Quakers

Abstract This study examines the potential impact of the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligent life (ETI) on Catholic theology. The investigation addresses whether the existence of ETIs would challenge core theological principles, particularly the doctrine of Redemption. The study concludes that the discovery of ETIs would not disrupt the foundational tenets of Catholic faith, which is centered on Jesus Christ. The Church has not made any official statements regarding the theological implications of ETIs, reflecting the current speculative nature of their existence. However, the Vatican Observatory is actively involved in research related to potential life-hosting stars, indicating a scientific interest in the topic.

Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs enjoy strong public support in the U.S. These programs have been shown to successfully increase live release rates and decrease euthanasia rates of cats in animal shelters. However, local laws can impede the implementation of TNR programs. In cooperation with St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services, this community case study describes the results of various programs and practices implemented to increase feline lifesaving despite restrictive ordinance provisions, as well as those associated with subsequent ordinance revisions. The St. Tammany Parish Department of Animal Services provided detailed data for the period of January 2015 through December 2023 (e.g. intake, live outcomes, and euthanasia) and information regarding various programs and practices related to feline lifesaving. The data was then examined for general trends. In addition, St. Tammany Parish’s Ordinance No. 21-4618, which includes both the original provisions and revised provisions, was examined for those likely to affect the shelter’s feline admissions and outcomes. The data suggests that the programs and practices implemented were associated with considerable increases in live outcomes for cats (from 26.4 to 95.4%) and corresponding reductions in euthanasia rates (from 71.1 to 3.0%). The adoption of revised ordinance provisions to reduce barriers for community cat management was associated with relatively little change; however, these provisions were generally positive in nature, removing an apparent requirement to impound at-large cats and facilitating the operation of a community cat program (CCP). This community case study illustrates the potential for animal shelters to substantially improve feline lifesaving regardless of possible legal impediments.

Photos from the Life of the Orthodox Parish in Kalisz in the Interwar Period. The Source of Socio- istorical Study – The Photography Album by Father Herman Kariakin in the Collection of the Local History Museum of Kalisz Region The authoress presents a photo album of Archimandrite Fr. Herman Kariakin (1872-1958) - a hitherto unknown iconographic source depicting the life of the Orthodox parish in Kalisz in the interwar period from the collection of the District Museum of Kalisz Land in Kalisz. The fate of the parish in the 1920s was linked to the Kalisz Ukrainian State House. Father Kariakin held pastoral ministry there as well. Against the background of the images from the pages of the album, the author discusses the situation of Orthodox believers in Kalisz during the Second Republic.

Zeszyty Kaliskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk » 2023 » Nr 23 » Bibliografia Kaliskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk A A A

Zeszyty Kaliskiego Towarzystwa Przyjaciół Nauk » 2023 » Nr 23 » Kronika KTPN A A A

fewer-dogs-and-cats-are-astrayand-fewer-are-killed-in-shelters.html

Introduction: Despite the considerable recent interest in the human–animal bond, the relationship between community cat caregivers and the cats they care for has received relatively little attention. In addition, the instruments typically used to measure the human–animal bond contain questions specific to in-home interactions with pets or interactions representative of specific behavior traits of the animal (e.g. lap-sitting), effectively excluding community cat caregivers. Methods: Using a slightly modified version of the Comfort from Companion Animals Scale, we surveyed community cat caregivers in Jefferson County, Kentucky, to measure the degree to which they are attached to the cats in their care. Participants for the online survey were recruited via email from a nonprofit organization that provides sterilization and wellness care for community cats in the area. Results: Of the 329 individuals who participated in the survey, 295 (90.2%) indicated that they had provided food, water, or shelter to one or more community cats currently or within the recent past. These caregivers tend to identify as white, female, and middle-class. Levels of attachment to the cats in their care (mean: 39.6, standard deviation [SD]: 5.9) are nearly identical to those previously reported by cat owners (mean: 39.6, SD: 4.8). Monthly expenditures and other sacrifices made as part of their caregiving duties provide further evidence of the strong attachment these individuals feel for community cats. Conclusion: The fact that community cats are unowned in no way diminishes the strength of the bond caregivers feel. Such findings have clear policy implications – validating, for example, the common practice of returning healthy cats lacking identification (i.e. collar or microchip), regardless of perceived level of sociability, to where they were found, following sterilization and vaccination.

In this retrospective, exploratory study, intake and outcome data were compiled from 1,373 U.S. animal shelters for which such data were reported consistently across a five-year study period (2016–2020). Linear regression analysis was used to examine the five-year trends and the impacts of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020) on the overall trends in intake and outcomes in U.S. animal shelters. The results of the analysis reveal that total intake and euthanasia for both dogs and cats significantly decreased over the study period. The adoption, return-to-owner, return-to-field, and transfer (for cats) categories as a percentage of intake all showed significant increases. Live release rates as a function of total intakes and total outcomes for both dogs and cats showed significant increases over the study period. The findings from this study address a critical gap in the field by summarizing emerging trends at the national level in how cats and dogs are being served in U.S. animal shelters.