Talented people....
Animal welfare is full of talented people. Here's a sampling of some of the volunteer or employee-made art showing in "Caring Hearts - Creative Hands" at our Tri-Valley Shelter:
This Chinese ink painting is called "Take Me" by artist Wendy Lee.
This oil is called "Ladies of the Lake" by artist Catherine McBride.
This stunning bronze, by our recently retired head of the EBSPCA, Gary Templin, is called "Extremism in the defense of liberty is not a vice."?
Woof! is by one of our cat volunteers, Shirley Hoye.
Caring Hearts-Creative Hands is Open!
Every year, we host an art show in our facility. Isn't that weird?
Not so weird when you consider that our Tri-Valley Facility was built with a beautiful professional gallery inside. The idea was to create a space that people would come to even if they weren't coming to visit dogs and cats, to perhaps encourage them to visit some anyhow, or encourage them to support the work we do.
One of the ways we do this is to partner with Las Positas College in Livermore to keep the gallery full. Rotating art classes throughout the year display their work in our gallery. (The picture above is from the last show.) It gives the students a chance to learn curating and gives us a chance to introduce our animals to new people. *
But each year, we host a special show, that we put on, that is open to Employees or Volunteers of Bay Area shelters and rescue groups.
The quality of work from the hands of people who use those same hands to care for homeless pets is stunning.
So, Caring Hearts-Creative Hands is open for 2006; you can come view this amazing art yourself during the
public hours at our Tri-Valley shelter.
I will post some pictures from the show itself tomorrow. See you there!
*If you know of any Tri-Valley business who would like to sponsor the Las Positas' Art Shows, to assist with advertising, the artist's reception, expenses associated with displaying the art, please let me know at info@eastbayspca.org.
Feral Fixin'
Several years ago, our management team got together to look at the future. A non-profit (or a business that matter) should always be several years ahead of the organization. What are the challenges on the horizon that might require changes in the way we utilize our generous support?
It was clear from all angles that, in the East Bay, we were beginning to get a handle on the overpopulation of dogs, at least in our community. That doesn't mean dogs don't end up homeless, and in need of new homes. But that does mean that there is beginning to be a balance between the number of homeless dogs and the resources, and space, available.
Good news for dogs. But we were no where near close to ending the overpopulation of cats.
While people react when they see a stray dog, folks rarely even notice the stray cat. The stray cat is silent, usually in hiding until the evening. And if homeless, as many of them are, they are very, very prolific, each cat creating hundreds and thousands of offspring in just a few short years.
Funded by our generous donors, the East Bay SPCA launched the Feral Fix Hotline in April of this year to provide support to the residents of Alameda and Contra Costa County, with regard to feral cats, especially providing free trap rental and free spay and neuter surgeries for individuals willing to follow Trap - Neuter - Return.
We are so proud of our success. In 2005, we performed 770 feral cat surgeries at no cost, most of them to clients who were assisted by our very dedicated partners at
ICRA and
Fix Our Ferals.
In 2006, with the launch of the Feral Fix Hotline, we are well over 700.
It's not going to be quick, but working together, animal welfare in the East Bay is making a big dent in the problem.
For more information on the East Bay Feral Fix, or if you'd like to volunteer, read about our program here: http://www.eastbayspca.org/feral
