Adopt a Colony

06/07/2026

06/07/2026

Washington D.C. just passed a law that could keep thousands of cats from ending up in shelters.

The Pets in Housing Act, which came into effect in late 2025 and early 2026, addresses one of the most quietly devastating causes of pet surrenders across the United States: housing discrimination against pet owners.

For years, renters in D.C. faced a situation familiar to millions of Americans. They found an apartment they could afford, only to discover that the building either banned pets entirely or charged fees so steep that keeping a cat or dog became financially impossible. Many people, faced with the choice between housing and their animal, had to surrender their pets to shelters.

The new law directly tackles this by banning discriminatory pet policies and improving affordability standards for pet-related housing rules. It also establishes something that has never existed in D.C. before: the city's first pet-friendly homeless shelter. Previously, unhoused residents with pets had no safe option that allowed them to stay together with their animals.

Animal welfare researchers have documented for years that housing instability is one of the top reasons people give up pets. Overcrowded shelters across the country are partly a downstream effect of landlord policies that were never really about safety or property at all. They were about convenience and liability avoidance.

By changing what landlords are legally permitted to do, D.C. is attempting to keep pets with their families in the first place, which is far better for both the animals and the people who love them.

Thousands of cats across the district may never know they were protected by a piece of legislation. But the protection is real, and it matters.

(Source: Pets in Housing Act, Washington D.C., Humane World for Animals, January 2026)

06/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18nXHtvoy1/

06/02/2026

Trying to feed their families! Someone needs to hold the people responsible that aren't clearing out the battery before the recycling arrives in Camden!

06/01/2026

For years, the volunteers who care for outdoor community cats have existed in a kind of legal gray zone. In many places, they risk being cited for abandonment simply for doing TNR, which involves trapping cats, getting them spayed or neutered, and returning them to their outdoor homes.

A landmark bill introduced in Maryland in February 2026 aims to change that, not just in Maryland, but potentially across the country.

Ash's Law, House Bill 912 and Senate Bill 750, was drafted by Alley Cat Allies and introduced in the Maryland legislature. If passed, it would make Trap-Neuter-Return the official state policy for community cats throughout Maryland. More importantly, it would prevent any county or city within the state from banning or restricting TNR programs.

The bill is named after a community cat named Ash. It also addresses the abandonment issue directly, amending Maryland state law to ensure that individuals carrying out TNR cannot be criminally charged for returning a cat to its outdoor home after the procedure.

This is significant because the current situation in many jurisdictions is deeply counterproductive. The very act of helping a community cat through a responsible, humane, evidence-based program can expose a volunteer to legal consequences. That discourages participation and leaves cats worse off.

Supporters of the bill include advocates, veterinary professionals, and legal experts. Opposition has come primarily from county government representatives concerned about losing local authority to set their own animal control policies.

The bill is being watched nationally as a potential model for similar legislation in other states.

(Source: Alley Cat Allies press release, February 10, 2026; Alley Cat Allies latest news, May 2026)

06/01/2026

Since the end of winter I've been helping Cramer Hill residents, Reworld Waste and Eve Medina by assisting with cat situations, covering the gas, time, tolls and surgery costs. (Sorry for the lack of pictures but it's literally impossible to do everything simultaneously.)

Many cats have been helped but so much more work needs to be done. Please donate so that I can continue. Running an animal rescue is much different then ANY other type of 501c3!!!

When you work with non profits that distribute food and books you leave with something. Literally allowed to walk away with the same exact food and books you distributed and people giving thanks to you.....

When doing animal rescue there is no bonuses and no thank yous! You leave with the satisfaction of helping a helpless animal, dirty scrapped up hands and nails with empty pockets. Yay Me 🫣😂

Please Donate so I can continue helping the helpless animals of the streets!!

05/29/2026

The LINK in Camden County is a key segment of the Circuit Trails—an expansive 850-mile network of interconnected trails across Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. With more than 400 miles already completed, it stands as one of the largest trail systems in the nation.

This week, we’re highlighting some of the “hidden gems” of the Circuit right in our own backyard. Have you explored the Merchantville Trail lately? This one-mile rail-trail offers a flat, scenic route that showcases how repurposed infrastructure can help connect and strengthen communities.

Looking for another great ride or walk? Check out the peaceful trails at Newton Lake Park, winding through Oaklyn and Collingswood for a relaxing change of pace close to home.
Learn more: https://www.camdencounty.com/service/parks/cross-county-trail/