Category: Feature Stories

When disaster strikes or a servicemember prepares to come home, one thing can make all the difference: knowing help is there.

Our corporate partner, Vertex, Inc., has made this possible.

In 2025, Vertex, Inc. donated nearly $30,000 to support our lifesaving work. Their generosity is already making a real difference for animals and the people who love them.

For many servicemembers and military contractors, the animals they rescue overseas become family. But bringing those pets home isn’t easy. Travel costs, veterinary care, paperwork, and unexpected delays can all stand in the way.

Thanks to Vertex, Inc., we were able to care for over 100 animals while they waited to be reunited with their loving servicemembers and military contractors who rescued them.

Just as important, Vertex, Inc.’s funding has strengthened the program. When unexpected veterinary needs come up or travel plans are delayed, we’re able to respond quickly. It also means we can care for more animals while they wait for their journey home.

Vertex, Inc.’s generosity also brought urgent relief to animals in Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa.

When the storm hit the north coast, many animals were left at risk. Shelters were damaged, supplies ran low, and help was needed right away.

Vertex, Inc. directed funding to disaster relief efforts. That support helped our local partner, Animal House, repair fences, fix damaged gutters, and provide food for animals in need.

Because of this timely support, animals were safer, and caregivers had the resources they needed during a very difficult time.

Each year, SPCA International sets aside funding to respond to disasters. But as emergencies become more frequent and more severe, the need can quickly exceed what we expect.

Vertex, Inc.’s end-of-year disaster relief gift allowed us to go further. We were able to provide a larger, more impactful grant, enabling us to reach more animals and communities affected by natural disasters.

Looking ahead, this partnership will continue to save lives.

Vertex, Inc. has committed $40,000 in funding for 2026 to help us continue this work. That means more rescued pets reunited with the families who love them. More shelters will receive critical support, and more communities will get help when they need it most.

We are deeply grateful to Vertex, Inc. for standing with animals and the people who care for them.

Interested in becoming an SPCA International corporate partner? Email [email protected] to learn how we can help save animals together. 

At the center of our PAWsitive Recovery program are people who show up with open hearts, ready to help both pets and their families through difficult times. Our volunteers and fosters make it possible for individuals to focus on healing, without having to worry about the safety of the animals they love most.

Their stories are powerful, full of compassion, and deeply inspiring. Meet some of the incredible people who make our work possible:

Kelsey:

For Kelsey, becoming a foster started with a simple moment—stopping by a booth at an event. But it quickly became something much more meaningful.

She understands how important it is for people to know their pets are safe while they get the help they need. As a foster, she provides that peace of mind. “I love being a safe place for the animal,” she shared. And for those thinking about getting involved, her message is simple: it’s an incredibly rewarding experience, and you’re supported every step of the way.

Mary:

Mary Stone was drawn to PAWsitive Recovery because she knows just how powerful the bond between people and their pets can be, especially during hard times.

She’s seen firsthand how this program changes lives. One moment she’ll never forget is reuniting a woman with her two cats after a full year apart. The woman traveled all the way from Pittsburgh, in tears as she held them again.

Another story stayed with her too. A woman escaping a domestic violence situation was working hard to rebuild her life. Knowing her cat was safe gave her the strength to focus on recovery. When they were reunited, it was a moment of pure joy.

Mary says it is the chance to protect these relationships and see happy reunions, that keeps her coming back.

Jane: 

For Jane, PAWsitive Recovery is personal. As someone in recovery herself, she knows how important connection and support can be.

Volunteering gives her a sense of purpose while helping others walk a similar path. “It fills my cup,” she said. Seeing someone go from doubt to hope reminds her why this work matters so much. And watching families reunite with their pets? There’s nothing better.

Her advice to others is honest and encouraging: you don’t have to have all the answers. Just showing up with compassion can make a real difference.

Alyn & BJ:

For foster parents Alyn and BJ, helping came naturally. Already known as the “weekend dog house” among friends, they were excited to turn their love for dogs into something even more meaningful.

They’ve welcomed many dogs into their home, each one leaving a special mark. From playful moments to quiet cuddles, they’ve watched each dog grow more comfortable and confident.

To them, PAWsitive Recovery is about showing up during one of the hardest times in someone’s life, and doing it in a way that feels natural and joyful. “It’s the perfect mix of purpose and joy,” they shared.

Nicole:

Nicole’s first fostering experience was deeply personal. When Ginger came into her home, the connection was immediate.

Both were going through loss, and together, they helped each other heal. Every morning, Ginger greeted Nicole with a kiss on the nose, a small but powerful reminder that they were getting through it together.

For Nicole, fostering was about offering love to a stranger in need and honoring the bond between people and their pets. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy, but knowing Ginger was back where she belonged made it all worth it.

Liz & Jordan:

Liz and Jordan Bamesberger found PAWsitive Recovery through a friend, and discovered it was the perfect way to help without the fear of “foster failing.”

Their whole family gets involved, including their own dogs and children. They’ve loved watching each foster dog become part of their home, even if just for a little while.

Reunification day is always emotional, but it’s also full of joy. And for their kids, it’s a chance to learn an important lesson: use what you have to help others.

If you’ve ever thought about fostering or volunteering, this is your sign. Learn more about our PAWsitive Recovery program today.

In honor of SPCA International’s anniversary, we’re celebrating the incredible programs that have shaped who we are today.

One of those programs is Patriot Pets, originally launched in 2008 as Operation Baghdad Pups. What started as a mission to help U.S. servicemembers reunite with the animals they loved overseas has grown into something truly special. Since then, we’ve helped make more than 1,600 joyful reunions possible between soldiers and the animals they never forgot.

Today, we’re taking a moment to look back and celebrate some of the amazing lives changed along the way.

Ken & Ollie

While serving overseas, Ken met a dog named Oliver and quickly fell in love.

Ken knew that if he left without him, Oliver would face a very uncertain future. So he searched for a way to bring him home and found SPCA International.

From that moment on, everything changed.

Nearly a decade later, Oliver is still by Ken’s side every day. He goes to work with him, joins him on daily adventures, and brings constant joy to his life.

Ken shared:

“He changed my life for the best. He calmed me down, forced me to be more disciplined, patient, caring, and all around loving. He brings a joy to my life that I did not know existed.

All of this was made possible by SPCAI and their program, Patriot Pets. Their team is made up of nothing but TRULY kindhearted angels. They make dreams come true daily. Words will never be able to fully explain the lives they make possible through their work…but I owe them nothing less than my sincere appreciation for changing my life for the best in every way possible. ”

Nick &  Brigadier Whiskers 

During a difficult deployment in Iraq, Brigadier Whiskers became a source of comfort for Nick Biancheri.

“Getting Brigadier Whiskers home was one of the most relieving feelings in my life. It was the silver lining to a difficult deployment to have all of you wonderful people help get my little friend to a safe and loving home. 

After getting to his new home, Whiskers really flourished. He remembered me when I came home from the army and he had changed from that scrappy little gentleman I knew in Iraq. After getting home he was so much more relaxed and playful. He was always friendly but now he can just live and enjoy his retirement. Thanks to everyone who took part in getting him home and to everyone with SPCA International.” 

For Nick, the reunion wasn’t just about bringing a pet home. It was about seeing a once-struggling stray grow into a safe, happy companion living a peaceful life.

Danny & Syri

In Syria, a chance meeting changed everything for Danny Rindone and Syri.

What started as an unexpected friendship became a lifelong bond that crossed borders and challenges.

“Simply put, SPCA International and Patriot Pets changed the trajectory of my life.
I never expected to find a dog most people only find once in a lifetime in the middle of Syria – and when I did, I had no idea how she would come home. But with the help of some incredible people, their efforts, and against tremendous odds, I gained a companion that the heart can only recognize a few times in our short stay on this planet.

Syri will turn 9 this April, and every day since she found her way back to me has been full of joy, love, adventure, and peace. She has never left my side since my departure from the Army, and she has given more to me than most people have. It’s hard to think of a favorite memory, because every day I wake up with her, the last one is rewritten into something better.

Saving Syri was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life, and I couldn’t have done it without SPCA International.”

Every story is different, but the heart of our Patriot Pets program remains the same. It’s about love, loyalty, and making sure no animal is ever left behind.

As we celebrate this anniversary, we’re grateful for every reunion and every person who helped bring these animals safely home.

Want to help make more reunions possible? Donate Now to help bring Patriot Pets to safety.

This year, SPCA International is turning 20, and we have so much to celebrate. For the past two decades, we have worked to protect animals, support communities, and reunite people with the pets they love. None of it would have been possible without you.

In May 2006, we began as a small group of animal lovers with a big dream. We wanted to build a global network that would support local animal groups and keep animals safe. From the very beginning, we have focused on helping shelters grow, sharing resources, and creating programs that make a real difference for animals around the world.

In 2007, we launched our first program. It was called Shelter of the Week, and today it is known as the Shelter Support Program. We started by giving $1,000 grants to small shelters so they could improve their spaces, expand spay and neuter efforts, and reduce euthanasia. In that first year, we gave $16,000 to 16 shelters. To date, we have given more than $10 million in grants, helping hundreds of shelters around the world. It has been incredible to watch this program grow and to build such strong partnerships along the way.

That same year, we got a message that changed everything. A sergeant on deployment in Baghdad asked for help bringing home a stray dog he had befriended. That dog, Charlie, became the inspiration for our Patriot Pets program.

We launched the program in 2008, with Charlie as our very first Patriot Pet. Our goal was simple. Help bring the pets of deployed service members to safety and reunite them with their families.

Through this program, we provide veterinary care, arrange travel, and cover the costs to bring these animals home. What started as one rescue has grown into a global effort. Last year, we reunited 121 animals with their families from 13 countries. To date, we’ve reunited more than 1,600 animals with their beloved service members.

​We have always believed that helping animals is most effective when we work together. This belief inspired us to start our Veterinary Aid program. Through this program, we send medical supplies to shelters and rescue groups, often in remote or under-resourced places. By providing these supplies, we help local teams continue their lifesaving work. In 2009, we sent about $1.9 million in supplies to two countries. Last year, we sent over $10 million in supplies to twelve countries, bringing our grand total to over $100 million in supplies since the inception of the program. These supplies have supported vaccinations, helped during disasters, and given shelters what they need to care for animals every day.

In 2024, we started one of our newest programs, PAWsitive Recovery. This program helps people facing addiction, trauma, or abuse so they do not have to choose between getting help and keeping their pets. We offer temporary foster care and pet visits, allowing people to focus on healing while knowing their animals are safe. In a short time, we have already helped 151 people and their pets. The impact keeps growing, and we look forward to helping even more lives.

Looking back over the past 20 years, one thing stands out: we could not have done any of this without you. Your support has allowed us to help animals worldwide, support shelters in need, and bring comfort and hope to so many people.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

We are proud of all we have achieved together, and we look forward to seeing what the next 20 years will bring.

We set out to rescue 32 animals in Iraq, and thanks to your support, we were able to save even more animals in need.  We now have 30 cats and 12 dogs safely in our care.

Just days ago, their future was uncertain. With their caretakers forced to flee and no reliable access to food or protection, these animals were at risk of being left behind. But thanks to your compassion and quick action, everything changed.

Because of your support, they are now in our care. They are safe. They have food. They have shelter. Most importantly, they are surrounded by people who truly care about them.

​Right now, they are decompressing. Some are still a bit shy and taking their time to adjust. Others are already seeking out affection and gently leaning into the kindness of our local staff. Little by little, they are beginning to bond with the people around them.

We are so grateful to everyone who donated to make this rescue possible. This mission would not have happened without you.

While we don’t yet know how long these animals will remain in our care, one thing is certain. We are fully committed to them. We will continue to provide everything they need, not just for these animals, but for the many other rescues we’ve recently taken in due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

One day, when the time is right, we look forward to seeing them thrive in the loving, forever homes they so deeply deserve. Until then, we will continue to be by their side.

When native animals in Western Australia are hurt, sick, or in danger, there’s one team people know they can call: WA Wildlife.

And for 6 years, we’ve been proud to call them our partner.

Our connection began during the devastating bushfires in 2020. Like so many others, we rushed in to help. But what started as an emergency response quickly grew into something more. From our very first conversations with the WA Wildlife team, their compassion, commitment, and dedication stood out. It was clear this was a partnership we wanted to continue.

In 2021, we helped them acquire the region’s first-ever emergency wildlife ambulance. And we’ve been proud to fund this life-saving program ever since.

This ambulance is truly a lifeline. It allows trained rescue officers to reach injured animals like kangaroos, birds, and other native wildlife, even in remote areas where help might not otherwise arrive in time. It means faster response, better care, and more second chances.

WA Wildlife has been caring for native animals since 1998. Founded out of a deep concern for wildlife, the organization has spent more than two decades rescuing, treating, and rehabilitating animals in need.

Today, their work is more important than ever.

Each year, thousands of animals are brought to the WA Wildlife Hospital due to vehicle strikes, orphaning, disease, habitat loss, entanglement, and other environmental challenges. Behind every one of those animals is a team working tirelessly to give them the best chance at recovery and release back into the wild.

Their work doesn’t just help animals. It supports entire communities and helps protect Australia’s unique wildlife for the future.

We’re incredibly proud to continue supporting WA Wildlife and the life-saving work they do every single day.

There are some reunions that just stick with you, and Guru’s is definitely one of them.

His story began thousands of miles away in Poland, where U.S. Army Captain Emma first met him. He was this tiny, scrappy cat trying to survive the freezing cold on his own. One night, as Emma was walking home, he approached her with no hesitation. And from that moment on, something clicked between them.

Emma did everything she could to make sure Guru was cared for while she was deployed. But eventually, like so many service members, she had to come home. Leaving him wasn’t easy. She couldn’t stop thinking about him out there in the cold, trying to make it on his own. So she reached out to our Patriot Pets program.

Our team got to work, determined to bring Guru somewhere safe and, most importantly, back to Emma. It wasn’t simple. It took international travel, careful coordination, and a lot of moving pieces coming together at just the right time. But in the end, we made it happen.

Guru made the long journey from Poland to New York City, where our team was waiting to welcome him. From there, they hit the road, bringing him straight to Boston. Straight back to the person he trusted from the very beginning.

When Guru and Emma saw each other, nothing else mattered. Guru didn’t hold back. He went right to Emma, like no time had passed at all.

Now, Guru is finally home. No more freezing nights. No more uncertainty. Just a safe, happy life with the person he loves most. And it gets better, because Guru now also has a new sibling, a sweet rescue dog. 

We’re so grateful we could be part of bringing Guru and Emma back together. And we can’t wait to share more updates as Guru settles into the life he always deserved.

Next month, something incredibly meaningful is happening in Chornobyl.

Our longtime shelter partner, Clean Futures Fund, will hold a large spay-and-neuter clinic within the Nuclear Exclusion Zone. And thanks to you, SPCA International is funding all of the medical supplies needed to make it happen.

This special clinic also falls during a powerful moment in history: the 40th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster.

In 1986, a nuclear reactor exploded, releasing radioactive material across the region. The accident forced thousands of families to evacuate their homes almost overnight. They were told to take only what they could carry and that they would be back soon. Believing they’d return in a few days, many people left behind their beloved cats and dogs with extra food and water.

Heartbreakingly, they were never allowed to come back.

Against all odds, many of those pets survived on their own. Today, hundreds of their descendants still live among the empty buildings and forests of Chornobyl.

For nearly a decade, SPCA International has worked side by side with Clean Futures Fund to care for these resilient animals. Together, we’ve provided food, warm shelter during harsh winters, and lifesaving medical care to dogs who have known a life few of us can imagine.

Now, this upcoming clinic will help protect even more of them. The goal is to spay, neuter, and vaccinate 350 animals. That means preventing hundreds of future litters from being born into challenging conditions. It also means protecting these dogs from painful and other preventable diseases. Every surgery and every vaccine helps stabilize the population and improve the health of the entire community of animals living there.

Spay-and-neuter clinics are among the most effective and compassionate ways to create lasting change. Instead of reacting to suffering later, we’re preventing it now.

We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity of our supporters. Because of you, we’re able to fund the medical supplies that make this clinic possible, from surgical tools and vaccines to antibiotics and basic care items. Your kindness is reaching animals in one of the most unique and challenging places in the world.

At SPCA International, we believe real change for animals starts in the community. That’s why we’re so excited to share that we’ve given a $100,000 grant to our amazing partner, Korean K9 Rescue, for their new program, Operation 1M.

Operation 1M has one clear goal: to bring compassionate, practical solutions to rural communities that need them most.

In these areas, dogs are often kept on short chains and used as guard dogs. Many families care about their animals but don’t have access to veterinary care or lack the education to provide proper animal care. Operation 1M steps in with support, not judgment. The team works with families in ways that build trust and create lasting change.

Through this initiative, a dedicated team of volunteers provides:

• Free spay and neuter services to reduce overpopulation
• Ongoing veterinary care to keep dogs healthy
• Weather-resistant dog houses to protect dogs from harsh conditions
• Pulley systems that replace short chains, allowing dogs more room to move safely

These changes may seem simple, but they make a huge difference. Dogs are safer, healthier, and much happier.

Education is at the heart of Operation 1M. The team works closely with families, sharing humane animal care practices in respectful ways that respect local traditions. This helps create real change that will last for years.

We are proud to support Korean K9 Rescue and their work through Operation 1M. Together, we’re not just helping dogs today. We’re helping build a future where every dog is treated with care and respect.

Because of you, 15 sweet Galgos were rescued from neglect, cruelty, and abuse. Many had been discarded at the end of hunting season. They were treated as disposable once they were no longer “needed.”

Today, their lives look completely different. They’re here in the United States, finally safe. Some are settling into foster homes, decompressing and learning what it feels like to be loved. Others are already in their forever homes, discovering the joy of having a family of their own.

Every single one of them is living a happier, safer life because your support made their rescue possible. And nothing brings us more joy than sharing their happiness with you, the person who helped make it all happen.