Organizing people and projects to help at-risk animals in
New York City and Nevada County, California.

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Critter Chat 

Critter Chat  our new radio show about the mammals, birds and insects living amongst us in the renowned montane forests and foothills of the Sierra Nevada in California. 

Upcoming Episode: Great Gray Owl
December 4, 6:30pm Pacific on KVMR
Podcast available day of show

Hosts and lifelong friends Susan Brandt, founder of Rational Animal and biologist Marney Blair as they talk with experts, photographers and activists about the Sierra Nevada and the astounding variety of species living here.  

Shows are available via podcast and community radio station KVMR.org 

Photo:  Great Grey Owl Illustration, © JOHN MUIR LAWS johnmuirlaws.com

Rational Animal Fundraisers 

Fine art prints donated by the world's greatest celebrity photographers help us fundraise for our work.

Check out the collection of Notecards & Prints available through our Storenvy Shop!
 
Photo: Paulina Porizkova & Cat, by Neal Preston, all rights reserved.

gray cat standing in two feet

2024 Animal Guardian Award

HONK! The musical tale of "The Ugly Duckling"

Congratulations to the cast, crew and writers of this wonderful production presented by Sierra Stages! Read more about it...

Rational Animal Helps Wildfire Victims

Through our World Animal Day fundraiser, we were able to give a significant donation to the UC Davis Wildlife Disaster Network, veterinarians on the frontlines helping wildlife injured in California wildfires in 2020. 

Watch the video we created to tell this story of the amazing people helping at-risk animals through Rational Animal. This video was selected for inclusion by the jury of Touchstone Gallery's "People and the Planet" exhibition 2023.


Catio & Shelter Renovation Project 

We fulfilled the dream of creating a "catio" - an indoor/outdoor safely enclosed  space for cats for the Grass Valley / Nevada City Animal Shelter.  We also helped the shelter gain more visibility with a new street sign and new exterior paint. 

See our video about the project here.

Read more about this project here. 

Artists with Animals
Fine Art Mini-Print Notecard Boxsets

These beautiful boxsets of cards are an original creation of Rational Animal, Morrison Hotel Gallery and world-renowned fine art photographers. They are our bread and butter, keeping us funded to continue our work for at-risk animals. Buy a stack today! Thank You!


Series 1

The original series! Twelve fine art mini-print notecards featuring the photography of many of the world's greatest celebrity photographers. Featured with their animal friends are: The Beatles, David Bowie, Brigitte Bardot, John Lennon, Alison Mosshart, Robert Plant, Chris Isaak, Patti Smith, Billie Holiday, Nelly, Neil Young and Kris Kristofferson. Cards are blank inside, envelopes included in kraft cardboard box.

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Series 2

Twelve fine art mini-print notecards featuring the photography of many of the world's greatest celebrity photographers. Featured with their animal friends are: Sally Field, Marilyn Monroe, Frank Zappa, Ice-T, Beastie Boys, Moby, Graham Nash, Michael Jackson, Pete Townshend, Frank Sinatra, Mick Fleetwood and Eric Clapton. Cards are blank inside, envelopes included in kraft cardboard box.

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Series 3

FEATURING THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF NEAL PRESTON 
Twelve fine art mini-print notecards featuring the photography of one of the world's greatest celebrity photographers, Neal Preston. Iconic people featured in Series 3 are: Daryl Hall, Robert Plant, Stevie Nicks, Kelly Rowland, Alison Mosshart, Nancy Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Ricky Martin, Rod Stewart, Frank Zappa, Ozzy & Sharon Osbourne and Janet Jackson. Cards are blank inside, envelopes included in kraft cardboard box.

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Rational Animal Turned 22 in 2024

Celebrating our 22nd year of our mission of "creating media to help at-risk animals" this year we launched our new radio show and podcast Critter Chat, a half-hour series featuring the wildlife of the Sierra Nevada.  We also had a great year of humane education programming through our  Mothers Comfort Project and Bright Futures for Youth collaboration. 

Over the last three years, we were deeply involved in a shelter renovation project at Grass Valley / Nevada City Animal Shelter and our fundraiser to help veterinarians and rescues on the frontlines helping animals injured in California wildfires (see above video).

Throughout these 22 years we celebrate with friends, volunteers and sponsors who have helped us increase awareness and help animals through our campaigns:  animal adoption and spay/neuter TV and kiosk ads for the Mayor's Alliance for NYC's Animals; Trails to Tails, five editions of the NYC's first shelter map; our star-studded GIMME SHELTER Rock N Rescue NYC benefit concerts raising funds for over 30 rescue organizations; recognizing hundreds of people for their good work for animals with the Orange Animal Guardian Ribbon Award;  raising awareness for wild, working, and domesticated animals via our Gingerbread Homes for Animals  family events in Central Park and Chelsea Market ; and our Mothers Comfort Project sewing and delivering over 25,000 beds, toys and supplies to dozens of animal shelters. 

Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Beastie Boy, with Roberta, when he helped us promote our benefit concerts, GIMME SHELTER: ROCK N RESCUE NYC

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder with Celo, the rescued dog featured on Rational Animal’s Pearl Jam/Riot Act fundraiser t-shirt.

Campaigns and Awareness Projects

We run lots of different campaigns and projects. We have our Orange Ribbon for Animals, which is all about showing support and doing good deeds for at-risk animals. We produce high quality public service announcements, in both video and poster format. We also run successful projects, such as our Mother’s Comfort Project, which has made and provided thousands of beds and toys for homeless animals.

Contact Us to Volunteer

ABOUT US

We produce advocacy campaigns and community events to increase awareness and encourage support for animals in need.
Learn more >>>

VOLUNTEER EVENT

We need your helping hands and the animals need your help! Email us at [email protected] 

© Rational Animal 2023. All Rights Reserved.