October 25, 2009
ECC <3 Molly
Recently, Molly invaded a photo shoot for new adoptable kittens. ECC's friend (and photographer) David Mazer captured Molly posing for the cameras.
Molly is one of the first human-socialized cats rescued by Empty Cages Collective nearly two years ago. While she is feline leukemia positive, she is currently the picture of health and happiness. She has – and probably always will be – a favorite among volunteers and visitors.
Molly was found in Canarsie, Brooklyn in a front yard where dozens of cats were breeding out of control (Thanks to ECC’s efforts, the vast majority of these cats are now spayed or neutered, and we continue to offer ongoing support to the cats on this block). Molly is available for adoption (as are all of our asymptomatic feline leukemia-positive cats) to a home that can deal with her special status and needs. If you might be interested in adopting Molly or an of the other feline leukemia positive cats rescued by ECC, please contact us at 1 (800) 880-2684 or EmptyCagesCollective@gmail.com.
If you can’t adopt a feline leukemia positive cat, you can still help by printing and distributing (widely) our adoption poster for our special needs cats. Contact us to have the file sent to you.
October 14, 2009
Saving Gidget
Empty Cages Collective volunteers are confronted daily with this
culture’s exploitation and abuse of other animals. However, we are
also inspired by the resilience and beauty of animals who escape
terrible situations to a find a place in a world where they are no
longer bombarded with human inflicted suffering and a looming
premature death. Gidget is one of the many beings who reminds us of
why we work so hard to help animals victimized by human indifference,
cruelty, greed, and callousness.
Gidget gets some fresh air at Coming Home Animal Sanctuary
Gidget, a proud red hen, escaped a live poultry market – through luck or purposeful action – in Brooklyn with one of her fellows. Live poultry markets (video of one of NYC’s markets can be seen here) are places scattered all over the five boroughs where chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits and other animals live in intensive confinement before being brutally slaughtered for human consumption.
In any case, the escape of Gidget and her friend was most likely the first time either of them were able to spread their wings, move about freely, and forage (with difficulty) for food. Unfortunately, freedom was short lived for Gidget’s friend as she was soon hit by a car and killed. Luckily for Gidget, a kind man took her into his yard to avoid her meeting a similar fate and kept her there until he could find somewhere safe for her to go. Eventually, the man contacted Empty Cages Collective and asked for our assistance.
For several weeks, Gidget lived at our shelter space – enjoying treats of lettuce and kale and entertaining (and sometimes chasing) our adoptable cats and kittens. Eventually, a wonderful sanctuary called Coming Home Sanctuary stepped forward to provide a lifelong home for Gidget (now known as Rosie). Gidget is now strutting her stuff in the country, enjoying sunshine, dust bathing, and delicious greens as treats.
Please remember that most farmed animals aren’t as lucky as Gidget and never get the opportunity to escape their abuse. The best way to take a stand against farmed animal abuse is to consume a plant based diet free of meat, dairy products or eggs.
October 9, 2009
Marcos Gets A Helping Hand!
Marcos gets a helping hand from ECC
October 9, 2009
ECC Needs Your Help To Rescue & Protect Urban Squirrels
As some of you know, Empty Cages Collective was inundated with orphaned baby gray squirrels this fall. These babies were orphaned when their nest trees were cut down, when their mothers were hit by cars or indiscriminately poisoned with cruel anticoagulant poison intended for rats, or otherwise left motherless by the actions of thoughtless or cruel people. Many of the orphaned babies were “pulled” from Animal Care & Control where they were at risk of being unnecessarily killed. Others were rescued by the general public and brought to us for rehabilitation and eventual release. Through tireless dedication by our all-volunteer staff, most of the babies survived their hardships and thrived! We are now preparing for the moment we’ve all been waiting for – their return back to the outside world as free-living wild animals!
One Of Our Many Babies (Photo courtesy Jesse Bruah)
When rehabilitated gray squirrels are released back into the wild, a nest box needs to be placed in the area (one nest box per squirrel) at the release site so as to help the babies adjust to living the wild life. Empty Cages Collective is in desperate need for people to donate money to our wildlife rehabilitation efforts, as well as carpentry skills (or friends with carpentry skills) to help us build squirrel nest boxes. We are also in need of donated wood – as we would prefer to use recycled wood fiber left over from other projects instead of buying new as some of the squirrels we have were orphaned when their nest trees were cut down.
You can see some of the examples of squirrel nest box plans (one, two, and three) if you think you’d like to try your hand at donating some squirrel nest boxes to our ongoing wildlife rehabilitation efforts. Otherwise, please send your much needed financial contributions to us via paypal (our email address is: emptycagescollective@gmail.com) or through check or money order to our mailing address: Empty Cages Collective, 302 Bedford Avenue, PMB: #301, Brooklyn, NY 11211.
(Photo courtesy Jesse Bruah)
