Letter From Our VP: How ASPCA Day Moves and Inspires

To kick off this exciting week—ASPCA Day is Thursday, but we’re already in the spirit around here!—we have a special guest blogger. Jo Sullivan, ASPCA Senior Vice President of Development and Communications, wanted to share with you how ASPCA Day has touched and inspired her. She will be speaking at Union Square in New York City on Thursday—don’t miss it! So without further ado, here’s Jo:

As April 10 approaches, I am struck by the sense of excitement people are feeling for ASPCA Day. What started out as a few people posting notices on meet-up sites and asking their friends to "do something orange" has turned into the largest event the ASPCA has. It is humbling to know how many people we touch and how much our work means to the pet loving part of our population. Last year we poured over stories and photos across the country and were moved to tears by so many of them. One that stands out is the story of a privately owned nursing home—the residents, the facility, even the staff all went orange. They sent pictures of four-legged babies with all the residents, and pictures of all the decorations and orange snacks anybody could want. My mother was suffering from Alzheimer's at that time and in a nursing home herself. Knowing how much happiness and comfort my dogs brought their Grandma when they visited, I was especially touched at how some special people brought joy to that group and helped us go orange—even in a nursing home. Schools, banks, neighborhoods—the stories went on and on and we were honored by every single effort.

When I started here in 1999, it was the realization of a life-long dream to help animals. True, I thought I'd end up being Dr. Doolittle and have the power to speak to critters—but speaking for them is close enough. April 10 has a special significance to me because it allows us all here to take a moment and celebrate what we've done. To acknowledge homeless pets and animal cruelty can be hard, slow to change, painful to see and sometimes it seems overwhelming. But to allow ourselves to look around at the victories we've achieved makes it worthwhile.

April 10 acknowledges that 142 years ago, a brave man named Henry Bergh felt animals were important enough to form the first animal welfare society in North America, and that 142 years later, we are still here. Still fighting. Still winning. And most importantly still loving the animals we serve. Join us and go orange— tie a ribbon on your car, your wrist or your front door. When somebody asks "What's that mean?" you can tell them that you are going orange for animals and to check out the ASPCA's website to find out how they can go orange, too.