- 1. Sign Up for Pet Therapy Classes at the ASPCA
- 2. ASPCA Happy Tails: These Boots Are Made for Snuggling
- 3. Get Political for Animals at Advocacy Workshop
- 4. Save More Lives—Take the ASPCA $100K Challenge
- 5. The Big Apple Goes Orange for Animals in NYC
- 6. ASPCA Pet of the Week: Little Orphan Sandy
1. Sign Up for Pet Therapy Classes at the ASPCA
Have you always wanted to help others while bonding with your pooch? Since 2000, the ASPCA has been the East Coast Affiliate of Delta Society, a national organization that works to improve human health through interaction with service and therapy animals. The ASPCA routinely hosts classes for dogs and cats to become certified therapy animals, preparing them to visit hospitals, nursing homes, classrooms, libraries and other facilities.
Enroll yourself and your pet in our upcoming seven-week course at our Manhattan headquarters. We’ll identify your strengths and preferences, and offer recommendations for volunteering in facilities that best ensure safe, enjoyable and successful animal-assisted therapy experiences. Our classes are open to dogs with basic skills who enjoy the company of other dogs and people.
When: Saturdays, April 24 through June 5 (no class on Memorial Day weekend)
What Time: Choose one of two sessions, 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. or 10:15 to 11:15 A.M.
Where: ASPCA Headquarters, 424 E 92nd St. (between 1st and York), 2nd Floor Training Center
How Much: $290.00; includes the Delta Society team training manual and evaluation
To Register: Please visit the following links to reserve your spot today!
9:00 to 10:00 A.M.
10:15 to 11:15 A.M.
For more information about our Animal Assisted Therapy program, please contact Greer Griffith at greerg@aspca.org.
2. ASPCA Happy Tails: These Boots Are Made for Snuggling
When three-year-old Boots returned to the ASPCA in December 2009, we found comfort in knowing the extroverted love bug would soon find another home. Tanya Khan of Queens, NY, was the lucky parent who fell for the outgoing kitty’s cuddly ways. We recently caught up with Tanya, who sent us a note describing how Boots (now called Billee Boots) is enjoying the good life in his cozy new home!
When I came to the ASPCA, the first thing I saw was the shelter’s amazing habitats for cats. Boots was in the second one—the one located near the front window. When I started to pet him, he immediately flipped his head into my palm. I fell in love right away.
The adoption volunteer took me around the entire shelter, but I just kept thinking about Boots. I passed by his habitat again and realized I wanted to adopt him right then and there. Since I’ve never had a cat or dog before, I went home to think about whether I could really take care of a pet. But I couldn’t stop thinking about that cat!
The next morning I returned to the ASPCA, adopted Boots and renamed him Billee Boots. (Billee means “cat” in my native Urdu.) Now he sleeps cuddled next to me every night like a baby. He’s extremely outgoing and affectionate, and never shies away from company. When I come home, he puts both paws around my shoulders and gives me what I like to call “kitten kisses.”
My entire family loves him, and I can’t thank the ASPCA enough for taking care of this little guy. He’s a spoiled little boy! Billee Boots has changed my life for the better.
3. Get Political for Animals at Advocacy Workshop
On Saturday, May 1, Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue invites you to join Julie Lewin—friend of the ASPCA and president of the National Institute for Animal Advocacy (NIFAA)—for “How to Get Political for Animals,” an inspiring and educational workshop on grassroots animal advocacy. Meet and network with other animal advocates in your area and learn how one person (you!) can create political change for animals.
Lewin is a political consultant and author of Get Political for Animals and Win the Laws They Need: Why and How to Launch a Voting Bloc in Your Town, City, County or State (she will be selling and signing copies at this event). Her presentation includes advice on lawmaking, voting bloc politics and lobbying. Come learn what you need to know in order to influence and impact legislation for animals at any government level.
Date: Saturday, May 1
Time: 1:00 to 4:00 P.M.
Where: Cold Spring Harbor Library
95 Harbor Road
Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724
(631) 692-6820
www.cshlibrary.org
Cost: None! There is no fee for this event, but registration is appreciated. Register at www.cshlibrary.org.
Amaryllis Farm Equine Rescue is hosting several other lectures on a wide range of animal-related topics throughout April and May. Check out the group’s online calendar of events to learn more.
4. Save More Lives—Take the ASPCA $100K Challenge
Are you looking to make a real difference in the lives of animals? We’re searching for public and private shelter leaders and volunteers to take their town to the next level by vastly increasing pet adoptions in their community. To sweeten the deal, we’re launching a friendly competition to inspire innovation and showcase successful, life-saving programs.
Officially launched on April 8, the ASPCA $100K Challenge will award more than $125,000 in prizes, including a grand prize grant of $100,000! To qualify for the grand prize competition, shelters need to save a minimum of 300 more cats, dogs, kittens and puppies from August through October 2010, compared with the same three-month period in 2009. Beyond that, the winner will be the shelter that saves the most additional animals from August through October 2010. The ASPCA will also grant $25,000 to the shelter that most inspires and engages its community to get involved in promoting pet adoptions and reuniting lost animals with their pet parents. (And yes, the same shelter can win both big prizes!)
“Unique from our other grants that fund specific programs, the ASPCA $100K Challenge is a competition to inspire creative solutions for increasing pet adoptions and improving return-to-owner rates,” says ASPCA President & CEO Ed Sayres. “The Challenge will spark innovation and draw more community support to help shelters help animals.”
So hurry and register today or help us spread the word to your local animal welfare leaders! We’re accepting applications through June 30, but the Challenge is limited to 50 shelters. The official competition period is August 1 through October 31, and winners will be announced in early December 2010.
To read all Challenge rules or to enter your shelter to win for animals, please visit ASPCApro.org.
5. The Big Apple Goes Orange for Animals in NYC
Are you ready to paint the town orange in honor of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month? Well, dress yourself, your kids and your pets in ASPCA orange and join us on Saturday, April 17, from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., at Brooklyn’s Grand Army Plaza for the 2nd Annual ASPCA Pet Health Block Party!
Enjoy free refreshments and entertainment, including tunes by DJ Hard Hittin Harry, along with a full range of pet services and family-fun activities:
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Free spay/neuter surgeries for all pets
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Free microchipping and vaccinations
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Free pet ID tags
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Cats and dogs available for adoption
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ASPCA health and behavior experts on hand to answer pet-related questions
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Meet and greet with ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Agents
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Special "Kids’ Zone" with face painting, temporary tattoos, cotton candy and more!
Plus, don’t miss our special guests—including Grammy-nominated R&B recording artist Maiysha and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz—who will issue a proclamation in honor of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month.
For more information on the event and for other ways to help celebrate Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month this April, please visit ASPCAApril.org.
6. ASPCA Pet of the Week: Little Orphan Sandy
Meet Sandy—a four-year-old, buff-colored Cocker Spaniel who boasts brains and beauty. She’s a quick study and loves to learn new tricks, especially if you entice her with tasty treats.
Sandy has a few long-term medical needs—she was recently diagnosed with hypothyroidism—and is scared of tall men and loud voices. She would like to meet an experienced pet parent who’s eager to take care of her grooming needs in a home without young children.
If you’re interested in adopting this special pooch, please call our Animal Placement department in New York City at (212) 876-7700, ext. 4120. Or to view other animals looking for homes, visit our Adoption Center online.
****Got Facebook? Won’t you please donate your status to Sandy? Just copy and paste the following message onto your profile status to help spread the word that this pooch needs a home!
[Name] is donating my status to Sandy http://www.aspca.org/sandy, a dog at the ASPCA who needs a new home.