On Thursday, January 8, the Alliance will be holding a "Beyond Oprah: Missouri's Puppy Mills" educational event in Kansas City.

The event will include a viewing of a portion of the Oprah show exposing the problems with the puppy mill industry in Pennsylvania.  Additionally, there will be a panel discussion of the puppy mill problem in Missouri and how interested persons can help. 

The panel will feature Alliance director, Julie Leicht, Alliance legislative director, John Coffman, and Bob Baker, Investigator with the ASPCA. 

Bob Baker has been active in animal welfare since 1977, and is a nationally recognized authority on animal cruelty investigations.  During his extensive career, he has served as Chief Investigator for the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and, most recently, as Field Investigator for the Humane Farming Association. Bob joined the ASPCA in January 2007 as Investigator, Anti-Cruelty Initiatives, where he will be a key player in the ASPCA's ongoing efforts to combat the cruelties of puppy mills and large-scale commercial breeding operations.

This special event will be held at the Ron Berg Gallery and Event Space, Crossroads District, 1525 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo 64108 beginning at 7PM (Jan 8).  Parking is available behind the gallery for this event.

This educational presentation is co-sponsored by No More Homeless Pets KC and is presented with the gracious support of the Ron Berg Gallery.

feral cat

Annie let me pet her for a second after I gave her some beef baby food. She also used the scratcher I put in her cage. It was brand new and I can see where she has scratched it. I am so happy about her progress!! I am watching her to see when she might be able to handle being let out into the room, without being in the cage. I still think she is too scared right now. She is acting like she really wants out though. I just don't think it is a good idea yet.

feral cat

Annie was very relaxed this evening.

Know how to Lobby for animals?

Lobbying Tips Workshop to be held in Springfield, Mo.

On Saturday, January 17, the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation will be holding a Lobbying Tips Seminar in Springfield, Mo.

Get tips on how to lobby in the state legislature, learn more about the Alliance's legislative agenda for 2009, sign up to participate in Lobby Day in Jefferson City, and learn about upcoming Alliance events in Springfield!

The event will be held
in Meeting Room B, noon to 1:30 p.m., Main Library Center, 4653 South Campbell, Springfield, Missouri 65810. Phone: (417) 882-0714.

This event will be hosted by the Alliance's Springfield coordinator, Kris Hegle.

To RSVP or for more information, please contact the Alliance at mail@maal.org or Kris Hegle at kahegle@aol.com.

feral cat

Annie was talking to me today! I was making some noises with my mouth and she was meowing back at me in response.

feral cat

I went to visit Annie, that is what we decided on naming her. She was less messy this morning. She took bites out of the top of the small cardboard box I put in there for her to lay in. I think that is anxious behavior. There are cats at the shelter I volunteer at that do that also. I put more toys in there to get her to play but I am not sure she has played with them. I was working on the computer next to her cage and she seemed to be relaxed. She layed down and rolled over a little and I reached in to touch her paw which was close to the side of the cage. She let me touch her paw pad for about 5 seconds then she stood up. Before, I wouldn't even be able to get close to the cage. She is making a lot of progress!!