I posted my 2025 Year-end Animal Media Roundup in the wee hours, and you can read it at this link:
25 for 2025! The DawnWatch Year-end Animal Media Round-up
It’s long, and I know few will read the whole thing carefully, but I know most of you will want to scan the headlines, focus on your favorite issues, and get a reminder of the animal stories we followed in 2025.
I questioned, of course, as I wrote it, the point of including so much information. Then I realized that at least a few of you will enjoy the whole thing, either seated and relaxed, or walking or driving having tapped the read-aloud button and listening podcast style. And those of you who do that are well worth having written it for, because no truer words were ever written than Margaret Mead’s:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
It’s my great honor to feel part of that small group trying hard to change the world, and to know that some of the others are subscribers to this list and Substack. I note that with love and gratitude.
MOVE TO SUBSTACK
I’ve shared before that I’m moving over to Substack and shutting down this email list shortly, but only recently realized that those of you unfamiliar with Substack might not realize that Substack conveniently sends you my full column, as these emails used to, not just a link like the one I sent above. I’ve made the change because while Constant Contact and Mailchimp charge DawnWatch to send out alerts, Substack is free and even encourages people to support my work, support I rely on to continue it.
Substack also makes it far easier for people to share, restack, and to recommend my columns, and to comment on them. Gosh I wish more of you would comment! That’s partly because any writer wants to know their work hasn’t gone out into an abyss, and partly because I grow from respectful engagement, whether it be praise, which all humans need, or from respectful challenges. And it’s because I believe my work is valuable and should be seen more widely, and “likes” and comments make algorithms far more likely to share it. Please, at least, don’t forget to “like,” to “heart,” a post that you’ve appreciated.
Please also know, for those who have appreciated following and sharing DawnWatch posts on social media, that though those posts have largely fallen away as I have devoted myself to my new Substack, they will resume shortly.
DONATION REQUEST
Traditionally on New Year’s Eve I send out a request that subscribers who’ve enjoyed DawnWatch throughout the past year make DawnWatch either their last donation of the year or the first of the new year. Despite working all month on my roundup, I missed getting it out during 2025 by a few hours, so I’m asking that those who enjoy DawnWatch make a donation to the nonprofit their first donation of 2026.
The easiest way to donate is surely to choose a paid subscription to my new Substack and I hope many of you do.
For those of you for whom $100 is difficult even divided into monthly installments, your choice to donate less on the DawnWatch donation page is profoundly appreciated. Your free subscription to the Substack gives you all the perks for now, that’s all of my posts and the ability to comment and engage.
I know some of you can give more and wish to, because you love the information DawnWatch provides, the calls to media action, and the staunchly nonpartisan animals-first stance, which I hope is presented with tact and thoughtfulness. If that’s you, please use the donation page either to donate directly or to grab the DawnWatch Santa Barbara address for mailing checks. Of course I will gift-subscribe you to my Substack. My gratitude to you is profound.
Wishing all who care deeply about the other species on our planet the happiest of New Years, and a beautiful activism journey ahead together in 2026.
Yours, and all animals,
Karen Dawn of DawnWatch