Archives: Press

SPCA International Pledges $500,000 to Shelters in 2019

Strengthens SPCAI’s commitment to ever-increasing support for local, independent shelters worldwide

New York, NY (February 8, 2019) – SPCA International announced today that it will award a total of $500,000 in grant funding in 2019 through its Shelter Support Fund. The funds will help small, independent, animal welfare focused NGOs improve the safety and well-being of animals in their communities. This amount marks a 16% increase in funding over 2018.

The funds will subsidize humane education programs, low-cost spay and neuter clinics, vaccination drives, emergency veterinary care, building improvements, critical maintenance, animal rescue and rehabilitation, adoption events, efforts to stop dogfighting rings, combat animal abuse, natural disaster response, and much more.

“Coming off our most successful year helping local shelters worldwide we want to commit even more in 2019 to these vital organizations that make animal welfare a priority in their communities,” said SPCA International Executive Director Meredith Ayan.

SPCAI’s Shelter Support Fund champions and partners with smaller animal groups domestically and worldwide to increase their impact. Since 2007, SPCA International has assisted 282 animal shelters and rescue groups in every U.S. state and 59 countries around the world through the Shelter Support Fund. Since 2014, SPCA International has increased Shelter Support Fund grant distributions by 200%.

To learn more about this program and its beneficiaries visit: https://www.spcai.org/get-involved/shelter-support-fund/shelter-list/

 

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This heartwarming video shares the story of soulmates Danny and Syri, who were reunited through SPCA International’s Operation Baghdad Pups: Worldwide program. This soldier and his pup each traveled thousands of miles and had to wait months to be reunited. Today, they are thrilled to finally be together again.

SPCA International and UPS reunite an active duty soldier with the dog she rescued in the Middle East. 

Lily is an active duty service member who just returned to the States after three tours in the Middle East.

While serving overseas, she met a stray dog that stole her heart and named her Kelby, which means “my dog” in Arabic. Kelby was living amongst the rubble behind an abandoned building, surviving on scraps of garbage. Lily knew she had to bring Kelby home with her, so she contacted SPCA International to help. SPCAI had all of the processes in place to transport Kelby from the Middle East to the United States, but relies completely on donations. That’s where UPS stepped in to help.

When we heard about SPCAI’s work and the story of Lily and Kelby, we knew we had to do something. So we teamed up with SPCAI to deliver a very special reunion for Lily and Kelby, and also funded the reunion of three more rescue dogs with their active duty soldiers. Now, Kelby is starting a new life in her forever home with Lily by her side. 

SPCA International Disappointed by Decision by Chinese to Legalize Tiger and Rhino Products 

 

New York, NY (November 6, 2018) – SPCA International Executive Director Meredith Ayan released the following statement in response to the Chinese government legalizing the use of Tiger and Rhino products for medical use.

"We are devastated by the Chinese government's decision to reverse the essential ban on trading in tiger and rhino products. It has long been proven that these animal body parts, primarily rhino horn and tiger bone, are not effective for medical use, and the only purpose they serve is to cause unnecessary suffering and death to these species.  When the ban was implemented in 1993, it was to protect endangered species; in that time these populations have steadily declined, and this decision will only increase their rapid disappearance from our planet. With the reopening of this cruel trade, the increased poaching and illegal procurement of tiger bone and rhino horn for profit will inevitably place the estimated 4,000 tigers and 30,000 rhinos left in the wild in even more peril and speed us toward their total extinction." 

About SPCA International

SPCA International (https://www.spcai.org/about-spcai/) is a global animal welfare organization with a mission that is simple, but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals. Through outreach, rescue and education programs SPCA International spearheads lifesaving initiatives and assists grassroots animal activists worldwide.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Operation Military Families Reaches $1 Million in Support to Families 

More than 1,400 grants have been distributed since the program’s inception in 2013 

New York, NY (November 6, 2018) – SPCA International (SPCAI) is pleased to announce that its program Operation Military Pets has distributed more than $1 million in grants to families who are stationed around the world.

When military families are ordered to a new base in the U.S. or around the world, moving bills pile up. The military pays for many moving costs, but they don’t help our military families relocate the family pet. The cost for pet transportation can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars. All over the United States shelters near military bases report high surrender rates when military families can’t afford to relocate their dog or cat. Military families are being torn apart.

SPCA International’s Operation Military Pets was started to keep military families together by providing financial assistance for pet relocation costs. All branches of the military can qualify for grants. Whether being relocated within the United States or anywhere in the world.

 “We are so proud to be able to help so many families who serve their country stay together with the pets they love, these grants have really made a difference,” said Meredith Ayan, Executive Director, SPCA International.

SPCAI has given 1405 grants and reunited 1808 animals with their families. Pets include dogs, cats, horses, bunnies and one bird and families have been stationed in 20 counties across the world.

 

About SPCA International

SPCA International (https://www.spcai.org/about-spcai/) is a global animal welfare organization with a mission that is simple, but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals. Through outreach, rescue and education programs SPCA International spearheads lifesaving initiatives and assists grassroots animal activists worldwide.

 

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