Community Engagement

What Is Community Engagement?

Many pet owners in New York City encounter significant challenges when caring for their animals. Financial hardship, health issues, unexpected crises, limited access to veterinary services and transportation barriers can prevent them from obtaining the resources they need. The ASPCA recognizes the deep bond between pets and their caregivers, understanding that when one is struggling, the other is affected as well.

Although these obstacles cannot be entirely eliminated, the ASPCA’s Community Engagement team in New York City works to improve access to essential services that promote the health and wellbeing of pets. The Community Engagement team collaborates with pet owners, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), human service providers, government agencies, domestic violence programs and advocacy groups to come up with solutions that help keep pets safe, healthy and in their homes whenever possible, especially during times of hardship.

What Community Engagement Does

The Community Engagement team offers a range of services designed to support pet owners, including:

• Access to select veterinary services
• Home visits to assess pets’ needs in their environment
• One-time supply support, including food, leashes, cat litter and more
• Guidance on pet surrender services and prevention
• Community cat training and education

• Direct Support
  To better support New York City residents who cannot afford care for their pets, low-income community members are eligible for services through the Community Engagement team. After a referral is received, a staff member from Community Engagement will reach out within 48 hours and assess the animal(s) in their home environment. Services may include providing supplies, scheduling veterinary care, and guidance on surrendering pet(s) if necessary. The team focuses on assisting families in a variety of ways, including grooming, shelter for outdoor dogs and education about community cats. The Community Engagement team can also assist with making referrals to social service agencies when necessary.

• Community Events
  The Community Engagement team takes part in local events to connect with people in their neighborhoods. These events help raise awareness about ASPCA services, build relationships with other service providers and engage directly with community members. Events like National Night Out, back-to-school gatherings and other fun, educational events allow the team to build stronger connections with the communities they serve.

• Vaccine Events
  The ASPCA collaborates with the NYPD and other key partners to host free pet vaccination events across the five boroughs, reaching over 1,500 animals each year. These events provide essential preventive care for pets and serve as a valuable resource for families, offering resources and support to help them best meet the needs of their pets.

• Law Enforcement
  The Community Engagement team works closely with the NYPD to support pets and their owners in situations where criminal intervention is not the most effective response. Often, difficult situations can be resolved with support from Community Engagement, such as providing access to veterinary care, resources, supplies or grooming services. These services help both pets and their people stay safe and together when appropriate. For cruelty cases involving animal cruelty, the NYPD leads the investigations, and the Community Engagement team helps care for the animals involved and assists with their removal when necessary.

• Domestic Violence Organizations
  Research shows a strong link between animal cruelty and domestic violence. The danger for both humans and animals is clear, and people experiencing domestic violence often delay leaving abusive situations out of concern for the health and safety of their pets. In these situations, we work with individuals and families in communities across New York City to provide options for both victims and their pets when seeking safety.

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