with enough time to prepare for the role. under her leadership, the madrigals are less shoehorned into roles and are encouraged to express themselves more freely, but being the leader still isn't easy and things still aren't perfect - while alma is still alive, mirabel often finds herself going to her for advice and repairing their bond further in the process. she also gets a gf (lorena), i've been playing around with the idea of her being an outsider that finds her way into the encanto but i would have to flesh that plot out a little more before i make it official. dolores eventually marries mariano, but only on her terms - she realizes quickly after the movie that though she loves mariano, she wants to take things slow, and mariano is more than happy to respect that. he puts in a lot of effort to understand how her gift works and help her out with it whenever he can, and for once, she feels like the one being heard. isabela, now free of her old role as the golden child, begins to let her more adventurous side out, exploring the outskirts and forests of the encanto to observe the plant life. she hones her gift and is able to bring even more exotic plant species to the encanto and starts up a very successful garden. she also ends up marrying two village women - lilli and rosa - and the three of them adopt a daughter, jacinda, together and spoil her rotten. lilli runs a flower shop and isa helps her out immensely with this. luisa finally learns to take it easy, prioritizing rest and relaxation after so many years of working hard to serve the community - though she definitely still loves to lift and hang out with the donkeys in her spare time bc old habits die hard. she probably takes over the care and raising of the donkeys as a whole bc they love her. she marries a village woman, inés, and they adopt two daughters, valentina and ciela. camilo is actually the first grandkid to settle down - he marries his childhood best friend and love of his life marco, and the two of them have six children together - amelia, imelda, brunito, ignacio, felipe, and sofia. they have their hands quite full with fatherhood but on top of that marco works as a teacher at the encanto's school while camilo continues to volunteer in the community, eventually becoming the drama director and soccer coach for the school. antonio grows up and starts his own animal sanctuary in the encanto that becomes wildly successful. he enlists dolores' help to scope out any injured or sick animals in the forests and nurses them back to health at the sanctuary, and he often accompanies isa on her trips to the forest to keep taxonomy records of the encanto's diverse wildlife. he never had much of an interest in romance - though plenty of people swoon over his kindness to the animals - but he is very fulfilled nonetheless and couldn't be happier helping take care of his animal friends. i have a more detailed timeline and bios for the kids that i'll be posting eventually but this is the main rundown of where the grandkids are at years down the line!

swap

essentially follows the plot of the movie but the sides of the family swap roles. instead of alma, pedro is the head of the family. pepa has the gift of healing food and felix is her clumsy husband, camilo is the golden child with the wonderful floral gift, dolores is the middle child with the gift of super strength, and antonio is the baby of his side of the family, cursed to a giftless existence (and being the main character of the storyline). on the other side of the family, julieta's emotions control the weather while agustin keeps her calm, luisa is the eldest with the ability to hear a pin drop from miles away, isabela is the mischievous shapeshifting middle child, and mirabel is the youngest member of the family and gains the ability to speak with animals. bruno is still bruno.  did i make this au entirely to put camilo in pretty pink outfits and make him a mean annoying gay? maybe.

pirates

the warm color family is a fearsome and renowned pirate crew descended from the notorious husband-wife pirate duo alma and pedro madrigal (the latter is dead and the former has long since retired), with pepa as the captain and felix as the first mate. pepa was estranged from her mother and siblings in her youth as she attempted to learn more about her parents' past, and she soon set out on her own to live the pirate life that alma tried so hard to keep her children out of. in the meantime, julieta and her family form their own rival crew and set sail in search of pepa to take their vengeance. bruno tries his best to be a good mama's boy and stay home, but he is soon taken hostage by the fearless captain hernando, a legendary pirate who has feuded with both madrigal sisters and their crews for a while now. he grows rather fond of his bargaining chip over time and bruno eventually becomes the captain's lover and first mate. when the sisters finally put aside their squabbles and unite to save their brother from their enemy's clutches, it's a very awkward family reunion. also everyone has their gifts and uses them to help their crew in one way or another. eventually when the two sides of the family unite, the grandkids take up a ship of their own with mirabel as the new captain. 

roommates

marco and camilo are college roommates with luca and alberto. that's literally it no linear plot just vibes. luca is a first year astronomy student, alberto is a second year student and undeclared, marco and camilo are third years and marco is majoring in education while being on the soccer team and camilo is majoring in theatre (🤢). alberto and camilo despise each other but also camilo is lowkey crushing. camilo and marco are already dating and alberto and luca are also definitely together but heavily in denial about it. they fight over dishes being left in the sink and decorate their dorm all cute

the fall 

wrote a ten chapter fic about this one so read that if you wanna know what it entails but tl;dr au where the family never recovers after the fall of casita and they go their separate ways, with dolores camilo and isa fully moving out, their whereabouts unknown - until, ten years later, mirabel takes it upon herself to track them down, reunite the family once and for all, and save the miracle for real this time. will she succeed? what have the runaways all been up to over these past ten years? read it and find out i'm not telling you! also this fic/au is quite old compared to the others so no marco 😔 fly high king 

mamma mia 

the silliest dumbest most self indulgent au ever. camilo centric of course. the storyline is literally just mamma mia but with camilo. he has twin daughters and one of them (ima) is getting married and wants to invite her other biological father to the wedding - the only problem is she doesn't know who that is, and if camilo's old diary describing all his old hookups in detail is to be believed,  there's three possibilities - marco osma, dante velazquez, and nicolas sorelli (the latter two are ocs, i'll probably post their bios at some point lol also nicolas is trans so he's definitely not the other dad but he's stealth so he's just going along for the ride). she invites all three of them to her wedding and they reunite with camilo for the first time in twenty years. drama ensues. camilo marries marco at the end regardless of if he's the dad or not (but he probably is - they never find out for sure). isa is tanya (so lilli is pepper ofc) and mirabel is rosie (except she doesn't end up with one of the dads at the end bc she actually respects herself). ima's fiancées identity is yet to be determined bc i don't have a partner oc for her but i do know she's a lesbian so. gay greek weddings! camilo in overalls! love wins!

runaway camilo 

this one is a rewrite of the canon plot to a degree but not really enough to be considered a full on au. plays with the scrapped concept of camilo looking completely different after the fall of casita that didn't make it into the final movie, which is like one of my favorite concepts ever especially because of how easily it plays into trans camilo. in this rewrite, camilo has basically used his gift to masculinize himself perpetually since his ceremony, which all but cures his dysphoria - that is, until casita falls, he loses the gift he had become dependent on, and it all blows up in his face. he's unrecognizable when the dust clears, and rather than be seen in such a state, he flees the scene and goes missing just around the same time as mirabel. the family is split as pepa and felix go looking for their son while the cool color family goes looking for mirabel, and both are found within a few days - camilo in the depths of the forest, skin scraped and clothes ragged from running into the forest with reckless abandon, practically digging his own grave and ready to give up for good. when he's found, it takes a LONG time for him to allow anyone to see him, much less recover from the trauma. the rewrite basically involves these events and the aftermath. luckily camilo does get his gift back when casita is rebuilt but the scars are forever and he probably still has nightmares about losing his gift well into adulthood and has to learn to become comfortable going without his gift for short bouts of time in order to get more comfortable lest the worst case scenario happens again! more or less a transmilo angst fest add-on to the main plot of the movie. mimi needs a hug 💔

[realinspirations]

Environmental Conservation: Protecting Our Only Home

At its heart, environmental conservation manner defensive natural assets like air, water, soil, plants, and animals. It's approximately ensuring that nature’s systems keep to characteristic for all lifestyles paperwork, together with human beings.

6 Importance Of Environmental Conservations

There are  fundamental aspects to conservation:

Preservation: Keeping ecosystems untouched and wild (like country wide parks and natural world reserves).

Sustainable use: Using natural assets wisely so that they aren’t depleted (like accountable farming and fishing).

Both tactics are necessary to keep the sensitive balance of the Earth’s ecosystems.

🏞️ Why is Conservation So Important?

Nature is not just "obtainable" someplace. It’s woven into every a part of our daily lives.

Clean Air and Water: Trees filter out pollution from the air. Wetlands purify water certainly.

Food Security: Healthy soils and pollinators like bees are vital for growing food.

Climate Stability: Forests, oceans, and grasslands soak up carbon dioxide, assisting regulate the Earth’s temperature.

Biodiversity: Every species performs a role in keeping ecosystems resilient.

When we wreck nature, we harm ourselves. The upward thrust in floods, wildfires, and extreme weather is a loud caution from the planet itself.

Saving the surroundings is not just about shielding flora and fauna; it’s about securing our own survival.

🌎 Major Environmental Challenges We Face

Even even though consciousness is developing, our planet faces serious threats:

Deforestation: Forests are reduce down for timber, agriculture, and urban growth. We're dropping vital lungs of the Earth at an alarming fee.

Pollution: Plastic waste clogs oceans. Toxic chemicals poison rivers. Air pollution chokes towns.

Climate Change: Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, factories, and agriculture entice warmth, causing global warming.

Biodiversity Loss: Thousands of species cross extinct each year, weakening environment health.

Each of these demanding situations is interconnected. Tackling them calls for each man or woman motion and global cooperation.

You might wonder, “Can one man or woman certainly make a distinction?

The answer is really sure. Collective action starts with person steps. 

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Cut down on unmarried-use plastics.

Recycle paper, glass, steel, and electronics.

Repair items rather than changing them.

2. Conserve Water and Energy

Fix leaks and turn off taps.

Switch to LED bulbs.

Unplug electronics while now not in use.

Embrace renewable energy where feasible.

Three. Support Sustainable Brands

Choose products made with green substances.

Support organizations that use moral practices.

Four. Eat Mindfully

Eat extra plant-based meals.

Buy nearby and organic produce.

Reduce food waste with the aid of planning food carefully.

Five. Plant Trees and Create Green Spaces

Trees clean the air, provide color, and help biodiversity.

6. Educate and Advocate

Talk approximately conservation with friends and circle of relatives.

Support rules that protect the environment.

Volunteer for cleanups or nearby conservation projects.

Small behavior stack up. Millions of small moves create huge ripple results.

🐝 Conservation Success Stories That Inspire

Amidst the demanding situations, there are remarkable memories of desire:

The Bald Eagle Recovery: In the U.S., bald eagles had been almost extinct within the twentieth century because of pesticide use. Thanks to conservation efforts and a ban on harmful chemicals, bald eagles have made a effective comeback.

The Greening of Rwanda: After years of deforestation, Rwanda released competitive tree-planting campaigns. 

Ocean Sanctuaries: Countries round the sector are putting apart large marine regions as covered sanctuaries, giving fish and marine life a hazard to recover and thrive.

These memories remind us: while we care, we will heal what’s damaged.

🌍 The Future is in Our Hands

Environmental conservation isn't always a luxurious; it’s a necessity. 

Imagine a destiny in which:

Rivers run clean and full of existence.

Forests hum with birds and bugs.

Cities breathe sparkling air.

Children climb bushes in preference to listening to about them in history books.

[thegoddamnwordsmith]

Vote the EcoVivarium Reptile Rescue in the 2024 All-in 4 Change grant program!

Hello, everyone!

Harrah’s Resort Southern California has opened voting for their annual “All-in 4 Change” grant program, where fifteen non-profits in the San Diego, Riverside, and Orange County areas are awarded a portion of a $150,000 cash grant to fund their efforts in helping people and animals through the various programs they run. This year, the non-profit reptile rescue and living museum, the EcoVivarium Reptile Sanctuary, is one of the nominees. EcoVivarium is a cause very close to home for me – members of my family either work there or volunteer there, and we have adopted a number of animals through them, which is why I would like to ask that anyone interested please cast a vote for them. Each person can vote once per day, so if you’re so inclined, please help get EcoVivarium to the top slot! Voting is open until August 28th.

What is the EcoVivarium Reptile Sanctuary?

Located in Escondido, EcoVivarium is one of the largest reptile, amphibian, and arthropod rescues in the United States. Since 2009, they have been devoted to the health and well-being of the animals that come through their doors, and educating children and adults alike about these unique, often misunderstood and misrepresented creatures. EcoVivarium handles many educational programs, both on-site and abroad, as well as birthday parties and events, where people can learn about lizards, snakes, turtles, tortoises, frogs, and arthropods first-hand, even gaining hands-on experiences with some of them. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about these animals, and has the patience to help even the most misgiving of people the chance to understand these wonderful creatures. In addition to their extensive special programs, EcoVivarium hosts regular on-site tours, both for walk-in customers and advanced reservations. Visitors will get the chance to pet and even hold a variety of animals, as well as meet some of the Animal Ambassadors, such as Ed the Galapagos Tortoise or Mac the Giant Water Monitor Lizard.

On top of this, EcoVivarium also has limited adoption options you can explore if you would like to add a new member to your family and provide a forever home to one of these wonderful animals. As a reptile rescue, they receive many animals regularly, either due to owner neglect or inability to provide for them, or due to injuries and special needs. Many animals will end up calling EcoVivarium their home, due to factors requiring special care (injuries, trauma-related temperament issues, and/or permit-related legal issues regarding private ownership), but still many more are ready to find a permanent family beyond the facility, one who is ready to love and care for a unique, but incredible friend. As of this writing, there are over 400 animals in EcoVivarium’s care, and with so many of them needing special attention, finding homes for those who are capable of being adopted out is a high priority.

EcoVivarium is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, with all funds going directly back into animal care and facility maintenance. The organization is handled by a small staff of animal care professionals and educators, supplemented with a number of volunteers of all ages. For more information, please feel free to contact me, or you can contact them directly at Home - EcoVivarium.

Aside from this grant program, they can be donated to directly as well. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

[nickeverdeen]

Can you do a match up for me (TUA/TSA)?

(Sorry if this is super long. I love to overshare and spill everything about myself to strangers on the Internet. Also idk where to put it but I'm a mix of Genderfluid and Agender, and use They/He)

Physical appearance: weirdly wavy medium length dark brown hair w/ shaved bits on the front sides, dark brown eyes, pale-ish skin (like you can see my veins *very* clearly in some spots) with acne scars on most parts of my body

Main aesthetic/vibe: dark academia mixed with stoner friend (like t-shirts that say "Sorry Queen! I only date crack sluts" in mismatched text colours used like a sweater vest for a honestly professional outfit)

Personality: Outwardly chill, go-with-the-flow, unattached, because of years of trauma and conditioning to not need/ask for anything. Inwardly clingy, in need of some semblance of routine (like two tasks have a specific order, or a weekly event can't be on a different day)

Extra notes: "low-maintenance" Autistic (I could go into GREAT detail why I dislike people calling me that, but TL;WT (too long; won't tell), it's not a low maintenance thing for me), sometimes I will completely space out and not listen while mentally trying to get myself to listen, I like to doodle (blobby cats and underdetailed eyes are my absolute favorites)

(Again. Super sorry if it's too long! Also may I be 🍿 anon (if the emoji doesn't work, it supposed to be popcorn))

Hey, it’s okay if it’s a bit longer I don’t mind at all! And I’m sorry that it’s this short. And ofc you can be 🍿 annon! Love the idea of it

————————————————————

Your TUA match is…

Klaus Hargreeves

Klaus is initially drawn to your unique appearance and style, finding your dark academia mixed with stoner aesthetic intriguing and refreshing

You share a love for quirky t-shirts and he often exchanges humorous ones as gifts

Klaus admires your outwardly chill demeanor but quickly realizes there’s more to you beneath the surface

You bond over your shared love for horror podcasts, spending lazy afternoons listening to your and his favorite episodes together

Despite your outwardly unattached nature, Klaus senses your inward clinginess and makes an effort to provide stability and routine in the relationship

Klaus is patient and understanding when you space out or get lost in your thoughts, knowing it’s a part of your amazing nature

You might enjoy doodling together, often creating whimsical drawings of blobby cats and abstract designs

He’s terrible at drawing btw

Klaus is fascinated by your underdetailed eye doodles and encourages you to explore your artistic talents further

You have a mutual love for music and often introduce each other to new songs and artists

Klaus surprises you with impromptu dance parties in the living room, bringing joy and laughter to the relationship

You might bond over your shared experiences of trauma and find solace in each other’s understanding and support

Klaus helps you navigate social situations and provides comfort during overwhelming moments

Klaus encourages you to embrace your genderfluid and agender identity, creating a safe and accepting space for you to express yourself

You have a playful banter and enjoy teasing each other in a lighthearted manner

Klaus is protective of you and always stands up for you when others make insensitive comments about you

Klaus surprises you with thoughtful gifts that show he pays attention to your interests and preferences

Klaus introduces you to his unconventional family, and you quickly bond with other Hargreeves siblings

You share a love for reading and often spend quiet evenings curled up together with your favorite books

Klaus is your biggest cheerleader and encourages you to pursue your passions and dreams

You have a mutual love for animals and often volunteer together at animal shelters or wildlife sanctuaries

Klaus is your rock if you ever have panic attacks or moments of anxiety, offering comfort and reassurance

You might enjoy cooking together and often experiment with new recipes and cuisines

Klaus is your confidant and trusted advisor, offering sage advice and guidance whenever you face challenges

Klaus loves to kiss you on the cheek, but mainly lips and giving you hugs

Your TSA match is…

Alphonso Hargreeves

Alphonso himself is sorta insecure about how he looks

He fakes so much self-confidence in front of you

If you’re ever even a little bit insecure about the way you look be prepared to be given tons of compliments

He finds your choice of clothesing funny

In the good way

He actually likes it, but wouldn’t wear anything like that as he prefers the more casual clothes

Alphonoso may not look like it, but he actually likes your dark academy aesthic

Steals buys you books or pretty much anything, but won’t tell you he stole it

He couldn’t mind less about you having autism or spacing out

Sometimes Alphonso himself spaces out for some time

Seeing you doodle cute things he tried it few times too, but it wasn’t as good as yours

But he still tried and asked for your opinion

Alphonso likes your chill and go-with-the-flow behaivor and even when there’s a fight going on between someone he might just sit down next to you and offer you some food

In all honesty he’d do his best to hide his excitment during listening to your horror potcasts with you

He wants you to be happy

Alphonose just like Klaus makes an effort to create stability and routine in your relationship

He’s very indecisive about practically everything

Blue or white socks? He has no idea and might spend good 30 minutes trying to pick one out

So it’s either you or Jayme helping him with this one

He might not show a lot of affection, but his feelings for you are serious and valid as hell

Don’t ever doubt it

Alphonso may try to make a deal with you that you’d go and seek help about your trauma to someone professional

But if that would be too uncomfortable he’d stop and understand as he respects your boundaries

Alphonso would wait some time before introducing you to anyone from his family

Jayme would be the first one, though

They may have some comments about his reputation, but Alphonso is quick to defend you and himself

Whenever there’s an argument he might cover your ears if that’d help??

I mean this man has no idea how to comfort people or to know if the individual even needs comfort

He’s not really into PDA, but will hold your hand

But in private…

[francaoliveira]

look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

🦥ʙɪᴏɢʀᴀᴘʜʏ || 🦥ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀꜱꜱ || 🦥ʙʟᴜᴇ ʜᴀʀʙᴏʀ, ɪʟʟɪɴᴏɪꜱ

🦋ꜰʀᴀɴᴄᴀ ᴅᴇʟꜰɪɴᴀ ᴏʟɪᴠᴇɪʀᴀ🦋

ᴀɢᴇ & ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ: twenty-nine & june 22nd, 1995.

ɢᴇɴᴅᴇʀ & ᴘʀᴏɴᴏᴜɴꜱ: cis-woman & she/her/hers.

ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ & ꜱᴇxᴜᴀʟ ᴏʀɪᴇɴᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ: panromantic pansexual.

ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴꜱʜɪᴘ ꜱᴛᴀᴛᴜꜱ: single.

ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ: mama to four animals: iria the scarlet macaw ; dulce the iguana ; bruna the guinea pig ; philip the dark calico cat.

ɴᴇɪɢʜʙᴏᴜʀʜᴏᴏᴅ: forest lake.

ᴄᴜʀʀᴇɴᴛ ᴄᴀʀᴇᴇʀꜱ: vet tech at bahia wildlife sanctuary ; part-time cashier at earthwave ; part-time zoology masters student at blue harbor university.

ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ��ʟᴀɪᴍ: giovana cordeiro.

🐊ᴛʟᴅʀ ( trigger warnings: heart attack & parental death )

ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙʟᴜᴇ ʜᴀʀʙᴏʀ, ɪʟʟɪɴᴏɪꜱ…

For the first five years of Franca Delfina Oliveira's life, she grew up in Salvadar, Bahia, Brazil with her parents, Rafael and Bruna Oliveira, and her older sister, Beatriz. Both of her parents were massive animal and nature lovers and held careers in helping the planet. The couple had always wanted to start up their own conservation organization after working with a wide variety of them in their home of Salvador. And so, after moving to the States when their daughters were young, they began to work towards making their life-long dream come true.

ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙʟᴜᴇ ʜᴀʀʙᴏʀ, ɪʟʟɪɴᴏɪꜱ…

The Bahia Wildlife Sanctuary has been opened since 2004, and Franca's whole world had been the sanctuary and the Oliveira family farm. Growing up and knowing what she wanted to do, she eventually earned her Wildlife Conservation degree through Unity Environmental University distant learning, spending those years traveling around the globe and volunteering for a wide variety of organizations, especially those for wildlife and conservation efforts. After earning her degree, she moved to Denver full-time and spent twenty-four months getting her vet tech degree from Bel Rea Vet Tech school. She got a job as a vet tech at the Denver Aquarium, working there for a year until, at the age of twenty-four, her mother died from a heart attack. Resulting in her returning back to Blue Harbor and spending the past two years working as a vet tech at the sanctuary and even getting a second, part-time job at Earthwave for an extra income. In fall of 2024, she officially started part-time schooling at Blue Harbor University so that she could earn her masters in Zoology.

ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ʀᴏᴄᴋ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀᴇᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ʟɪꜰᴇ, ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ꜱᴘɪʀɪᴛ, ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ɴᴀᴍᴇ.

🦥ꜱᴏᴍᴇ Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ꜰᴀᴄᴛꜱ & ᴛɪᴅʙɪᴛꜱ

🦜While Franca had been living in Denver, the aquarium saved a truck full of animals from a poaching ring. One of those animals ended up being a Scarlet macaw. The bird had lost half of its left wing from the time it'd been taken from Costa Rica to Denver, and Franca had been in charge of taking care of her. The two became bonded and now, Iria the Macaw is under Franca's care. The two are rarely apart from each other.

🦜She had a reputation throughout her schoolyears as being the "Animal Lover Girl", always ready to talk about anyone and everyone about animals and better ways to help the planet. She even started up an Earth Club in high school. Not many people joined it, however.

🦜While her family has always been comfortable money-wise, they're not rich. All of their money has been put into the sanctuary and farm, ensuring that the animals and plants had the best care possible. They live in a fairly reasonable sized log cabin that they worked on themselves, and through the help of friends and extended family members whenever they visited from Brazil.

🦜With that being said, the Oliveiras made sure to visit their home country at least three times a year: Carnaval season, the middle of summer, and around Christmas. Staying connected to their family and culture is highly important to them, though they've been struggling to do so since Franca's mother passed.

🦜The farm is home to four horses, ten cows, a herd of sheep, three goats, five chickens and a rooster, two cats, two dogs, and a pond full of freshwater fish and frogs. They live next to the river and are about a ten minute walk, three minute drive, from the sanctuary.

🦜Along with Iria, Franca is the happy animal mama of Dulce the iguana, Bruna the guinea pig, and Philip the grandpa dark calico cat. And yes, she understands how rare Philip is. But no, she refuses to sell him. She either rescued or adopted all of her babies and loves them all greatly.

🦜Franca is primarily a vegan, but will sometimes adjust to a pescatarian diet every now and then.

🦜She is a certified adventure guide, having earned her certificate through Pure Explorations after partaking in their Nepal Adventure Guide Program.

🦜Summer after she graduated from high school and before she went off to Nepal (as mentioned above), she'd been able to go to Alaska for awhile to participate in Girls On Ice (now known as Inspiring Girls Expeditions): a mountaineering expedition with an alpine ecosystems focus.

🦜As mentioned in her bio, she participated in both SEAmester and Semester at Sea. She spent her fall semester with the first study abroad program, sailing from the Mediterranean, across the Atlantic, before making her way to the Caribbean. For Semester at Sea, she journeyed to Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, India), Africa (Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco), and Europe (Spain and Germany). I have a wc in mind for an ex-lover that she had been on both voyages with that became her biggest "what if", if anyone's interested!

🦜The best way to describe Franca's style is "hippie, granola girl with Brazilian and global touches". She loves brands like Wondery, Inkkas, FARM Rio, Sandcloud, Fahlo bracelets, Live Your Legend bracelets, Pura Vida bracelets, and others that's all about the great outdoors that has conservation efforts and that are connected to her culture and other cultures that she's able to appreciate. This will be further touched on in other posts.

🦥ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ

🦜Franca's big sister, Beatriz (pls with Lucy Alves as her fc pls pls plsss)

🦜BWS and farm employees and volunteers

🦜Earthwave coworkers

🦜Fellow animal, nature, and earth lovers

🦜Franca's friends

🦜High school first love/ex

🦜Her SEAmester/Semester at Sea ex (AKA her greatest "what if" and the one that got away)

🦜Current and former hook-ups, dates, crushes (those she has crushes on, those who have crushes on her)

🦜Enemies/Anyone annoyed by her granola girl/ecowarrior schtick

[nishp]

🐍🦎 Happy National Reptile Day! 🐢🐊

On October 21, 2023, we're celebrating the captivating and diverse world of reptiles. From the slithering snakes to the sunbathing turtles, reptiles play vital roles in ecosystems and fascinate us with their unique characteristics.

🌍 Reptiles in Our World 🌍 Reptiles are found on every continent except Antarctica. They are essential in maintaining the balance of ecosystems, from controlling insect populations to being part of the food chain.

💡 Fun Reptile Facts 💡

Crocodiles have remained relatively unchanged for over 200 million years.

Some snakes can unhinge their jaws to swallow prey larger than their head.

Reptiles are cold-blooded, relying on external heat sources to regulate their body temperature.

🌿 Conservation and Education 🌿 National Reptile Day is an opportunity to support conservation efforts and educate others about the importance of reptile preservation. Many species face threats such as habitat loss and the illegal pet trade.

🐢 Get Involved 🐍

Support local reptile rescue organizations or wildlife sanctuaries.

Learn about reptile-friendly practices, such as avoiding the use of harmful pesticides.

If you're passionate about reptiles, consider volunteering or donating to conservation projects.

🐉 Mythical and Majestic 🦖 Reptiles have fascinated humans for centuries and inspired countless myths and legends. From the dragons of folklore to the ancient Egyptian reverence for the crocodile, these creatures hold a special place in our cultural history.

Whether you're a reptile enthusiast, a conservationist, or simply intrigued by the world of cold-blooded creatures, National Reptile Day is an opportunity to learn, appreciate, and protect these incredible animals. 🌏🐢🦎

[thebuildblog]

this.

People love to see and experience animals. They flock to locations and businesses to see animals, often taking photos and videos. They ride horses, elephants, ponies, visit zoos, etc. Today it also means posting to social media, which then inspires others to do the same. 

But, the reality is, this is generally and typically terrifying for the animals, and potentially harmful them whether it is in the wild or captivity. Animals who are used for tourist attractions including in the wild, zoos including petting zoos, parks, horseback and pony riding, birthday parties, racing, dragging carriages around, circuses, etc, are animals that are being abused, threatened or harmed. Those in captivity were either born into it or taken out of the wild for it as babies, and forced - literally - to do what tourists and humans enjoy while having photographs and videos taken, cheering, etc. You can imagine how confusing, frightening and upsetting this would be for them all. 

Very few of these people ever support anything for their conservation and care, just this abuse and exploitation. The businesses that use these animals rarely care for them well, if at all.

Humans are conditioned to think animals don’t feel, think, experience emotions, or have needs. We’re told that these animals “enjoy” it. They do not. People are unaware of this as a result. But, it is true and there is always time to learn, change and evolve about it. If most people saw and understood the reality of what happens to these animals, they would never participate or support these things again. They certainly would not think it is “cool” or special to do it.

There are a lot of really great ways to enjoy and experience animals without contributing to their abuse and exploitation. Animal sanctuaries of all kinds often have visitation hours, including large wild animals who have been rescued from captivity and tourism like elephants, tigers, bears, etc. There is the potential to volunteer in wildlife rehabilitation of all kinds. Animals in the wild can be observed from volunteering for conservation efforts, instead of tourist attractions. These causes do not abuse or exploit animals and desperately need our help, attention and support. 

Imagine being helpless to beings (humans) armed with guns and other means to hurt, scare and kill you, and being forced to endure things that scare, hurt or threaten you -- while people watch, cheer and clap and take photos. That’s what it is like for animals around the world. 

Considering making a change about this, and avoid supporting animal tourism and entertainment, including taking photos/videos of it and sharing it. Encourage others to help and care about them instead. It will be so much more meaningful, cool and rewarding.

[bethrnoora]

i wanted to add that they're looking for volunteers and resource/material assistance for housing people and animals in the coming week, per their fb page:

you can message them regarding financial or product donations! here is what they are looking for:

Alt-text included.

That's tracypaula@erinregananimalsanctuary.com

[kiratrajsingh]

Kirat Raj Singh – A Guardian Angel for Animals Across the United Kingdom

In an age where environmental issues and animal welfare are gaining increasing attention, Kirat Raj Singh has emerged as a beacon of dedication and hope. Known across the UK for his compassionate heart and relentless activism, Kirat has devoted his life to the care, protection, and well-being of animals — both domestic and wild.

His efforts span across rescue missions, awareness campaigns, educational outreach, and grassroots-level support for shelters and wildlife centers. But beyond the organized work, what makes Kirat truly special is his personal commitment: an unwavering belief that every animal deserves love, respect, and safety.

Humble Beginnings, Big Heart

Born and raised with pets at home, Kirat Raj Singh always shared a special connection with animals. Even as a child, he would rescue birds, feed stray dogs, and spend his spare time reading about wildlife. His parents often recount how he refused to walk past a hungry animal without sharing his own food.

This compassion grew stronger as he got older. Unlike many who admire animals from a distance, Kirat took a hands-on approach. He began volunteering at local shelters while still in school and later established himself as a reliable animal welfare advocate in his community.

The Rescuer Who Shows Up

One of Kirat’s most admired traits is his readiness to act — not just speak. Whether it’s a call about a dog left outside in freezing temperatures or a hedgehog stuck in a garden fence, Kirat shows up. Often, he arrives before any official help, providing first-aid, warmth, and comfort to the distressed animal.

He has rescued hundreds of animals in urban and rural areas alike. Some of the animals he’s helped include:

Injured foxes hit by cars

Stray cats with untreated illnesses

Birds trapped in fishing lines

Farm animals abandoned by their owners

These aren’t rare or isolated cases — they reflect a systemic problem that Kirat has chosen to address one life at a time.

Connecting People with Purpose

Kirat believes that awareness is key to long-term change. To that end, he leads regular community outreach events. From local schools to public libraries, he speaks about animal rights, the importance of neutering pets, and the responsibilities of being a pet owner.

He’s known for saying, "Animal welfare is everyone’s job — not just activists, but families, neighbors, and communities must get involved."

Thanks to these efforts, many residents in the areas where Kirat operates have become more responsive to animal needs and proactive about reporting abuse or neglect.

Supporting the Backbone of Animal Welfare: Shelters

Recognizing the challenges shelters face, Kirat Raj Singh actively supports and collaborates with several across the UK. He organizes donation drives, delivers supplies, and helps manage logistics like medical care and adoptions. He even spends weekends cleaning kennels or comforting anxious animals waiting for a new home.

Kirat doesn’t just visit shelters — he strengthens them.

By networking with veterinarians, volunteers, and donors, he ensures these sanctuaries have the support they need to survive and grow. Many shelter managers credit Kirat for helping them stay operational during tough times.

Wildlife Matters Too

While many of his efforts focus on domestic animals, Kirat is equally passionate about wildlife. The rapid urbanization of the UK has threatened native species such as badgers, owls, foxes, and hedgehogs. Kirat supports wildlife rehabilitation centers and often campaigns for the protection of green spaces.

He’s been instrumental in raising awareness about:

Responsible garden practices that protect hedgehogs and birds

Avoiding pesticides that harm bees and butterflies

Installing bird feeders and shelters in community parks

Reporting illegal poaching and animal cruelty

His voice has become a powerful advocate for the wild creatures that quietly share our environment.

Social Media with a Purpose

In the digital age, Kirat Raj Singh uses social media as a force for good. His online presence is filled with inspirational rescue stories, educational content, and real-time updates about animals needing help. He uses these platforms to fundraise, recruit volunteers, and connect animals with new loving families.

Many followers say that Kirat’s posts were their introduction to animal welfare — and the reason they now donate, adopt, or volunteer.

Looking to the Future

Kirat isn’t slowing down. He dreams of opening his own animal sanctuary — a space where injured and abandoned animals can heal, play, and thrive. He also plans to develop a nationwide education program that will introduce children to animal welfare at an early age.

More than anything, Kirat Raj Singh hopes to build a future where animals are not seen as secondary beings but as equals deserving of care, empathy, and protection.

Conclusion

Through his actions, advocacy, and undeniable compassion, Kirat Raj Singh has become a guardian angel for animals across the UK. His story is one of courage, love, and determination — proving that a single individual, driven by kindness, can touch thousands of lives and change the world for the better.

[rikkuwrites]

Community Involvement in Vantara’s Mission to Save Wildlife

Wildlife conservation is not a task that can be accomplished in isolation. It takes collective effort—one rooted in awareness, compassion, and action. Vantara, India’s leading sanctuary for rescued animals, recognizes that saving wildlife isn’t just about rescue and rehabilitation—it’s about building a culture of responsibility. Under the inspiring leadership of Vantara Anant Ambani, the sanctuary has placed community involvement at the heart of its mission.

By engaging local citizens, tribal communities, conservationists, educators, and volunteers, Vantara is creating a movement that empowers people to become protectors of nature.

Educating to Inspire Change

Vantara believes that change begins with knowledge. The sanctuary conducts outreach programs and educational initiatives to help people—especially youth—understand the importance of wildlife protection. From workshops in schools to guided awareness sessions with village panchayats, Vantara spreads a message that animals are not property—they are partners in our ecosystem.

These efforts not only teach conservation but cultivate empathy—laying the foundation for a more compassionate generation.

Partnerships with Local Communities

Many animals at Vantara are rescued from areas close to rural settlements or tribal belts. Rather than viewing locals as obstacles, the sanctuary treats them as essential partners. Vantara supports:

Employment opportunities for local residents as caregivers, trackers, and support staff

Training programs in humane animal handling and environmental stewardship

Co-development initiatives that help balance human needs with wildlife conservation

This inclusive approach ensures that conservation isn’t imposed—it’s embraced.

Volunteerism: A Pathway to Purpose

Vantara welcomes individuals who wish to contribute their time and skills. Whether it's helping with animal care, assisting veterinarians, conducting research, or participating in clean-up drives, volunteers are given real, meaningful roles in sanctuary operations.

This hands-on involvement not only supports the sanctuary’s work but deeply enriches the lives of the volunteers, many of whom leave with a renewed sense of purpose.

Community Awareness Campaigns

To address larger societal challenges like wildlife trafficking and habitat destruction, Vantara runs community awareness campaigns in vulnerable regions. These include:

Posters, radio messages, and local events to highlight the consequences of illegal animal captivity

Dialogues with hunters and poachers to explore alternative livelihoods

Support for forest conservation groups to protect shared habitats

Such grassroots work ensures that wildlife protection goes beyond the sanctuary gates.

A Shared Mission, A Shared Future

By including communities in its mission, Vantara is doing more than rescuing animals—it’s building a movement. A movement where every citizen sees themselves as a guardian of India’s wildlife. A movement where compassion isn’t limited to caretakers, but flows through farmers, students, elders, and children alike.

Conclusion: Together, We Save More

The vision of Vantara Anant Ambani is clear: true conservation happens when everyone is involved. With its holistic, community-driven approach, Vantara is proving that saving wildlife is not just the job of a sanctuary—it’s the shared duty of a nation.

As more people join hands with Vantara, hope grows—not only for the animals but for the future of India’s natural heritage.

[forest-and-fauna]

I recently performed TNR and found veterinary care for a cat that I absolutely did not want to release but didn't have the capacity or support to socialize. And I have a new spicy take:

We, at least in the US, need more rescues and individuals who primarily, almost exclusively, focus on socializing and adopting out ferals.

The reason that most rescues don't bother with ferals is because of capacity and resource limitations. When you're drowning in friendly strays, surrenders, and litters of kittens, you have to prioritize the animals who have a higher chance of adoption. Socialization is extremely time-consuming and requires a lot of space, an experienced veterinary team, and a good handful of skilled volunteers.

Now I support TNR efforts. In my city, the feral population decreased and overall health of the cats greatly improved once we moved from a trap/starve and kill ordinance to TNR. But this is humane harm reduction and population control, not the end goal. (Actually, the end goal is to keep cats from being bred and dumped outdoors in the first place, and I don't have time for a rant about how this issue is directly linked to poverty.)

Indoor or enclosed outdoor feral sanctuaries are one way to approach the issue. However, they fill up quickly, and due to high numbers and limited resources, most animals don't ever become accustomed living as pets.

We need more organizations and individuals who are willing to put time into socializing these animals and finding adoptive homes. This also isn't the final solution, but it's a start.

Anyway, here's a link to Socialization Saves Lives, in case you're like me and want to more effectively engage in this unhinged behavior.

The website hasn't been updated in a few years, but they do seem to have some pretty solid methods and a full guide for transitioning ferals.

[unsdg14-15]

National UN Volunteers - India

National Pet Day – April 11

On this meaningful occasion of National Pet Day, as we also celebrate the spirit of service through National UN Volunteers - India, we are proud to shine a light on a heartfelt initiative that embodies compassion in action.

Kalam 2020 – Medicos with a Mission, a group driven by empathy and a vision for humane care, has established the Dog Rehab Center near Marthandam, in the serene district of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. This center stands as a sanctuary for the forgotten souls of our streets—abandoned, uncared, and neglected animals—offering them not just food and medical attention, but love, dignity, and a new lease on life.

Behind this noble mission are selfless caretakers who dedicate their time, energy, and hearts to healing these voiceless beings:

Dr. Selvin, a dedicated Veterinary Doctor whose expertise brings hope to countless lives.

Mr. Edwin Vinoth Raj – whose commitment to the cause breathes strength into the initiative.

Mr. C. Dharmaraj, Mr. Mani, Mr. Prabin, and Mr. Maria Selvan – each playing an integral role in nurturing and sustaining this effort, especially in the rural belts of Kadayal.

Their work reminds us that kindness knows no bounds. It speaks in silent gestures, in acts of care for those who cannot ask, and in the courage to protect the vulnerable.

Courtesy: V Selvan, Nursing Faculty, Tirunelveli Medical College, Tirunelveli

Let us draw inspiration from their compassion and dedication—because every being, big or small, deserves to be seen, cared for, and loved.

[crankygryphon]

Real talk, if you ever dream of having a pet that you have no hands on experience caring for, I can’t recommend enough finding a way to get some experience, on top of detailed research, before you commit.

Like if you’re lucky enough to know someone with one, see if you can pet sit or hang out while they show you their care routine. Find a rescue or sanctuary that accepts volunteers, and make sure to at least volunteer for cleaning.

If you can’t do this, add to your research some of the most common reasons why people regret or give up that animal. (And have a plan for if you find you need to too, just in case). Research is super fucking important, but there will always be gaps. Like how something smells. How much effort is involved. Or even just how much energy you have to give.