One of the community cats, cared for by WPU students, who will receive cat food through Alley Cat Allies’ grant.
Inspiring and empowering the next generation of cat advocates is how we protect cats now and into the future. Alley Cat Allies was proud and thrilled to connect with students at William Paterson University of New Jersey (WPU) yesterday to provide them with resources for community cats in collaboration with Only Kindness Rescue!
We issued Only Kindness Rescue, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization based in Passaic County, New Jersey, a grant for its Pioneer Paws program with WPU students. The grant will cover cat food and other needed supplies and care, all will help the students continue their incredible work for local community cats. Alley Cat Allies team members also presented on October 25 to the Pioneer Paws program members on the biggest issues facing cats, why Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is so important, and how they can join us in the fight to protect cats and kittens from cruelty and misinformation.
“Fostering a new generation of cat advocates is as important as helping cats in the here and now, and this grant will help to do both” said Coryn Julien, Director of Communications at Alley Cat Allies. “Alley Cat Allies is excited to ensure the future of our movement to protect cats and kittens worldwide is bright.”
A member of our team also had a chance to meet some of the students of the Pioneer Paws program, which is all about educating students on community cat care and advocacy, and see how they’re caring for cats. Their dedication and compassion was heartening and a privilege to witness.
Alley Cat Allies has an ongoing relationship with Only Kindness Rescue, having provided the organization with emergency grant funding for community cat care during the height of the pandemic through our Keeping Families TogetherTM program.
Through the new grant, we are continuing our work to protect cats in the community and educate students to join us in our mission. Alley Cat Allies’ presentation to WPU students covered everything from the dangerous misinformation that threatens cats’ lives and how to bust the myths that perpetuate ineffective lethal policies for cats to how they can better educate and communicate with people who are skeptical about cats in their community.
A community cat cared for by students through the Pioneer Paws program.
We also shared with students the state of cruelty against cats around the world. Alley Cat Allies actively advocates for more protection for cats against acts of cruelty, and research has consistently identified the Link between violence against animals and violence against people. Animal cruelty offenders are a threat to the health and safety of all members of our communities and must be held accountable.
Alley Cat Allies has more plans in development to work with students—the brilliant young people who will be the cat advocates, veterinarians, and other animal professionals of tomorrow!