May 2, 2012

She Spent Her Mother’s Day on a Puppy Mill

When the ASPCA arrived at a puppy mill in Holly Springs, Mississippi, we found 100 underweight dogs living in their own feces. The amount of neglect was shocking:  Skin disease, rotted teeth, malnutrition and infection were widespread.

One victim named Binah was dirty, skinny and unable to walk due to years spent in a tiny, overcrowded cage. She was a mother dog, forced to breed, with little regard for her health and well-being. When puppy mill moms like Binah can no longer produce, they are deemed worthless and discarded. Fortunately for Binah, the ASPCA arrived just in time—but in puppy mills across America, other dogs like her still need our help.

This Mother's Day, please remember puppy mill moms—together we can make a life-saving difference for them. Just look at how Binah is doing today!  

Learn how you can join our fight to end puppy mills.

April 10, 2012

Happy 146th Birthday, ASPCA!

Gee, that sure is a lot of candles on our cake. Yep, today marks the 146th birthday of the ASPCA, the oldest humane organization in the Western Hemisphere (but we’ve been told we don’t look a day over 100!).

When our founder Henry Bergh first spoke up for animals in Civil War-era New York, America was not a very animal-friendly place—but Bergh rallied people to the cause and succeeded in getting the New York State Legislature to pass a charter incorporating the ASPCA on April 10, 1866. Nine days later, the first anti-cruelty law was passed and, with a team of three, the ASPCA began working to enforce it.

Within five years, SPCAs had sprung up in cities including Boston, Buffalo and San Francisco. By 1888, 37 of the 38 states in the Union had passed anti-cruelty laws! We’re proud of the ASPCA’s role in changing the way people think about animals, and even prouder of you, our supporters, for helping us do such great work. In celebration, please join us this month in going orange for animals!

Want to Donate Your Birthday to the ASPCA?
Henry Bergh spent his life helping to fight animal cruelty—think of how proud he would be if you donated your birthday to help animals. It’s easy. Just set up your own special ASPCA birthday page and watch as your family and friends donate critical funds to animals in your honor.

And thank you for 146 years of compassion!

April 5, 2012

Court Orders the FDA to Examine Antibiotic Use on Farm Animals

Guest blog post from Suzanne McMillan, ASPCA Director of Farm Animal Welfare

On March 22, a federal judge ruled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must address the overuse of antibiotics in farm animals. The fact is, factory farms feed drugs like those in the penicillin family to animals even when they’re not sick. The drugs are used to speed up the animals’ growth and compensate for their unsanitary and overcrowded conditions, which are major breeding grounds for illnesses. Indeed, the same drugs that we take when we are sick are routinely fed to healthy animals!

The FDA Fails to Protect
More than 30 years ago, the FDA first discovered the overuse of antibiotics creates drug-resistant bacteria that can spread to humans and cause hard-to-treat illnesses. So far, the FDA has failed to follow through on its findings. This new ruling will now require the FDA to withdraw its existing approvals for routinely using penicillins and tetracyclines on farm animals unless the farming industry provides evidence that their use does not threaten human health.

Did You Know…?
Almost 80% of all antibiotics sold in the U.S. are fed to food animals. In addition to its impact on animal welfare, the misuse of antibiotics also affects our own lives. If we want to keep antibiotics working for us, we must keep industrial farms from abusing them. The ASPCA applauds this recent court decision—not only for human health, but also in hopes that it will help ensure cleaner, more humane living conditions for animals on farms.

For more information on the ASPCA’s efforts to help farmed animals, please visit our Farm Animal Cruelty section.

April 3, 2012

ASPCA Speaks Up for Wild Horses!

Guest blog post from Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations.

Did you know that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the federal agency in charge of protecting our country’s wild horses and burros?  Enacted more than 40 years ago, the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act states that the federal government is required to protect wild horses while balancing their presence on rangelands with commercial activities of humans and the needs of other wildlife.

Unfortunately, in the 40 years that the BLM has been managing our wild horses, we have seen a continuous cycle of roundups and removals with little regard for the welfare of these living creatures.

Taking Action on Capitol Hill
I was recently invited to testify before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior and the Environment to discuss the importance of protecting wild horses.

My testimony focused on four main requests. We asked the committee to 1) reinstate language to prevent the sale for slaughter and mass euthanasia of wild horses, 2) prohibit removal of more horses and burros than can be adopted, 3) prioritize on-range management of wild horses and burros, and 4) require the swift creation of standard operating procedures for humane, transparent roundups, if any are to occur.

As I spoke to the committee, I could see their obvious disgust at the descriptions I provided of recent roundups, during which:
 - Foals were forced to run extreme distances, losing their hooves.
 - Horses were driven to physical exhaustion.
 - Horses and burros were physically assaulted with helicopter skids.
 - Electric prods were used on wild horses by BLM staff or contractors.
 - Horses were kicked and beaten with lunge whips.
 - Metal gates and panels were slammed into horses.
 - Horses' tails were twisted and pulled during loading.

Looking Ahead
Congress oversees federal agencies to ensure that government services are delivered appropriately and fairly, and it can direct agencies like the BLM to reform programs that are not working as they should. The BLM has indicated a willingness to examine parts of its wild horse program and we hope they will work with us to make needed changes.

For now, we are encouraged that both the BLM and Congress are open to input from the ASPCA and other animal protection organizations regarding the plight of these majestic animals.

Learn more about our efforts to protect equines.

April 2, 2012

Happy April—It's Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month!

On your mark, get set, go orange! One of the ASPCA's most important events is the celebration of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. Each year, we urge supporters across the country to Go Orange for Animals throughout April—the month in 1866 when the ASPCA's charter was signed—to raise awareness for our cause.

Go ahead, visit the special Go Orange section of our website to see how you can get involved in the celebration. From creating grassroots fundraising events to entering our latest online photo contest to outfitting yourself and your furry friends with the finest orange designs —the possibilities are endless!

Join us for April's Go Orange for Animals campaign—together we can improve the lives of animals in every corner of the country. Go Orange! Glow Orange! Show Orange for Animals!

December 19, 2011

Miracles do happen. Just look at Aurora.

Aurora on the day of her rescue.

For the first time in her life, this sweet hound is spending the holidays surrounded by love. To see her now, it’s hard to believe that she was once the victim of hoarding.

Scared, sick and hungry, Aurora was one of 84 dogs found living in filthy conditions on a property in rural Tennessee. But thanks to the support of our members, ASPCA responders were able to rescue the animals, bringing them to safety. 

"It was clear that the dogs were in dire need of help, and our mission was to get them triaged by a veterinary team and into a safe environment," says Kyle Held, the ASPCA’s Midwest Director of Field Investigations and Response.

With your help, our team nursed Aurora back to health, we helped her conquer her fears and we found her a loving forever family.  We're so grateful for your support—without it, dogs like Aurora wouldn't be home for the holidays.

Please take a moment and learn how you can help save dogs like Aurora.

December 6, 2011

Mississippi Couple Pleads Guilty in ASPCA Puppy Mill Case

Guilty! Today the Marshall County Prosecutor's Office confirmed that two Mississippi residents—John and Nancy Garrison—pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal cruelty. The charges stem from a 2010 puppy mill raid when the ASPCA rescued more than 100 dogs found living in deplorable conditions.

John and Nancy Garrison were each sentenced to six months in jail and 11 months and 29 days of supervised probation. They were also ordered to pay $26,847.14 in restitution to the ASPCA and $2,793.19 to the Marshall County Humane Society, which will be suspended pending successful completion of the probation terms. As part of the probation, the Garrisons are prohibited from owning or harboring animals, and/or residing at any residence with animals for five years.

“The ASPCA is pleased the defendants are taking responsibility for subjecting these dogs to a life of pain and suffering,” said Tim Rickey, Senior Director of the ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team. “The ASPCA appreciates the diligence of the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office for seeing this case through to the end. We hope to continue our work in investigating puppy mills and rid the nation of this cruel and inhumane industry.”

For more information on the Holly Springs, Mississippi, puppy mill investigation, please visit our puppy mill section. 

November 23, 2011

Go, Terry Mills! NY Dog Fighters Plead Guilty

Thanks in part to ASPCA Animal Fighting Expert Terry Mills, two dog fighters in New York are facing the consequences for their gruesome crimes.

On April 13, police in Long Beach, New York, came upon a horrifying sight near a sewage treatment plant: Two men were street fighting three Pit Bulls by mashing their faces together, rotating the dogs for endurance training.

When it came time to prosecute the two dog fighters, Sha-ron Hicks and Robert Stockdale, the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office turned to ASPCA Animal Fighting Expert Terry Mills to serve as an expert witness.

As the trial date neared, defense attorneys tried to block Mills from testifying, but the judge struck down their motion. Soon after, facing a case bolstered by Mills’ expert testimony, the defense folded; Hicks and Stockdale pleaded guilty to felony dog fighting.

Hicks will receive three months in jail, five years of probation, an order not to possess animals for five years, a spot check agreement to support the order, and restitution for related veterinary bills. Stockdale will receive the same sentence, minus the jail time.

This case marks the second and third guilty pleas Mills has helped secure in Nassau County.

November 16, 2011

Update from Capitol Hill: Congress May Allow Government Funding for Horse Slaughterhouses

Guest blog post from Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations.

In a heartbreaking development, we learned this week that Congress is abandoning an important piece of existing legislation that relates to horse slaughter. Since 2005, Congress has prevented the commercial slaughter of horses in the United States by blocking the use of federal money for horse meat inspections. This language was routinely included in the annual Agriculture Appropriations bill after the original amendment to defund horse slaughter inspections enjoyed bipartisan support and passed by large margins (269-158 in the House and 69-28 in the Senate). The 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill, which is currently being considered by Congress, does not include this provision.

This is distressing on two counts. First, at a time when Congress is cutting funds for education and other vital programs, it is outrageous that taxpayers would be asked to add $5 million to the budget for something as senseless as horse slaughter. Second, since Americans don’t eat horse meat, this action will only benefit foreign markets in Asia and Europe, where horse meat is considered a delicacy.

The members of the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade have worked hard contacting their legislators on this issue with calls, emails and letters of support. Congress is clearly ignoring the will of the American people if it allows our tax dollars to be used for this gratuitous cruelty.

Though this setback is unfortunate, it signals the need for us to redouble our efforts for a complete ban on horse slaughter. While the funding amendment protected America from the horrors of horse slaughter plants operating on our home soil (where, despite past USDA oversight, gross abuse and rampant cruelty were routine), it didn’t necessarily prevent horse slaughter—in fact, thousands of horses continue to be sent over our borders for this purpose every year. However, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 would not only ban horse slaughter in this country, but also ban the export of our horses to Canada and Mexico for slaughter. I encourage everyone who cares about horses to contact their federal legislators to press for passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. You can do so by visiting www.aspca.org/AHSPA.

Those in favor of horse slaughter are celebrating Congress’s decision, and there’s already talk of opening horse slaughterhouses in the Northwest. Given the controversial nature of this issue, it may be tough to find investors unwise enough to take such a leap knowing that we’ll be working to defund horse slaughter again immediately.

It is now more important than ever that Congress hears from horse advocates who know how essential it is that we protect these majestic animals. To learn more about the issue of horse slaughter, please visit ASPCA.org.

November 9, 2011

Victory: Together We Are Bringing an End to Puppy Mills!

Every single day our team works hard to bring an end to puppy mills—and our efforts are paying off.  Three weeks ago, Jack’s Pets, a pet store chain with 27 stores in the Midwest, pledged to stop selling puppies. Instead, the store will work with local animal rescue groups and shelters to find homes for homeless pets.  

Just a few days earlier, the ASPCA assisted in the treatment and sheltering of more than 100 dogs rescued from a puppy mill in Kentucky. The dogs are now safe and the mill’s owner has been charged with 46 counts of animal cruelty.

Today, our team is on the ground in Arkansas, where we are caring for nearly 200 dogs saved from a puppy mill in Hot Springs. The owner was arrested and charged with three counts of felony animal cruelty. We are making real progress!

Take Action
It is thanks to the support of our members that we are able to rescue puppy mill victims and take another step toward shutting down this cruel industry. To find out how you can help us fight puppy mills, please visit www.nopetstorepuppies.com.

November 8, 2011

How Can I Help Fight Puppy Mills?

Want to fight puppy mills? There are many ways you can help end this brutal industry. Here are top five actions you can take to make a difference:

Don’t Buy Puppies from Pet Stores
That puppy who charmed you through the pet shop window has most likely come from a puppy mill. In these facilities, dogs are caged in unsanitary conditions and bred as often as possible. They give birth to puppies who may present medical problems later in life. Instead, make pet adoption your first option.

Take the Puppy Mill Pledge!
Please sign our pledge against puppy mills and promise not to buy your next pet or any pet supplies from retail stores that sell puppies. With your help, we can put an end to this vicious cycle of cruelty.

Speak Out!
If passed, the Puppy Uniform Protection and Safety (PUPS) Act will require any breeder that sells or offers to sell more than 50 dogs a year directly to the public to be licensed and inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It needs your support!

Share Your Story with the ASPCA
If you suspect your dog is from a puppy mill, please tell us your story. The more we spread the word, the more we can build support to help ban puppy mills.

Tell Your Friends
If someone you know is planning to buy a puppy, please direct them to our puppy mill information page at ASPCA.org. Let them know that there are perfectly healthy dogs—of all breeds and sizes—waiting to be adopted.

November 7, 2011

Breaking Update: ASPCA Transporting 100+ Puppy Mill Victims to Safety

ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team members are removing more than 100 dogs from the squalid Arkansas puppy mill they raided this morning. Using the ASPCA’s custom animal transport vehicles, the team is moving the canines to a temporary shelter, where they’ll receive badly needed veterinary attention and perhaps the first human kindness of their lives.

The terrified dogs endured profoundly inhumane conditions at the mill. ASPCA responders found them to be suffering from severe neglect, skin conditions and flea infestation.

“The ASPCA is pleased to be in a position to lend our assistance and help the Garland County Sheriff’s Office put an end to puppy mills in their community,” says Kathryn Destreza, Director of Investigations for the ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response Team. “Puppy mill dogs suffer from living in extremely unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization, and we appreciate the efforts of the local authorities in pursuing this investigation.”

At the shelter, a full team of veterinary professionals is prepared to triage the dogs, immediately tending to any urgent medical needs, then evaluating and providing a treatment plan for each canine. The dogs will then settle in to their new lodgings to begin recovering from the cruelty they have endured.

Because they are part of a criminal case, the dogs will not immediately be made available for adoption.

Watch ASPCA.org for more information about this case, or register to receive the latest news in your inbox. To find out how you can help save dogs from puppy mills, visit www.nopetstorepuppies.com.

November 7, 2011

Breaking Update: ASPCA Rescuing Hundreds of Dogs from AR Puppy Mill

ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team members are in the process of rescuing more than 100 dogs from an Arkansas puppy mill where a search warrant was executed earlier today. ASPCA response team members and veterinary staff are working to evaluate the pups and ready them for transport to a temporary shelter.

FIR Medical Director Dr. Rhonda Windham and her forensics team are also at the site, working to document the condition of the dogs to help law enforcement build a criminal case against the mill’s owner, Pam Thomas. Thomas has been arrested and charged with three counts of felony animal cruelty.

During the raid earlier today, the team found more than 100 frightened and unhealthy dogs living in profoundly inhumane conditions at the mill, suffering from severe neglect and various diseases.

“Our goal is to help the local authorities by providing experts and resources to support the case, and see that these animals move on to a better place,” says ASPCA Director of Investigations Kathryn Destreza, who is leading the operation for the ASPCA.

We’ll have more on this developing story soon—stay tuned to the ASPCA blog.

November 7, 2011

Breaking News: ASPCA Raiding Large Arkansas Puppy Mill Right Now

Puppy mill dogs, like this one in Holly Springs, MO, often suffer from skin diseases and other conditions caused by serious neglect.

The ASPCA Field Investigations and Response Team is in Hot Springs, Arkansas, today, rescuing more than 100 small dogs—including Dachshunds, West Highland white terriers, Boston terriers and Chihuahuas—from a puppy mill. Our responders, led by ASPCA Director of Investigations Kathryn Destreza, are acting at the behest of the Garland County Sheriff’s Department and are working with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, PetSmart Charities, Inc., and the Garland County Humane Society.

Watch the ASPCA blog for more information on this developing case.

November 1, 2011

How Can I Tell if Someone Is a Hoarder?

To be honest, it's not always easy. While the elderly tend to be more at risk, animal hoarders range in age and can be men or women. The one commonality between all hoarders is their failure to grasp the severity of their situation.

Here are several signs that may indicate someone is an animal hoarder:

• The individual has numerous animals and may not know the total number of animals in his or her care.
• The person’s home is vastly unkempt with dirty windows, broken furniture, holes in wall and floor or extreme clutter.
• There is a strong smell of ammonia, and floors may be covered with dried feces, urine, vomit, etc.
• Animals are emaciated, lethargic and not well socialized.
• Fleas and vermin are present.
• The individual is isolated from his or her community and appears to be neglecting him or herself.
• The individual insists all of his or her animals are happy and healthy—even when there are clear signs of distress and illness.

If you think you know an animal hoarder, please pick up the phone and call your local police department, animal shelter or veterinarian to ask for help. A phone call may be the first step to get a suspected hoarder and the animals the help they need.

For more information about animal hoarding, see our Hoarding FAQ.

October 23, 2011

Breaking News: ASPCA Responds to NYC Carriage Horse Death

The ASPCA issued the following statement today after a carriage horse tragically collapsed and died en route to Central Park in Midtown Manhattan:

"The ASPCA was made aware of an incident this morning during which a carriage horse heading to Central Park collapsed and died on the street,” says Stacy Wolf, Vice President & Chief Legal Counsel of ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement. “At present, the findings are inconclusive, but the ASPCA is investigating the cause of death. The horse is in the ASPCA's custody and is being transported to Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for a necropsy. We at the ASPCA express our sadness and concern at this tragic incident. The life of a carriage horse on New York City streets is extremely difficult and life threatening and the ASPCA has long believed that carriage horses were never meant to live and work in today's urban setting."

Stay tuned to www.ASPCA.org for more on this breaking story.

October 20, 2011

ASPCA Calls for Emergency Order Banning Exotic Pets in Ohio

Schools were closed. Businesses shut down. And the majority of residents stayed locked in their homes as local law enforcement hunted down more than 50 exotic animals—including lions, tigers, wolves and bears—roaming loose on city streets. While this may sound like a scene from a horror movie, it actually took place yesterday in the city of Zanesville, Ohio.

The animals belonged to exotic animal collector, Terry Thompson, who freed them before committing suicide. According to the Muskingum County Animal Shelter, Thompson had a long history of neglecting his animals. Of the 56 roaming animals, only a grizzly bear, two monkeys and three leopards were captured alive.

“We are outraged and horrified by the events that took place in Zanesville,” says Nancy Perry, Senior Vice President of ASPCA Government Relations. “In response, we are strongly urging Governor Kasich to issue an emergency order to prevent any more needless loss of life for released or escaped exotic animals, as well as to ensure the safety of Ohio residents.”

In an official statement made last night, the ASPCA called on Ohio Governor John Kasich and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to restrict the sale and possession of exotic animals. Ohio is currently one of only eight states that do not regulate private ownership of exotic animals.

Since the vast majority of people who keep exotic pets cannot meet their needs, the animals often become the victims of abuse and neglect—they are caged, chained, tranquilized or even beaten into submission. Further, thousands of people are attacked and seriously injured by exotic pets each year.

“The exotic pet trade is a multi-billion dollar industry that contributes to the suffering of millions of animals and endangers countless people,” says Perry. “It needs to end.”

For more information about the exotic pet trade, please visit our Fight Animal Cruelty section.

October 19, 2011

ASPCA Provides Critical Transport Following Kentucky Puppy Mill Raid

The ASPCA, along with our Shelter Response Partnership network, is currently transporting 27 dogs from the Rowan County Humane Society in Morehead, Kentucky, to the Capital Area Humane Society in Columbus, Ohio, and St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, New Jersey. The move will help make room for 118 dogs recently seized during a puppy mill investigation led by the Rowan County Attorney’s Office in Morehead.

The ASPCA’s Shelter Response Partnership network is a coalition of national and local agencies that provide a second chance for animals rescued from overcrowded facilities and cruelty investigations. 

“To help communities with limited resources, the ASPCA works collaboratively with its response partners on cases where shelter animals need to be relocated,” says Joel Lopez, Senior Manager of Operations for the ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response Team. 

The transported animals will be placed up for adoption.

With your help, the ASPCA remains at the forefront of ending the cruelties associated with puppy mills. To learn more about the Rowan County puppy mill investigation, please visit our earlier post.

October 19, 2011

FL Cockfighter Gets Jail Time after Guilty Plea in ASPCA Case

It’s about time! William Roman pleaded guilty to four felony counts of animal fighting and baiting stemming from one of the largest cockfighting cases in Florida’s history. Back in September 2010, the ASPCA assisted in forensic evidence collection and removal of more than 650 fighting birds from two properties in Lee County.

William Roman and Pedro Lopez, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of animal fighting and baiting, housing distressed animals, and animal cruelty. Lopez was also charged with drug possession. A trial date for Lopez has not been scheduled.

Roman was sentenced to six months in state prison, three years of probation and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay court costs and cost of prosecution and, as part of the probation, to have no contact with animals for three years.

“These animals were exploited to breed and fight each other to the death,” says Adam Leath, the ASPCA’s newly appointed Southeast Director of Field Investigations and Response. “We hope to continue our work in investigating these types of cases to rid the nation of this cruel sport.”

For more information on the Lee County cockfighting case, please visit our Raids and Investigations section.

October 12, 2011

Breaking: ASPCA Assists in Investigation of Kentucky Puppy Mill

A puppy mill survivor.

We’re at it again! The ASPCA’s Field Investigations and Response Team is on the ground in Kentucky assisting in the evidence collection, sheltering and placement of 118 dogs seized last Thursday during a puppy mill investigation. The dogs—mainly small breeds such as Papillons, Dachshunds and Poodles—were living in deplorable conditions on the property.

In puppy mills across the country, breeder dogs like those rescued in Kentucky often suffer with little to no medical care, inadequate food and no break from misery. They are treated as puppy‐making machines. And when they can no longer breed, they are simply discarded.

"Simply put, these dogs are considered a cash crop—the more puppies they can crank out, the more money the mills can make,” says Cori Menkin ASPCA Senior Director, Puppy Mills Campaign. “When the dogs can no longer produce, they are deemed worthless, just like broken equipment." 

With your help, the ASPCA remains at the forefront of ending the cruelties associated with puppy mills. Stay tuned to aspca.org for more information as this story develops.