Animal Cruelty

At the ASPCA, we love it when animals and adopters just “fit.” It is so gratifying to bring a cat or dog into our Adoption Center and see them scooped into the perfect home right away. In the case of Vincent, a three-year-old cat who spent time at a city shelter, all it took was 10 days at the ASPCA before he found his ideal match—and he never looked back!  Here is his story.

When Alexis Earlbaum received Team ASPCA membership as a graduation gift from a friend, she knew she had received the perfect inspiration to train for and complete her first ever half marathon.

“The mission of the ASPCA is something that I live and breathe for,” Alexis says. “Every animal deserves to have the same protection and rights that we do. They are living beings and they feel and have a soul and they deserve to be loved.”

Nothing says “Independence Day” like sunshine, fireworks and barbecues. But while it may seem like a great idea to include your pets in these fun festivities, it’s important for all pet parents to beware of potential dangers caused by this holiday. In fact, lots of common picnic foods are toxic to animals, and nearly one in five lost pets goes missing after being scared by the sound of fireworks!

To help you and your four-legged friends have a petriotic Fourth, we’ve put together some key tips to ensure a safe holiday:

Animal Planet has helped find loving homes for over 2,000 pets through a 17-city partnership with the ASPCA and animal shelters across America. As the culmination of these efforts, we teamed up with Animal Planet and PAWS Chicago to host the “Woofstock: Road to Puppy Bowl” Festival at Chicago’s Soldier Field on Saturday, June 27.

Some Happy Tails speak right to the heart, and the story of Kiko is one such case. Rescued from an unhappy past, this sweet dog found a kindred spirit in his adopter, Carlos. Together, they helped each other heal while uncovering new depths of love and companionship. Here is their story.

UPDATE (7/8): While we initially reported more than 250 lives saved in this rescue operation, in the days following the raid that number has climbed to 300 victims. The animals are now receiving medical and emotional care in an off-site ASPCA facility.

Although Jordan and Fish had never met, the two senior cats had a lot in common. Both had been adopted and returned multiple times, both had behavioral issues and both were eager to find loving forever homes. As luck would have it, these sweet kitties did end up finding the perfect home—with each other! After years in the making, here is Jordan and Fish’s Happy Tail.