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Shelters Are in Crisis.
Approximately 6.5 million animals entered U.S. shelters in 2023. With limited resources and too many animals in their care, shelters are working overtime to give these animals what they need.
But the good news is, we can help change that. When you adopt or foster from a local shelter, you’re not only giving that animal the love and care they deserve — you’re also making space for another. Together, we can ease the strain on shelters and the professionals who dedicate their lives to helping animals every day. And who knows? You might just change your own life in the process. That’s The Rescue Effect.
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Our Role in The Rescue Effect
Here are just some of the ways the ASPCA partners with local shelters and provides life-changing tools, resources and relocation services to help give even more animals a second chance.
Our Shelter Medicine Services team works directly with shelters across the country through remote and on-site consultations and has impacted almost 500,000 animals since 2002. With more veterinarians board-certified in Shelter Medicine Practice than any other sheltering organization in the world, we operate the largest training program for future shelter medicine specialists.
Additionally, the ASPCA Adoption Center and Kitten Nursery serve more than 2,000 of the most in-need and vulnerable dogs, cats and neonate kittens in New York City annually entering the shelter from New York Police Department (NYPD) cruelty cases, overwhelmed owners, and Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC).
And, as the largest transporter of shelter dogs and cats for adoption in the U.S., we’ve also partnered with local shelters and rescues across 40 states to safely relocate over 250,000 animals for a better chance of adoption.
“We’ve worked with local rescue groups to move animals out of our shelter, but in 2020 we began our relationship with the ASPCA to establish partnerships with rescues and shelters outside of Texas. Since then, we’ve transported 8,000 dogs and cats all over the country, which allows us to assist Texas municipal shelters and our community."
Kelli Eaves
Senior Director of Lifesaving Initiatives, SPCA of Texas
“I felt like she was meant for me,” about Rocky, an 11-year-old cat adopted from the ASPCA after her previous cat, O’Reily, also from the ASPCA, passed away at 14. "O’Reily was—and Rocky is—such a sweetheart. That really says something about the ASPCA. I’ve been blessed with sweeties.”
Gabrielle L.
Adopter
“With more animals entering shelters than leaving, we need to continue working together to keep pets in loving homes and out of shelters. The ASPCA partners with shelters and rescues nationwide to help animals through relocation, training, sharing resources, and we ask the public to join us by adopting, fostering, and volunteering.”
Matt Bershadker
ASPCA President and CEO
Adoption Resources
What to Expect When Adopting
Animals aren’t looking for perfection, they’re looking for a loving home. The ASPCA has resources that can help you during every step of your adoption journey.
Before You Adopt
Before welcoming a new companion into your life, it’s important to prepare your home, your schedule and your budget.
After You Adopt
The ASPCA is committed to providing pet owners the resources and tools needed to have fulfilling relationships with the animals they adopt.