The mission of the ASPCA, as stated by our founder, Henry Bergh, is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.
Managed the investigation of a "puppy mill" in Tennessee in February where over 250 dogs were seized. 43 of the dogs were transferred to our Adoption Center in NYC where they were treated and placed in caring homes.
Assisted in what is believed to be the largest dog fighting raid in U.S. history this past July in which over 400 dogs were seized from suspected operations spanning eight states. The ASPCA joined state and federal authorities to rescue and provide veterinary care to the dogs, as well as collect forensic evidence to help prosecute the case. The ASPCA also assisted in the behavior evaluation of the dogs.
Teamed up with the city of Baltimore to create and Anti-Animal Abuse Task Force in response to the fatal burning of a dog named Phoenix. The ASPCA will serve on the task force that will work to help the city of Baltimore prevent and prosecute animal cruelty.
Entered into a partnership with the University of Florida to launch an ASPCA Veterinary Forensics Sciences Program that will promote the application of forensic sciences to veterinary medicine as a means to improve the understanding, prevention and prosecution of animal cruelty.
Held our first spay/neuter block party in April in Harlem, NYC where 114 pets were fixed, vaccinated and micro-chipped. Also held a Trap-Neuter-Return event in Queens in July where 138 feral cats were altered in one day. Our Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinics program, which ran the events, is on target to perform over 30,000 free and low-cost surgeries this year.
Hosted the first ASPCA Spay/Neuter Summit on August 6-7, a training workshop attended by spay/neuter veterinary staff from the ASPCA and other NYC animal welfare organizations.
In 2008, a total of 3,267 cats and dogs were adopted, and so far this year we are seeing a 22% increase in adoptions.
Participated in a "No Healthy Deaths Months" initiative in January, February and March as part of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals’ work with Maddie's Fund - we took in 337 cats from Animal Care and Control of NYC . With our help, NYC achieved the "No Healthy Deaths" goal.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is the first and oldest humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Henry Bergh, a philanthropist and diplomat, founded the ASPCA on April 10, 1866. He recognized the inhumane treatment suffered by animals in our society and set out to create an organization in America, modeled after the RSPCA in England, to protect them. Growing from a small organization dedicated to improving the lives of animals in NYC, especially farm, work animals and stray cats and dogs, today the ASPCA is the leading companion animal welfare organization in the United States offering unique and life-saving services.
How This Organization is Funded