HumaneLI is Long Island’s leading animal advocacy and rescue organization, directly rescuing hundreds of wild and farmed animals each year from abandonment, neglect, or injury. We transport wild animals to licensed wildlife rehabilitators for proper care and treat, foster and transport domestic or farmed animals to reputable sanctuaries across the United States. Interestingly, fowl make up to 95% of the farmed animals in the nation!
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Animals Rescued since 2013
Many of the animals that need our help are those that have come into contact with the dangers of pollution. The overpopulation of litter in our waters has left many waterfowl tangled in fishing line, which oftentimes leaves them starving or unable to swim depending on the location of impact. An informative post regarding what one can do to avoid their garbage ending up in the wrong hands can be found below! Also, Humane L.I is committed to spreading a message of sustainability. We opt for a zero waste experience when we can and encourage all those who care about our wildlife to do the same!
Angel wing is a common condition found in many of the waterfowl that we rescue yearly, which is caused by a nutritional deficiency in vitamins and minerals combined with a high level of sugars and carbohydrates in the diet. Although not proven as to the direct correlation between the two, our experience tells us that the animals who live in areas where humans consistently feed them are most likely to develop this disability. We know immediately when we see a bird whose joint is unnaturally twisted outward, rather than lying flat against their body. Because these birds can no longer fly, they are often killed by predators, starve or freeze to death. White bread, popcorn and crackers are not nutritious options for wildlife, and they actually do harm them in the long run. Humane L.I recommends that if one is to feed, they should responsibly find proper corn pellets and feed for their specific needs. Some fruits and vegetables are also safe for them to eat.
Although animal abandonment is a crime in New York State, Humane L.I direct rescues hundreds of animals due to this inconsideration every year. Chicken and other domestic fowl feel pain and fear just like we do, and they depend on us completely to keep them safe. Leaving one of these animals outside to fend for themselves is just as cruel as leaving a dog or cat to suffer the same way. Such birds can’t make it on their own. When they’re abandoned to fend for themselves, they often starve or freeze to death because most cannot fly or migrate.
Humane L.I is dedicated to ending school hatching projects for this reason, but also for many others. Many schools do not consider what will happen to these sentient beings once the lesson of the lifecycle is learned by their students. PETA puts it fluently by saying, “Many schools don’t consider the fate of the chicks once the experiment is over, since most providers simply say, ‘Send them back.’ But commercial breeding operations can’t risk bringing pathogens back to their farms, so most chicks are likely killed once the project is done.” Furthermore, 50% or more of these chicks will grow to become beautiful roosters, who crow loudly throughout the day and oftentimes cannot be kept in the same enclosure due to their inclination to fight, which makes them prohibited in many towns. Because many families want backyard hens for their eggs, roosters have an exceptionally higher abandonment rate. Humane L.I does not condone the buying or selling of live animals, nor the use of them as backyard chickens for meat or egg consumption. Moreover, animals require specialized care and proper shelters that many people cannot provide adequately. There are different, humane ways to educate children effectively- please see the link below.
A large number of those in need of help happen to have fallen victim to the cruel practice of hunting. Perfectly put by our Executive Director, John Di Leonardo, in a recent Newsday article, “Quite the opposite of “binding generations” on Long Island, this violent form of entertainment tears animal families apart and leaves countless numbers orphaned or badly injured when hunters miss their targets. Their deaths can be slow and painful; it can take weeks for some to succumb to their injuries.” Hunting kills the precious wildlife that is already in harm’s way due to pollution, modern building projects, vehicles and more. As John noted, please seek a compassionate thrill and get involved in animal rescue!