1. ASPCA and PetSmart Charities® Pledge $2 Million to Humane Alliance
PetSmart Charities® and the ASPCA have pledged a combined $5.2 million to Humane Alliance, the North Carolina-based national leader in high-volume spay/neuter, to be distributed over the next five years. The grant will increase affordable spay/neuter services by funding the opening of 80 low-cost, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics across the United States. Combined with the nearly 70 Humane Alliance clinics already open, the clinics will provide up to 800,000 sustainable spay/neuter surgical slots, preventing an estimated 11 million cat and dog births through 2013.
Adoption alone will not solve the problem of pet overpopulation: an estimated 4 million pets are euthanized annually in the U.S. due to lack of homes. “Humane Alliance is the gold standard when it comes to successful high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter,” says Julie Morris, Senior Vice President of Community Outreach for the ASPCA. “Replicating its model program in cities across the country will help us to make real, measurable progress in the fight against pet homelessness and overpopulation.”
Humane Alliance’s National Spay/Neuter Response Team has already trained 79 organizations to open and operate low-cost, high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter clinics in those organizations’ home communities, and is always seeking new groups to mentor.
“PetSmart Charities and the ASPCA have been instrumental to the success of Humane Alliance,” says Humane Alliance Executive Director Quita Mazzina. “Our continued partnership means that we can continue to provide the spay/neuter services that pets desperately need, as well as training for the veterinary community, so that even more pets are sterilized every year.”
To learn what makes the Humane Alliance model so effective, visit humanealliance.org.
2. ASPCA Happy Tails: 139 Cats Find Homes at Elk County Adoption Event
Last week, we told you about a special Independence Day adoption event to find homes for hundreds of cats rescued from neglect in Elk County, PA. Thanks to our amazing members who spread the word and, in some cases, traveled hundreds of miles, we are happy to report that 139 cats from Elk County found their forever homes!
Even though some of the cats tested positive for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, the sweet-tempered kitties were still warmly welcomed into the hearts and homes of many generous families.
After Catherine Tilley of Woodbridge, VA, read ASPCA News Alert last week, she drove six hours to adopt a cat from Elk County. “The whole journey to adopt this little kitty was a warm and happy experience,” she wrote to us. “The teams from the ASPCA, American Humane and the Elk County Humane Society should be proud of this rescue event.” Catherine’s note continues:
I was asked why I came so far to adopt a cat. It was the banner from the ASPCA newsletter: “We Rescued 400. Here's Your Chance to Rescue Just One.” It seemed overwhelming to make a happy story for 400 cats, especially since shelters are overcrowded, and rescue groups are working hard to place the many pets already in their care. I have two wonderful cats who were both adopted from a local county shelter in Virginia. But I did have room in my home and heart for one more kitty.
I could not be more smitten with the gentle little girl who came home with me. The first thing I noticed when I met her was her quirky cat grin. Seriously, you can't help yourself—you have to smile back. I named her Lucy because it's a happy name. Despite her rough start in life, gentle Lucy is the most affectionate, optimistic and happy cat I think I have ever met. She seems to celebrate every moment. That joy permeates. I'm glad I made the long journey and so grateful to have her with me.
Melissa Buhler of Kersey, PA, didn’t travel quite as far as Catherine, but she embraced her FIV-positive kitty, Lyle, with just as much unconditional love and affection. “He is the most lovable cat ever!” she enthuses. “Lyle, like our dog, has his own room with cat trees all over it. Even though he is limited to indoors, he is having a lot of fun.”
Melissa adds: “Thanks for giving our family the joy of Lyle—I may have overlooked him had you not shown me his love!”
Special thanks also to the following partner shelters that graciously accepted hundreds of other cats from Elk County: Bucks County SPCA, Humane Society of Berks County, Chautauqua County Humane Society, SPCA Serving Erie County, Atlanta Humane Society, Good Mews, SPCA Tampa Bay, Cat Depot, SPCA Suncoast, Columbia (SC) Animal Shelter, Noah’s Ark and One More Smith.
For more happy endings from Elk County, please visit our Adoption Event page.
3. Meet the $100K Challengers: Part Two
So, you’ve heard about the Save More Lives: ASPCA $100K Challenge? The ASPCA is offering $125,000 in prize money to challenge shelters across the country to save more cats and dogs from August 1 through October 31, 2010, than they did during the same months in 2009. Two weeks ago, we introduced you to our first six contestants—here are six more!
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Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society & SPCA, Tacoma, WA: The state of Washington is lucky to have the Humane Society’s tenacious go-getters, who open their doors to tens of thousands of animals every year. This shelter’s staff approaches every challenge with an optimistic, never-say-never attitude.
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Western Pennsylvania Humane Society (WPHS), Pittsburgh, PA: Western PA is in top humane form with WPHS motivating the community. Proactive and compassionate, this shelter encourages its neighbors to adopt, adopt, adopt! Employees go above and beyond to make sure every pet has a second chance.
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Dubuque Humane Society, Dubuque, IA: The smart team at the Dubuque Humane Society are approaching the Challenge in an unique way. Shelter employeers and volunteers—who describe themselves as having “awesome team mojo”—are striving to increase adoption by three animals each day over the previous year!
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Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston, Boston, MA: How do the folks at ARL of Boston motivate their community? Spreading the word that “the only thing these animals are lacking is you—and your home.” The organization would be thrilled to use the Challenge grand prize to develop community wellness clinics and mobile adoptions.
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Capital Area Humane Society (CAHS), Columbus, OH: Adopt, adore, advocate—that’s how CAHS describes its admirable mission. The shelter’s staff thinks big and firmly believes that every pet has the right to “the life your pet has.” Future dreams include launching a high-volume spay/neuter campaign for at-risk animals.
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Louisiana SPCA, New Orleans, LA: The Louisiana SPCA has no doubt seen its fair share of tough situations. Not to worry—the shelter's employees embrace all challenges with passion and determination! Their dream? To offer free spay/neuter services on every street corner in Southern Louisiana!
Check in next week, when we’ll introduce you to more motivated challengers!