Why was Philadelphia chosen as an ASPCA partner city?
Philadelphia was chosen before there was an ASPCA Partnership. The city’s animal welfare facilities were already working together, demonstrating a strong ability to collaborate. Seeing this, the ASPCA jumped in with resources to hasten the strides they were making.
Philadelphia is also home to nearly 1.5 million people, with more than 667,000 cat and dog owners. The population of stray and feral cats that needs tending is estimated at 300,000.
What Philadelphia animal welfare agencies are participating?
Philadelphia Department of Health
Philadelphia Animal Care & Control (PACCA)
Pennsylvania SPCA
Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society PAWS
What are some of the challenges that these Philadelphia agencies face?
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Overcrowded shelters
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Nearly 300,000 stray and feral cats in the city
What have the results of ASPCA Partnership efforts been to date?
In 2008, despite an increase of over 7 percent more animals entering Philadelphia shelters, partnering agencies were able to hold the live release rate—or the number of animals who have left shelters through adoptions, returns to owners and transfers—at 48 percent, a number well over the 28 percent achieved in 2004.
In 2008, 12,235 animals were adopted out, maintaining the previous year’s numbers, while 28 percent more targeted spay/neuter surgeries were performed.
How is the ASPCA contributing financially to Philadelphia?
The ASPCA’s lead gift was $150,000, to be given over 3 years to the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. The funds have gone to support a shelter animal medicine program, which includes internships and rotations at Philadelphia Animal Care and Control.
In 2008, the ASPCA assisted with a variety of spay/neuter programs, including underwriting “The Cube,” Pennsylvania SPCA’s feral cat spay and neuter clinic, a grant to The Spayed Club for a high-volume spay/neuter clinic and financial assistance for other organizations that are aiding the city’s animals.
The ASPCA, along with the Governor’s office, has also advocated to effect changes in commercial dog breeding operations throughout the state. These advocacy efforts were a major factor in the sweeping changes made by Governor Edward G. Rendell to the Dog Law Advisory Board, as well as to the existing Dog Law. The ASPCA will continue to advocate for the improvement of animal welfare conditions—a significant contributor to the creation of humane communities in the state.