 | |
ASPCA in Action
The ASPCA's nationally respected Disaster Response Team was created in September of 2005 as a mechanism to assist with the rescue of animals in crisis during a natural disaster or major cruelty emergency. The Disaster Response Team is made up of ASPCA experts, including veterinarians, veterinary technicians, humane law enforcement agents, disaster responders and sheltering professionals. They have responded to such natural disasters as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008, but are more commonly called upon by state and municipal governments and other animal welfare partners to lend expertise during large-scale animal rescues. These include puppy mill raids, animal hoarding situations, dog fighting operations and other animal cruelty emergencies.
For the collection of evidence at crime scenes such as dog fighting raids, the ASPCA deploys our Mobile Animal Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit. This specially designed vehicle is outfitted with state-of-the-art forensics tools that enable the team to examine and care for sick animals while simultaneously collecting and processing on-site evidence, which helps build strong criminal cases against abusers and lawbreakers.
Jasper County, Mississippi—October 2009
The ASPCA assisted in the investigation of a suspected puppy mill operating in Bay Springs, Mississippi. 46 dogs—including Corgis, Shih Tzus, Poodles, Basset Hounds, Pomeranians, Chihuahuas and Schnauzers—were removed from the overcrowded kennels and taken to a temporary facility. Read More »
Eight-State Raid—July 2009
The ASPCA participated in an eight-state dog fighting raid, the largest federal crackdown on dog fighting in U.S. history, resulting in the rescue of over 400 dogs, most of whom are Pit Bulls. Read More »
Randolph County, AL—June 2009
When authorities raided two dog fighting operations in Roanoke and Newell, AL, the ASPCA dispatched forensic veterinarian Dr. Melinda Merck to collect evidence for the prosecution. Dr. Merck examined 46 dogs with scars, wounds and untreated injuries—two men were eventually charged for their crimes, including possession of dogs for fighting. Read More »
Cazenovia, WI—May 2009
The ASPCA assisted in the raid of animal sanctuary, Thyme and Sage Ranch, which held the animal control contract for Richland County, WI, and acted as the county's animal shelter. More than 315 dogs, 21 rabbits, as well as birds, horses, chinchillas, and a ferret, among others, were removed from the property during the two-day seizure. Animal carcasses were also found. Read More »
Sparta, TN—February 2009
A call from an alarmed would-be puppy buyer alerted authorities to the wretched condition of the hundreds of dogs at this puppy mill. The ASPCA managed the raid and brought 43 of the rescued dogs back to New York City for adoption! Read More »
Lyles, TN—June 2008
This puppy mill raid in rural Tennessee—the state’s largest on record—revealed more than 700 neglected dogs and was “one of the worst situations I have ever seen,” says ASPCA forensic vet Dr. Melinda Merck. Read More »
Raid Journal, Lyles, TN—June 2008
Forensic veterinary assistant Felicia Earley shares her photos and diary from the massive Lyles puppy mill raid. Read More »
Tarentum, PA—March 2008
In one of the largest anti-cruelty raids of recent times, more than 600 cats living in squalor were seized from the 28-acre Tiger Ranch. Hundreds of dead cats were also discovered, some in freezers inside the home, others in open burial pits and still others in plain view. Read More »
Quarryville, PA—February 2008
Our undercover anti-cruelty investigator gets a sickly, rail-thin Italian greyhound away from the puppy mill operator who was intentionally starving her to death. To make matters worse, she is about to give birth. Find out what happened to the little dog and her puppies. Read More »
Buxton, ME—August 2007
About 200 dogs were removed from this kennel—but so many were pregnant that a few weeks later, the total dog count had climbed to 368. Read More »
Donate Today
