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Hi John,
It’s Kitty here! 🐾 I wanted to share a glimpse into my life as an animal advocate and organizer with DxE. *A lot of people know DxE for dramatic protests and high-profile court cases, but there’s so much more happening behind the scenes* to build a strong activist community and provide direct care to animals.
Every day is an adventure—filled with challenges, hope, and a whole lot of love. Here’s what that looks like in action.
One Sunday a month, on “pigeon destringing” days, I’m up at 5 a.m., starting the day by making plant-based burritos with a group of activists at the Berkeley Animal Rights Center (ARC), which we will distribute to unhoused folks along with dog food and toys while we're out helping the pigeons.
If you’ve ever walked through an urban area, you may have seen pigeons struggling with string or trash tangled around their feet. It’s heartbreaking, because it can lead to painful wounds, amputations, or even death, but we’re there to help. Pigeon destringing is where we identify birds in need, catch them, carefully remove the debris around their feet with tweezers, and then release them. The public is always so interested in what we're doing, which gives us the chance to talk to them about being kind to pigeons and all animals. *This year we helped over 100 pigeons!*
These events, along with the regular sanctuary workdays that DxE's Animal Care team organizes have empowered me to step in and help whenever I see animals in need.
One day, I noticed a fledgling pigeon in a trash can, terrified and vulnerable. I couldn’t believe it, but someone was spraying chemicals over them. I quickly grabbed the fledgling, cleaned them up, and took them to a wildlife center. I’ve found a Husky wandering on the road during a morning run, who I was able to rescue and place in an amazing forever home, and I’ve negotiated a dog out of a heartbreaking life chained to a short leash. Recently, with the help of an unhoused friend, I saved another dog from abuse. She’s now safe, happy, and thriving with a loving family.
*The connections, skills, and confidence our community provides allow me and so many others to make rescuing animals from cruelty and neglect a daily part of our lives.
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In between these rescues, I’m spending my day *organizing Saturday morning Meetups* where activists connect, learn, and support one another, *planning the Animal Liberation Conference* , and *coordinating the events calendar for* *the* *Berkeley Animal Rights Center* , which has become a hub for social justice groups in the Bay Area. Over a dozen organizations have used the space this year, and, as a fully plant-based space, the ARC offers a unique opportunity to share our values and normalize compassion for animals in other movements.
And at the end of every day, I return home to my foster kittens, the baby opossums I’m rehabbing, and a revolving door of other rescued individuals.
*None of the work DxE does happens in isolation - it is all critical for building a thriving network of activists who are trained, supported, and inspired to take bold action for animals.*
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You can support our work by making a donation today. ( [link removed] ) Your gift will be doubled and allows us to
* Provide life-saving care for animals in need
* Strengthen our activist community through trainings, events, and resources
* Operate the Berkeley Animal Rights Center
Thank you for being part of this movement with me. Together, we can change the world—one rescue, one campaign, and one act of kindness at a time.
Kitty
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PO Box 4782, Berkeley, CA 94704
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