American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) – Non-profit organization devoted to the prevention of cruelty to animals. It has been based in New York City since its founding in 1866. Mission: “To provide effective means of preventing animal cruelty throughout the United States.”
Creation History
Following the establishment of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in Great Britain in 1824 (with Royal Status in 1840), Henry Berg founded the ASPCA on April 10, 1866 in New York City. It is the oldest and first animal welfare-oriented organization in the United States. The ASPCA was created to put an end to the injustice to animals encountered throughout the United States. On February 8, 1866, Berg made a statement on behalf of the animals at a meeting in Clinton Hall in New York City. Among the issues discussed at this meeting were cockfighting and the horrors of slaughterhouses. After obtaining many signatures from people on his “Declaration of Animal Rights,” Berg was able to obtain an official Charter and start the ASPCA on April 10, 1866.
Medicine for Animals
One of the early goals of the Association was to improve the health and welfare of animals. The first veterinary clinics under the auspices of the ASPCA were established in 1912. Since the establishment of these clinics, the Association has developed new tactics to improve the affairs of these clinics. Since then, the Association has been able to develop a variety of medical procedures and innovations with new inventions in medicine and technology. Among these are the following:
- In 1918, ASPCA veterinarians perfected the use of anesthesia and, as a result, were able to treat a horse with a broken kneecap
- In 1954, ASPCA veterinary clinics added pathology and radiology labs and programs
- in 1961, ASPCA veterinarians performed their first open-heart surgery on a dog.
Resources for animals and their owners
This initiative was created to help individuals take proper and ethical care of animals. Some of the services designed to help individuals are:
- A 24-hour animal poison control hotline
- Free training and advice on how to handle animals
- Dedicated staff ready to provide high quality medical care
- Mobile neutering and spaying teams serving low-income areas of New York City
- Psychological assistance for owners of deceased animals
Rescue of at-risk animals
This program is designed as an initiative to take steps to care for at-risk animals and continue them across the country. Some of the programs designed to help animals at risk:
- ASPCA Mission: Orange Initiative: Inviting key cities across the country (USA) to join the ASPCA with the goal of stopping unnecessarily put down animals that can be put into good hands.
- ASPCA experts creating plans for animals in times of disaster
- A state-of-the-art 8,000-square-foot (743 m²) exhibition of animals that need to be put into good hands in New York City
- ASPCA Meet Your Mate, a search engine for matching animals with good homes (owners).
- Assistance for horses at risk with the help of the ASPCA Horse Foundation.
Actions against animal cruelty
To promote laws against animal cruelty across the country, the ASPCA has organized a campaign that combines various animal welfare efforts with measures to introduce new technologies created specifically to prevent animal crimes. These measures include:
- Creating an ASPCA “Center Against Cruelty” that will work with forensic experts to help investigate and bring crimes against animals to trial
- Conducting educational programs for police officers, investigators, veterinarians, prosecutors and judges on how to respond to animal cruelty, to include assistance in investigating such cases.
- Lobbying for the passage of animal protection bills
Other successes
In addition to animal rescue, the Society has also been involved in emergency preparedness and rescue management. For example, on September 1, 2008, before Hurricane Gustav was landed in the state of Louisiana, about 800 animals were put into a special shelter in the city of Shreveport. ASPCA members worked with members of the American Humane Association to provide 24-hour duty at the shelter.
The ASPCA is primarily concerned with pet-related issues, particularly pet care, horse cruelty issues, and other cases of animal abuse and neglect. The Society’s programs and services include:
- A poisoning and infestation hotline for pet owners and veterinarians
- An animal shelter support program designed to support and promote the best regional shelters
- A corporate partnership program that promotes products and services for animals
- A specific anti-cruelty initiative that includes educational programs and an animal law enforcement agency known as the Humane Law Enforcement Division in the United States. The ASPCA Division of Humane Law Enforcement in New York State is authorized to investigate cruelty to animals and conduct law enforcement. This division is known for the Animal Precinct television program on Animal Planet.
