Last May, we were excited to announce that the ASPCA has dedicated $25 million to assist animals in need in Los Angeles, California in a multi-year effort. The initiative is off to a strong start—in 2014, we were able to assist thousands of Los Angeles animals and their families!

Since the launch, we have provided the following services:

• Performed 3,500 free spay/neuter surgeries for pets at the ASPCA’s fully subsidized spay/neuter clinic.
   
• Assisted more than 1,200 animals through the ASPCA Safety Net program, designed to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters by providing services to pet owners at risk of giving up their pets.
   
• Relocated more than 500 animals from overcrowded Los Angeles County shelters to communities where they have a better chance of being adopted.
   
• Distributed more than $1.3 million in grants to local animal welfare organizations and partners.

We’ve also worked to form relationships with Los Angeles pet parents, ensuring that they are aware of our services:

At a neighborhood event, ASPCA Community Advocate Elizabeth Gamboa met Carmen and her 11-year-old son. Elizabeth learned that the family’s four-year-old terrier mix, Chico, was not neutered, soon a follow-up visit to Carmen’s home, she provided a voucher for a free neuter, as well as a free ID tag, collar and leash. Chico was neutered at the ASPCA spay/neuter clinic. The family is now an ambassador for the ASPCA.

Maria brought her Chihuahua, Fanny, to our Baldwin Park shelter on a hunch that Fanny was ill. Maria could not afford veterinary services but loves 10-year-old Fanny, whom she’s had since she was a puppy. Erica Macias, the ASPCA’s Baldwin Park Safety Net manager, provided a voucher for a check-up for Fanny at a nearby clinic. The ASPCA covered her veterinary bill, which included treatment and medication for ear and skin infections, as well as vaccines.

We can’t wait to help more animals like Chico and Fanny in 2015! We plan to add staff and increase surgeries performed at our spay/neuter clinic, expand our Safety Net initiative and increase the capacity of our transport program. Stay tuned for more updates to come as we continue our work in Los Angeles!

Thank you to our partners on the ground in Los Angeles, including Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation, L.A. Animal Services, County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care & Control, Downtown Dog Rescue, The Amanda Foundation, Stray Cat Alliance, Fix Nation, The Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, Found Animals Foundation, and the Spay Neuter Project of Los Angeles (SNP LA).