Programs Archives - Show Your Soft Side

They’re Cuter When They’re Neutered

We may be a small all-volunteer non-profit, but Covid proved that we are nimble, and dare we say. . . mighty. If we recognize a need, no matter how daunting, we strive to help. Moreover, we’re not saddled by a corporate ladder – a Zoom call …

Spread the Love Y’All

Given that more than 130 cars came through our most recent PetAid event, it’s not surprising that I don’t remember meeting Emily. That day was a blur of masked faces belonging to pet parents who were having difficulty making ends meet and caretakers w …

Having Friends In High Kitty Places

It was supposed to be a routine dental. Bugsy had one suspect tooth, but more importantly, keeping on top of mouth and gum care is essential for a former street cat who’s FIV+. It had been three years since his last one so we quickly scheduled a date a …

Ignorance Is No Longer An Excuse

Surely, you’ve come across one or two of them in your travels. Kitties that peer out from behind a bush or a dumpster, that scurry to the nearest gutter when you park your car or streak across the alley behind your home. You probably think, …

I Tried Not to Cry, But Failed.

The noose of our coronavirus-imposed isolation was tightening and I skipped my usual errands this past Saturday. Yet, a pleasant tranquility had settled into our home, as I went about chores and meal preparation for the week. Our cats were watchi …

A Soft Side Christmas Story

His eyes were constantly sore and irritated, because his fur scratched his corneas each time he blinked. His eyelids curved unnaturally inward and he needed surgery to correct the condition. There is little hope for injured street cats and those with …

Prison Cats

The brochure caught our attention. “Help! Rescued Cats Sent to Prison. What are you in for?” We immediately set out to learn what the cats needed at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCIW) in Jessup. As it turns out, th …

The Road To Oxford & Back

I recently returned from a humane education conference at the Oxford Centre on Animal Ethics with our colleagues from the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC), who crafted a humane education curriculum specifically for our campaign. We present …

This Cat’s Legacy: Helping Others

We all know that Sande Riesett, co-founder of Show Your Soft Side, is the first person to cheer on others’ good and generous works — especially when those people are good and generous to animals. Sande is a little quieter when it comes to tooting her …

Can’t You TNR Somewhere Else?

While we don’t have a clue who the Baltimore City resident is that complained so vehemently about TNR efforts in his or her neighborhood that it necessitated a full-on City Council hearing, in hindsight, we’re glad they did. It was a fascinating glimp …