ASPCA Launches Charlotte, N.C. Partnership To Save Animals

NEW YORK—The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today officially launched its ASPCA Partner Community program in Charlotte, N.C. The program is a collaborative and innovative effort to increase the number of lives saved among at-risk and homeless pets in the area, and is part of a national initiative called The ASPCA Partnership. The ASPCA made the announcement alongside local agencies and city officials in a press conference at The Palmer Building

The Charlotte ASPCA Partnership features a public/private collaboration between the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Animal Care & Control Division (an open admission public shelter); and the Humane Society of Charlotte (a private, non-profit animal welfare agency).

“Today is a landmark day for our new partners in Charlotte and for Charlotte’s animals,” said ASPCA President & CEO Matt Bershadker. “We’re about to embark on a multi-year, multi-faceted partnership with the singular goal of saving lives and sparking positive and lasting change in the lives of community animals. I congratulate them and wish them luck.”

The ASPCA Partnership will include annual planning meetings with Charlotte partners to determine and monitor goals, strategies and needs. It also includes a grant allocation process, where partner agencies will have the opportunity to apply for substantial grants to address the community’s needs and implement targeted, sustainable programs aimed at increasing live outcomes for animals. The agencies will also have access to ASPCA resources, expertise and guidance, as well as strategic planning support, statistical analysis, training, and participation in ground-breaking research projects.

“We are excited to be chosen by the ASPCA to become a partner community in 2014. The ASPCA has a great foundation and a vast array of knowledge that will assist us in making even greater strides in the welfare of animals in the Charlotte community. We are enthusiastic to be connected to an agency that not only lends us the support we need, but also engages the community through collaboration. The ASPCA has documented successes and we are honored to be chosen to be a part of a partnership that supports our efforts in increasing live outcomes and finding safe and loving homes for our animals,” said Deputy Chief Vicki Foster of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

“The Humane Society of Charlotte is not only excited but honored to have the opportunity to work with our partners to further our work to increase the number of animals' lives saved here in Mecklenburg County. Having the support and expertise of the ASPCA and their knowledge of proven strategies that have worked in other partner communities is invaluable and will help us strengthen our community partnerships and pave the way to making Charlotte a city where ultimately every healthy animal has a chance at life. This transformational partnership can have a huge impact on how Charlotte treats animals as a community,” said Humane Society of Charlotte President & CEO Shelly A. Moore.

Last year, approximately 16,000 homeless animals entered the Charlotte partner agencies. Aside from overcrowding in its shelters, some of the other challenges facing Charlotte are animals lost and separated from their owners, and huge needs for both spay-neuter services and animal adoptions.

Since 2007, the ASPCA has been lending its support, financially and through training and other human resources, to communities around the country with the goal of helping them save more animals. The ASPCA’s work focuses a collective effort on sustainable, data-driven plans and programs that engage the community in providing positive outcomes for these animals. Since the ASPCA began its Partnership program in 2007, more than one million animals have been adopted, returned to owners, or spay/neutered as a result of the exceptional collaboration among partner agencies in each community.

In addition to Charlotte, N.C., the ASPCA’s current Partner Communities are Albuquerque, N.M. (set to launch next week); Louisville, Ky.; Miami-Dade County, Fla.; and Sacramento, Calif. The ASPCA’s investment in these partnerships—in the form of direct grants, capacity-building, training, ASPCA staff expertise, and strategic planning—varies from a one- to five-year period to address homeless animal issues in each community.