Category: Feature Stories

Earlier this year, we introduced our Apollo’s Aid program with the aim of reuniting displaced refugees with their beloved pets. Not long after, a heartfelt plea reached us from a Ukrainian family who had escaped the war but had to leave their dear companion, Dzhesika, behind. Though they left her in trusted hands, their hearts yearned for her return.

Our dedicated team worked tirelessly to bring Dzhesika to safety, and we are thrilled to share that last month, she embarked on her freedom flight to New York City. Our hearts swelled as we welcomed her at the airport and witnessed her joyous reunion with her adoring family. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as Dzhesika leaped into their arms.

None of this would have been possible without the support of our incredible community. To all who believe in our Apollo’s Aid program, thank you. Your generosity enables these heartwarming reunions, and we are forever grateful. This was our second Apollo’s Aid reunion, and we eagerly look forward to reuniting more families with their beloved companions in the future. Together, we are creating lasting memories of love and hope.

Together, we can create miracles! Donate today to bring joy, happiness, and wagging tails back into the lives of those who have been separated from their precious pets.

The team is on the ground, and the life-saving work has begun! Operation Ukraine, the mobile veterinary clinic offering vital aid to owned, stray, and shelter animals impacted by the war, has been traveling through Ukraine for the last few weeks, and the team has already changed so many lives. We want to take a moment to celebrate some of the heartwarming rescues straight from the frontlines with you!

To support Operation Ukraine, consider making a donation or purchasing an Operation Ukraine t-shirt.  

About Operation Ukraine: 

Operation Ukraine is a mobile veterinary clinic operating in collaboration between SPCA International, Worldwide Vets, and Street Dog Coalition. It stands as a beacon of hope for animals in Ukraine, offering a lifeline to those affected by the war. 

To support Operation Ukraine, consider making a donation or purchasing an Operation Ukraine t-shirt. 

Back in May, our Shelter Support partner, China Rescue Dogs, reached out to us for help. They had an incredible opportunity to save 21 dogs from the harrowing dog meat trade in China, and together, we sprang into action! Thanks to the unwavering support of our generous donors, we successfully raised the necessary funds to bring these precious pups to safety.

To protect the animals and the local rescuers involved, we kept many details confidential. But today, we’re thrilled to announce that the flight has landed, and these resilient survivors are finally out of harm’s way.

Before embarking on their journey to freedom, each dog was vaccinated and underwent comprehensive veterinary health testing, including rabies titres, microchipping, and meticulous documentation in China.. Upon arrival, they were thoroughly examined and granted entry by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Touching down in Los Angeles on June 26, the flight brought home 16 golden retrievers, two corgis, one poodle, and one malamute. The 21st dog rescued in this mission, who has special needs, arrived separately in the United States, thanks to the assistance of a dedicated flight volunteer.

Our team eagerly awaited the dogs’ arrival, ready to extend a warm welcome after their long journey. It was truly incredible to witness the unwavering friendliness that persisted in these dogs despite everything they have been through. After taking some time to decompress, the pups explored their new surroundings, offering cuddles to everyone around.

Remarkably, within a day of their arrival in the United States, the tiny and affectionate poodle found her loving forever home, where she’ll have furry siblings to guide her. Others embarked on their foster home journeys scattered across the country.

We are thrilled to see these wonderful dogs get a chance at a happy life, and we can’t wait to see updates of them in their loving forever homes. 

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The dogs rescued in this mission are available for adoption through local rescues, including Rover’s Retreat, As Good As Gold Golden Retriever Rescue, Golden Retriever Rescue of Iowa, Love a Golden Golden Retriever Rescue, Golden Re-Triever Rescue of New Jersey, China Rescue Dogs, Golden Bond Rescue and Golden Retriever Rescue Resource. For adoption information, please contact them directly.

We have some incredible news to share! 12 Patriot Pets have finally arrived in the United States, wagging their tails with joy! Compassionate members of the U.S. military rescued these precious pups during their deployments in the Middle East. The servicemembers contacted SPCA International for help bringing their furry companions home. 

Thanks to SPCA International’s Patriot Pets program, these wonderful pups were given a chance at a happy and safe life in the U.S. Our team brought the pups to our facility in Iraq, where they received tons of love and care while preparing to embark on their way home. After a long flight, the 12 dogs arrived at JFK Airport in New York City before continuing their journeys to their new forever homes scattered across the country. Today, these servicemembers are overjoyed to be reunited with their four-legged best friends. They can’t wait to create countless memories together.

Meet Some of the Lucky Pups:

Zain

If there’s one thing Zain is sure of, it is that she absolutely loves her forever family. After months apart, Zain and her hero, U.S. veteran Max, are together again, and they couldn’t be happier. 

When Max first spotted Zain, she was scavenging for food. Max could not turn his back on the hungry, defenseless puppy and began visiting her twice daily, bringing her food and water. He wanted to help her but never imagined the two would form such a deep bond. Soon, Max could not imagine his life without her. And now, he doesn’t have to. 

Zain is now at the veteran’s home in Georgia, giving her new family endless cuddles and running around in the grass. This beautiful pup has officially traded life in the desert for life in the suburbs and is enjoying every minute of it.

Erba

Erba making it to the United States is an absolute miracle. When military contractor, Evan, saw security in the area killing stray dogs, he jumped into action. Erba was facing the barrel of a gun, and without giving it a second thought, Evan risked everything to save her. At that moment, he promised her that he would always protect her. And this American hero has kept his word. 

Evan rushed Erba to the safety of our facility in Iraq. He visited her constantly, growing increasingly attached to the sweet dog. 

After months of waiting, Erba finally took her freedom flight home. Unfortunately, because Evan is currently on deployment, he was unable to greet Erba. Still, this loveable pup received a warm welcome from Evan’s family and his new fur siblings — two cats and two dogs, including a three-legged good boy also rescued through our Patriot Pets program. 

Pip

One look into Pip’s eyes will make your heart melt, so it’s no surprise that when animal lover, Johannes, stumbled across the 3-week-old stray puppy near a military base, he instantly fell in love. Pip was tiny and so full of life. Johannes knew that she would likely not survive on her own, so he took her in. 

For months, he cared for the playful pup, growing closer and closer. He could not wait to bring Pip home to meet his family and two cats. He wanted nothing more than to give the pup that gave him comfort during a challenging time a good home. And now, Pip has precisely that! 

It was nothing but smiles and snuggles at Pip’s arrival home. The curious pup loves exploring her new home and bonding with her new family, including the hero who saved her, Johannes.

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Every week, we receive more and more requests from U.S. service members who desperately need help bringing the beloved animals they befriend on deployment to safety. Each rescue can last from a few weeks to several months and cost between $4,000 to $9,000 per animal. We need your help reuniting these U.S. heroes with the animals they love.

PS: Thanks to your support, we’ve raised enough funds to bring Bella, the adorable pup rescued by Army Specialist Elijah during deployment, to the US! Your generosity has truly saved Bella’s life! Right now, she’s safe and sound at our facility in the Middle East, eagerly preparing for her freedom flight and the heartwarming reunion with her hero. We can’t wait to share this heartwarming moment with you all. Stay tuned.

We’re all about supporting our military heroes and their furry companions! That’s why our brand-new Apollo’s Aid program is here to provide emergency medical grants to the beloved pets of U.S. service members. And we’re excited to share that we recently gave our first grant to Charming, the adorable, furry best friend of a U.S. Air Force Sergeant. 

With the aid of our Apollo’s Aid program, Charming recently underwent successful ACL surgery. He is now rocking the road to recovery and making incredible progress. We couldn’t be happier to see this brave pup thriving!

We’ve got some great news to share with you all! Last month, we received an urgent plea from our trusted partner, China Rescue Dogs, an organization dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating dogs from the dog meat trade in China and providing them with loving homes in the U.S. and Canada. They never say no to ANY dog – mixed breeds, banned breeds, disabled dogs and seniors. They try to rescue them all. And this time, they were asking for our help in bringing 21 dog meat trade survivors to the United States for their safety.

It was a massive undertaking with an estimated cost of $50,000, but we couldn’t ignore the pleas from our partners or the well-being of those brave animals. Thanks to the incredible generosity of donors like you, we managed to raise enough funds to secure their flight and ensure their safety. We expect these pups will be landing in the U.S. this summer.

Our dedicated partners are hard at work, finalizing all the necessary paperwork and ensuring each dog receives the required medical care and vaccinations before their journey. Preparations are also underway at the facility in the United States, where these precious pups will have a chance to relax and decompress upon their arrival. Once they’ve settled in, we’ll partner with other rescues and foster homes to find them loving forever families. 

Meet some of the wonderful dogs who will be taking their freedom flight soon:

If you are interested in adopting one of these brave survivors, email [email protected], and we will alert you when adoption information is available. 

We want to express our deepest gratitude to our incredible supporters for making this remarkable rescue mission possible. Your unwavering kindness and generosity genuinely make a difference.

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While these 21 dogs will soon find safety in the United States, many others like them continue to suffer as part of the dog meat trade in China. Donate here to support future rescue efforts and help save more animals from the dog meat trade. 

We’ve got some fantastic news to share with you! Through our Shelter Support Fund, we’re providing $100,000 in grant awards to support Operation Ukraine. This initiative is a mobile veterinary clinic operating in collaboration with our amazing partners, The Street Dog Coalition and Worldwide Vets. Together, we’re working hard to address the needs of companion, shelter, and stray animals in various regions of Ukraine.

Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, countless animals haven’t been able to receive the veterinary care they desperately need. It’s also been difficult for pet owners, as some areas have no veterinary hospitals. We aim to change that through Operation Ukraine. This mobile veterinary clinic will travel all over the country, offering treatment and emergency services to animals in need. The plan is to help thousands of pets and animals affected by the war, prevent disease spread, and provide much-needed treatment to injured animals. We believe it will save countless animal lives at a time when communities in Ukraine need it most.

We can’t even begin to fathom the hardships faced by the people of Ukraine, but we’re determined to ensure that the animals which bring them comfort and joy during these challenging times receive the care they deserve.

We’re proud to be a part of this vital mission, and we’re incredibly grateful to our outstanding partners for their unwavering dedication to helping animals in Ukraine.

Make sure to stay tuned for updates on Operation Ukraine and the heartwarming stories of the animals we’re able to help along the way. Together, we’re making a difference!

Show Your Support for the Animals & People of Ukraine.

We want to give a BIG thank you to Swell Dog Gelato, our corporate partner since 2019. For the past four years, we have had the pleasure of working with founder Debbie Hendrickx to raise funds for animals in need. From reuniting U.S. soldiers with the animals they befriended during their deployment to helping shelters around the world provide emergency medical care to abused and neglected animals, every Swell gelato purchase has helped us save lives. And we’re excited to announce that Swell Dog Gelato has recently surpassed $10,000 in donations supporting our work! These generous donations keep more animals healthy, safe, and happy and advance our advocacy and education efforts. We are so grateful to Swell and their loyal customers. We couldn’t do what we do without the support of partners like them!

About Swell

Swell Dog Gelato was born in the summer of 2016 when founder Debbie Hendrickx took a break from her corporate career to focus on her two passions, dogs and gelato. With her two adorable chihuahuas by her side to serve as taste testers, Debbie began making dog gelato in her home and taking it to dog parks. The dogs at the park could not get enough of Debbie’s gelato, and at that moment, Swell Dog Gelato was born.

Let’s Talk Gelato!

Are you a dog lover who enjoys spoiling your furry friend with treats? If so, you and your pups are in for a treat! From day one, Swell has believed in giving dogs the very best by using quality ingredients and not taking shortcuts. Each batch is hand-made, crafted in small batches, and taste-tested to ensure it is dog-approved. Swell offers a variety of flavors that will make any pup’s taste buds happy. Current gelato flavors include Banana Peanut Butter, Pumpkin Cheddar, Sweet Potato Molasses, My Chill Time (blackberry), It’s My Barkday (triple berry), and Spiced Pumpkin Nog (spiced pumpkin). There’s something for every pup!

Aside from gelato, Swell now also offers delicious gourmet dog food toppers in Honey Glazed Carrots, Sweet Potato Medley, and Veggie Cheddar Melange. They are an easy and tasty way to ensure that your furry best friend gets all the fruits and veggies needed to stay healthy and happy. 

How Swell Gives Back

Swell isn’t just about making tasty treats for dogs; they also believe in giving back to those most in need. That’s why they donate a portion of their proceeds to SPCA International, enabling us to rush funds where they are needed most. 

Where to Purchase Swell Dog Gelato

Is there anything better than spoiling your pet while giving back to a cause close to your heart? We don’t think so! Check out where you can find Swell Dog Gelato near you and give your pup the delicious treat they deserve while helping continue our life-saving work around the globe.

There’s nothing quite like the bond between humans and their pets. Since we launched our military programs, we have seen firsthand the many benefits that animals provide to the troops both on the field and at home. Whether they help our heroes cope while stationed overseas or help them adjust to life back home, these beloved animals are truly irreplaceable. That is why we are so excited to announce that our Operation Military Pets program is expanding and will be able to help more people and animals than ever before. And to better represent everything it now has to offer, the program is being renamed Apollo’s Aid. 

Apollo’s Aid is named after a brave dog named Apollo, who was rescued by a U.S. service member in 2018. Before being rescued, Apollo suffered severe abuse at the hand of locals. In his honor, Apollo’s Aid will offer:

Permanent Change of Station Support:

When military families receive orders to move to a new duty station, the cost of relocating their furry companions can be unexpected and overwhelming. Unfortunately, the military doesn’t cover pet relocation expenses, leaving many families in a difficult situation. In order to keep military families and their pets together and reduce the number of animals surrendered to shelters, we offer financial assistance to help with pet transportation costs. This assistance is available to military families from all branches of the armed forces.

Medical Assistance:

Following Apollo’s rescue, he received significant medical attention that emphasized the importance of ensuring our dedicated service members have the means to care for their beloved pets. To honor Apollo, Apollo’s Aid will offer financial assistance for emergency medical cases to all military members, including active duty, veterans, reservists, and DOD contractors.

Refugee Assistance:

During the conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine, we received heartbreaking messages from individuals who were forced to leave their pets behind while fleeing for their safety. We were determined to help these families reunite with their furry friends. In line with this mission, Apollo’s Aid will provide support to refugees displaced from their homes and requiring assistance for their beloved pets.

To learn more about Apollo’s Aid or to submit an application, visit: spcai.org/apollos-aid

SPCA International knows that your pets are an important part of your life. May is National Pet Month, and I wanted to remind you of the value of having an estate plan in place to ensure the well-being of your companion animals.

As an organization dedicated to animal welfare, we believe in the importance of protecting every animal’s life, including those of our beloved pets. 

That is why we have partnered with FreeWill to offer you the opportunity to create your estate plan for free. With a well-drafted plan, not only can you guarantee that your pets are looked after, but you can also protect the people and things that matter most to you.

This partnership is available so you have the chance to set a pet guardianship plan and also support the future of SPCA International in your will. Planned gifts are completely optional, but ensure that we continue our life-saving work for years to come. 

Remember, even small actions can make a big difference for our pets’ future, so take just 20 minutes today to create your will.

Have you already included a gift to SPCA International in your will or trust? Fill out this quick form so we can thank you for your contributions!