Speak Up For Paws

11/22/2025

Speak Up For Paws is helping a new colony, this time in Alfred. Today we went to evaluate the project. We are told there are at least 30 cats. From experience, we know the number given is always underestimated. A TNR project involves spaying and neutering, vaccinating, medicating as needed, supplying food, and shelters, and finding rescues to intake, kittens and friendly cats. There is no funding to support this kind of initiative. We rely completely on donations. If you would like to support our project, we would most appreciative. Today 6 cats were removed from the colony and will not suffer through the winter.

If you would like a tax receipt, please include an email with your donation. 
[email protected]

11/22/2025

The vast majority of kittens entering shelters come from community cats or from irresponsible people who think they’re “helping” by dropping off litters. Many of those kittens end up sitting for months, growing out of their kittenhood while waiting for homes.

Meanwhile, countless community-born kittens never even get that chance, left to survive on the streets, scavenging for food, braving the weather, catching/spreading diseases and avoiding predators because shelters are full.

Euthanasia rates are rising nationwide. Why? Because many people are barely getting by, and taking on the responsibility of a cat becomes impossible when you’re struggling to keep a roof over your head. It’s not fair to the cats or to the overwhelmed rescues that try to pick up the pieces. Cats are being surrendered, domestic and community, aside from the cats just being abandoned, this has to change!

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) doesn’t just make sense, it has been proven to be the only humane solution to an overwhelming situation throughout the world.

Less kittens born means less kittens born in the wild and less kittens entering a system with an uncertain outcome, the uncertain outcome when too many are surrendered.

Want to help?
Find your local TNR program or start one if your area doesn’t have one.

Written by Alley Cat Allies

11/21/2025

16 community cat off to Lanark Leeds Grenville Spay Neuter Clinic thanks to our volunteer driver, Helene.

We do a monthly run March to December to help people access affordable spay neuter. We need more volunteer drivers however. If you can commit 1 day a month or even 1 day a year this would be a huge help to keep offering this service.

Together, we can help reduce overpopulation.

11/19/2025

Winter tips when caring for a homeless cat:

A constant supply of water is essential for community cats, including during the winter in cold climates. There are many ways to stop or slow the cats' drinking water from freezing.

11/14/2025

We have a few shelters left. Lots of people had expressed an interest, but no one wanted to drive to North Gower to pick it up. So if you have a stray or a colony of cats and they’re willing to pick up one or two shelters, please reach out.  we can also arrange to have them picked up from Barhaven or Rockland after November 29. All winter shelters will come with some food for the homeless cats.

Do you feed any homeless cats but need a winter shelter so they can survive the brutal winter months?
Please reach out, we have a few available.

11/13/2025

Update from Curly a cat from the house of 100 who lived his life in the garage (6years). He was terrified and had never felt any comforts, had no enrichments and very little human contact. We saw potential in him and were grateful to find a compassionate adopter. Here is the update from his new family.

He arrived mid May. He spent 6 weeks in the guest room with the door closed most of the time and supervised open door time, and kid guests. Then he bolted one day (Canada day weekend) and ended up in our bedroom closet and he stayed there for 2 months. Then in early September one day he just left our room and I’d say it took another couple weeks for him to gain confidence out and about. So approximately 4 months to integrate in the home.

Curly has become a soul and therapy cat. If someone in the house is stressed or sad, he quietly sits next to them and gently nudges them until they pet him and he lets out the loudest purrs and stays with them until they relax. And he will continue to nudge if in your stress- you stop petting him and are clearly not relaxed. He has bonded with everyone in the house.

11/11/2025

We are having our annual Christmas cookie bake sale which has always favorite fundraiser that sells out quickly. We have amazing bakers to thank for this. 🙏

We are still looking for a few additional bakers this year to add to our existing dedicated baking team. If you can make 48 delicious cookies for us by December 18th we would love to add you to our baking team. Money raised will go towards spaying and neutering community cats.

We are combining delicious cookies for the Christmas holiday to help our fur friends. Please help us help them! ❤️

11/10/2025

Don’t look away.
Get them a straw filled shelter until a rescue is found and feed them kitten kibble to ensure they have enough calories to survive the cold.

11/01/2025

Do you feed any homeless cats but need a winter shelter so they can survive the brutal winter months?
Please reach out, we have a few available.

11/01/2025

"Humane relocation" kills 80-90% of animals within 30 days.

"Humane relocation" kills 80-90% of animals within 30 days.

Why It Fails:
- Chipmunks cache 100+ pounds of food for winter—relocation = lost food supply = starvation
- All territories already occupied—displaced animals attacked by residents
- No familiar shelter or escape routes—predation risk increases 300%
- Stress suppresses immune system—disease follows
- No time to rebuild food stores before winter

The Truth:
Moving wildlife feels kinder than killing, but the outcome is identical—just slower and more painful.

What Actually Works:
- One-way exclusion doors (let them leave, block re-entry)
- Remove attractants (food, shelter access)
- Wait until spring when young are mobile
- Coexist—you built on their home, not the reverse

Every territory is already occupied. There's no "spare nature" to release animals into.

If it's in your space: exclude humanely or share space. Relocation isn't rescue—it's delayed ex*****on.

10/30/2025

Accepting spaces as of November 1st.

Limited spaces.