Animal Cruelty

At the request of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina (USASC) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the ASPCA is currently on the ground assisting with a federal investigation involving drugs and dog fighting in Columbia, South Carolina.

National Pit Bull Awareness Day, which takes place on October 25, was created to bring positive attention to the Pit Bull Terrier. By combating myths about the breed, we have the power to restore its good reputation and save thousands of lives. Here’s how you can help:

Chicken Scratch is an ASPCA Blog feature that highlights interesting news about farm animals and farm animal welfare.

Television actress Sarah Hyland visited New York City this week to kick off Swiffer’s year-long campaign to help the ASPCA find homes for animals in need. On Monday, Hyland had the opportunity to interact with multiple adoptable dogs and tour the ASPCA Adoption Center.

Hyland also helped to host a pet appreciation party, which featured adoptable pets, in Manhattan on Tuesday with Swiffer and the ASPCA. There she shared her about her personal experiences with her dog Barkley Bixby by her side.

Ozzie was just six months old when she was abandoned after Hurricane Sandy. Found in a box with a sign that said, “Help me, I’m handicapped,” the tiny kitty was quickly diagnosed with cerebellar hypoplasia—a neurological disorder that affects balance. She was placed into a foster home with many other cats, which is where Jami DeAngelis, Senior Director of Internal Audit at the ASPCA, first met her.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the agency responsible for protection of wild horses and burros as cultural icons, is considering a plan to ship many of these burros to Guatemala to become working animals. Once off of U.S. soil, the fate of these animals becomes largely unknown. What’s more, if carried out, this plan establishes a dangerous precedent for other federally protected equines.

It’s no coincidence that many of our Happy Tails begin with a magical moment. Adopters often describe the first encounter with their pet as, “meant to be” or, “love at first sight.” But not everyone believes in kismet and fairy dust, and Stephen L. was one such person. Assuming that dog adoption would be as simple as “picking a pet,” he never expected to have his heart stolen by a pit bull named Clipper. Here is their Happy Tail.

They arrived on leashes, in crates, and even in shopping carts. Mastiffs and Malteses, bulldogs and boxers, pit bulls and poodles. From the tiniest teacup Chihuahuas to giant German Shepherds—and even a handful of felines.

More than 300 pets were vaccinated at the ASPCA’s first-ever free clinic at Green Meadows Park on E. 89^th and San Pedro Streets in South Los Angeles on Saturday.

One of the realities of animal adoption is that not every animal fits in to every family. Every now and then, despite our best efforts, an animal will be returned after adoption. Such was the case with Leroy, a sweet gray kitty who spent nine months with a family before being brought back to our Adoption Center. But we never give up on an animal, and luckily for Leroy, the perfect couple came along and proved that sometimes, it takes two chances to find your one forever home. Here is Leroy’s Happy Tail.

It’s time to meet your match, people—your four-legged match! Once again the ASPCA is teaming up with dozens of animal shelters across the country for the third-annual ASPCA Mega Match-a-thon, presented by Subaru. This weekend (October 17-19), more than 100 animal rescues across the country are joining forces to co-host some epic adoption events. We chipped in more than $220,000 in grants, made possible by Subaru as part of our participation in the Subaru “Share the Love” event last year, to help make it happen.