The mission of SPCA International is simple but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals.
SPCA International's executive director, Meredith Ayan, shares video we recently received from Daisy's rescuers and caretakers. Thank you to everyone who chipped in to help her recover from the terrible cruelty she endured! We couldn't do this life-saving work without your support.
If you are interested in adopting Daisy, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line "Daisy Adoption Inquiry" and we will send you more information about the process. Thank you!
Break out the tissues – you’re going to love this video. It hasn’t gone viral yet, but we’re hoping you can help us with that! SPCAI ran a “Super Mission” to rescue 25 soldiers’ dogs from the Middle East earlier this year. In this video you’ll meet one of these rescues and her favorite Army Corporal, Danny.
In September 2018, we reached out to the generous SPCA International community with a request to raise funds for our international partners who are working to put a stop to the dog meat trade and rescue its innocent victims. This is one of the most heartbreaking realities; community dogs are being rounded up, tortured and slaughtered because people believe their meat has special properties such as the ability to increase virility. Worst of all, this myth also perpetuates a belief that if a dog suffers before death, the meat will be more powerful. Dogs are being tortured through beating, electrocution, stabbing, and even being boiled or skinned alive.
Despite public outcry from many citizens where people consume dog meat, the practice continues. China, for example, can be a perilous place for dogs, but thanks to SPCA International supporters, more help and support is on the way. A $20,000 grant will be made to Bo Ai Animal Center where founder Du Yufeng along with staff and volunteers work tirelessly to rescue dogs from the meat trade and work toward a ban on all dog meat consumption.
The Bo Ai Animal Center is home to hundreds of dogs, and it would be impossible for the staff and volunteers to care for these animals without financial support from organizations like SPCAI and supporters like you.
Noah (above) is one of the Bo Ai’s more recent rescue dogs. He was lucky to be saved from the meat trade by Du and her team. Once he was healthy and vetted, Noah traveled to Amsterdam to meet his new forever family. They welcomed him with open hearts and warm hugs and today he is settling in nicely. He is experiencing a lot of firsts in Amsterdam – a new dog bed all his own, long walks, life with a housecat, and he even met a horse.
Many dogs like Noah that have been rescued from the dog meat trade and other perilous situations, are still available for adoption on by Bo Ai Animal Center’s website. We hope you will consider opening your heart and home to one of them.
Mason the Goldendoodle was almost left behind in Seattle. Thanks to SPCA International supporters and a grant from the Operation Military Pets program, Mason moved to Hawaii with the family he loves.
Like many newly married couples, Kristyna and Luis Aviles added a dog to their family shortly after their wedding. Both active duty military, the Aviles say that Mason, a Goldendoodle, was their first baby. Kristyna says, “he doesn’t even know he is a dog!”
When a human baby, Troy, came along the connection with Mason was instant. Like most new parents, Luis and Kristyna were a bit worried about their dog’s response to a new baby, but Mason was immediately dedicated to the new member of his family. This dog-baby duo is so bonded, they even share toys!
With a new baby, Kristyna made the decision to not re-enlist in the military, and the family tightened their belts to accommodate the loss of a paycheck. When Luis’s orders came for a change of duty station to Hawaii, they immediately started making plans and soon found out that Mason was too big to travel checked in the cargo hold – they would have to use an expensive pet moving company. The couple worried they wouldn’t be able to afford the costly move and would have to find a new home for Mason. They were heartbroken.
They turned to SPCA International for help, through the Operation Military Pets program we were able to help defray the high cost of the pet moving company. The Aviles are so grateful for the support from SPCA International, saying “it is a great organization that kept our family together.”
SPCA International is honored to serve military families, like the Aviles, and their beloved pets. We are grateful for the support of our many donors who make programs like Operation Military Pets possible. Thank you!
Emotional support animals are controversial. Let’s talk about the difference between service animals and emotional support animals, why emotional support animals are increasing in popularity, and why they are so controversial.
Both service animals and emotional support animals serve a distinct purpose in their owner’s lives, but there are some key differences.
Service Animals:
Are trained to complete specific tasks to support a person with a disability such as blindness, limited mobility, or diabetes. Service animals’ access to all businesses and public spaces is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Service animals usually receive extensive training before becoming a “working” dog.
Emotional Support Animals:
Provide companionship to a person with an emotional or phycological disability such as PTSD, anxiety or depression. These animals do not typically require special training. In most states emotional support animals do not have access to all businesses and public places, instead they are limited to being allowed to accompany their owner in no-pet housing, and to fly on an airplane with their owner if they are needed in-flight or at the owner’s destination.
Increase in popularity:
Anyone with a pet reaps positive emotional benefits from interaction with their animal. As humans, we adopt pets and treat them as valued members of our families. So, when furry family members are prohibited from housing or people fear having to leave a pet behind because of flight restrictions, they often turn to the option of an emotional support animal.
You might wonder why don’t people just find other housing or travel with their animal as checked baggage? There are many reasons: unavailability of housing, safety, cost, and restrictions for animals traveling as checked baggage, to name a few.
The controversy:
Service animals and emotional support animals are not required to be registered as such with any entity. That’s right, there are numerous voluntary registries, but no requirement. Because housing and airline documentation pertains to the person and not the animal, animals can often be untrained and even sometimes lack basic obedience. All that is needed is a letter from a mental health provider or physician stating that the person has a health requirement for the animal.
While the majority of service and emotional support animals are well-behaved, there have been instances of poor behavior, including accidents, barking, and even aggression- which has led the housing and airline industries to seek better controls for emotional support animals.
Here at SPCA International, we’re closely monitoring the debate. We know that both service animals and emotional support animals provide an extraordinary benefit to their owners, and we hope that any regulations are developed carefully and with the interest of the animals in mind, as well as humans.
This squirrel just wants a snack! But a backyard bird feeder has different plans! Here at SPCA International, we’ve bookmarked this hilarious video for future laughs. Cute, funny, and shareable, our staff pick September Viral Video is sure to make you laugh.
Thanks to an incredible outpouring of support from the SPCA International community, we are happy to announce Sam’s Cause grants to three organizations working on the front lines against dogfighting. These groups not only rescue animals, but also work with local authorities to put a stop to dogfighting operations. Because dogfighting is often related to other criminal activities, this work can be risky. SPCA International is proud to support Ravi Foundation, Dog Rescue Romania, and Detroit Animal Rescue Group.
Each of these organizations depends heavily on volunteers, and every donation makes a huge impact on their ability to rescue dogs from fighting rings and provide the extensive medical care these dogs need to heal.
Ravi Foundation: This group in Pakistan is advocating tirelessly on behalf of animals. They are working with the media and local officials to appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to put a stop to dogfighting. When dogfighting rings are broken up by police, those involved are often cited for gambling. The perpetrators pay a small fine but are then able to keep the dogs and continue their operations. Ravi Foundation is leading Pakistan in adopting more animal friendly policies and practices.
Ravi Foundation Chairperson, Ms. Rafia Ashfaq speaks to the press about the problem of dogfighting in Pakistan.
Dog Rescue Romania: This group is rescuing animals from hopeless lives on the streets of Bucharest, where systematic dog killing is sanctioned by the government. They are chronically underfunded and must focus their resources on the animals in the worst conditions, such as those with injuries from fighting. Dog Rescue Romania rescued Sam and brought his situation to our attention. They continue to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome animals from seemingly hopeless situations.
DAWG (Detroit Animal Welfare Group): This organization is a shining example of volunteerism. Many weekend mornings see DAWG volunteers combing the streets and parks of Detroit for abandoned dogs – many are losers of dogfights. These volunteers bring dogs to the vet, organize foster placements, and search out loving homes for the dogs that live. Unfortunately, DAWG often finds animals that have already been killed – or are nearly dead – and are dumped out with the trash. We are proud to support their efforts to save dogs harmed by fighting.
DAWG volunteer at a protest to end dogfighting.
Most of us enjoy summer hikes, swims, and other outings with our pets… follow these tips to keep them safe from the heat.
If you detect any signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as excessive drooling, red or purple tongue, vomiting, and suspect your pet is at risk, contact your vet right away for medical care that may save your pet’s life.