Archives: Shelter

Arriving as a volunteer teacher in the little known resort town of Sangklaburi, Thailand, Gemma Ashford was shocked by the plight of the emaciated street dogs she found scavenging hopelessly in the town’s market. These sad forgotten dogs bore every mark of abuse, some limping, others bearing open and festering wounds. Most of the dogs carried disease – things unseen in the West – Canine Distemper, Rabies and hardly one animal was free of Scabies.

Even though months of teaching lay ahead of her, she was determined to try to help these desperate creatures in any way she could. Gemma fed the street dogs and started to know and love the characters of each and every one of them. She knew she couldn’t leave these emaciated, neglected and unloved animals to fend for themselves, so she set up the only treatment center within a 4-hour radius, known today as the Baan Unrak Thai Animal Sanctuary.

With only a few donations from family and friends, Gemma had to return home to the U.K. for a few months every year to work and raise funds for the sanctuary she began in 2006. With that money she was able to buy much needed medical supplies and food for all the animals. The sanctuary has continued to grow and with the help of visiting volunteer vets and international volunteers, thousands of animals to date have reaped the benefits of all of Gemma’s hard work and determination but without international aid, her efforts can only go so far.

SPCA International is proud to support Gemma’s efforts through an International Shelter Grant to the Baan Unrak Thai Animal Sanctuary for unwanted and abused animals.

For more information, please visit their website at: http://www.thaianimalsanctuary.com/

“At the end of the day, can you say, “I saved an animal today?”

The Putnam SPCA is an independent organization, in the Putnam County of New York, providing much needed services of enforcing the animal cruelty laws, providing humane education, and housing the abused animals seized from terrible situations.  Officers conduct criminal investigations, make arrests, and work with all other law enforcement agencies in response to neglect and cruelty to animals.

Providing this service to the residents and animals of Putnam County is extremely costly.  Tending and treating the abused and injured animals, providing shelter during pending court hearings (sometime up to a year) and afterwards, insurance, gasoline, vehicles, etc. are all expenses that are incurred.  Without your donation, they can’t possibly continue to help animals who are subjected to acts of violence and cruelty.  They are in desperate need of housing for seized animals and funding to cover expenses.  Endowments/donations/gifts of property, funds, etc. are all essential to our survival.

The Putnam County SPCA offers the unique opportunity to all schools in Putnam County to have officers from the Humane Law Enforcement Department visit their students and teach Humane Education. Humane Education classes show students what Animal Cruelty is, how it is defined, how it is combated, what the appropriate steps are if observed, and the effects of it on animals and humans.

To find out more about The Putnam SPCA and to make a donation please visit their website at www.spcaputnam.org or email them at [email protected].

Stray dogs have been a significant part of daily life in İstanbul and most other cities in Turkey for hundreds of years. Loved and protected by a few, tolerated by many and hated by even more, tens of thousands of them roam the streets in a culture that isn’t exactly crazy about them. So in 2004, when a conversation thread started on a popular Turkish internet blog site about the fate of street dogs who were victims to highway traffic, 10 concerned citizens decided to take a trip to some of the nearby shelters to see how they can help.

Assuming that dogs were well treated and humanely looked after at the shelters, they eagerly went with great hope.  What they witnessed drew a crack right down the middle of their hearts.  Asli Varlier Pelit, President and one of the co-founders of BGD, a now established rescue organization in Turkey, describes her first trip to the largest shelter in Istanbul as one of the most traumatic experiences she has ever faced. Dogs were found deathly ill, starving to death, disabled, neglected and living in their own waste if they were ‘fortunate’ to still be alive.

From that day forward, Asli and the other individuals from the original group visited the shelter every weekend, in hopes of treating those they could, bringing heaters and shaded shelters and systematically devising ways to solicit donations by educating the public and government through various successful fundraisers (one in particular involving Turkey’s most famous rock stars!).

Realizing that they needed legal jurisdiction to be taken more seriously, Asli and the other volunteers visited the mayors’ offices numerous times before establishing themselves as an accredited legal non-profit organization in 2006. The battle to fight animal cruelty by education, awareness and instigating animal right laws began.

In their first year of operation, they were able to get a loan in order to purchase the first ambulatory vehicle for the transport of animals to their shelter that was in the midst of being negotiated with the collaboration of the municipalities of Istanbul.

To date, they have rescued more than 1,400 animals from the streets but without donations, they could not survive. The pursuit to keep educating the public through workshops in schools, social networking and with the aid of the municipalities, their hope for a better future continues on.

SPCA International is proud to support their efforts, and with your help, BGD can continue to strive towards a brighter future for Turkey’s abundant stray animal population.

Phone: 0216 449 90 52-53
Fax: 0216 449 90 51
Mobile: 0533 574 25 23
http://www.bgd.org.tr
[email protected]
EIN : 142 0543 404

More than ten years ago,  a group comprised of concerned citizens and volunteers in the country of Spain, could no longer bear witness to the cruel and violent acts being performed on tens of thousands of “Galgos”, a type of Greyhound dog used primarily by hunters during the hunting season. Once the hunting season is over, the dogs are no longer needed and are readily tortured by hanging, dragging, burning, starving and abandonement.  Since Galgos are not classified as ‘pets’, rather dispensable hunting tools,  the governement ceases to intervene leaving them with little or no protection against these sadistic cruelties.

That’s when Galgos Sin Fronteras, or Greyhounds without Borders in English, was founded. Run solely by volunteers and depending completely on funding from donations, Cristina Moreno, president and dedicated leader of the non profitorganization, personally rescues, seeks medical intervention and oversees their recovery before they are adopted out to the right home. In fact, on many occasions, her efforts have gone so far as to personally transport the dogs to other countries where she can be certain that they can lead the remainder of their lives in a safe and caring environment. Galgos by nature are loving, loyal, smart and obedient dogs; which is why hunters use them during the hunting season. Sadly, their worth as more than a hunting aid is almost an anomaly. Even when left to die, hung by their throats (a common practice), their eyes plead for their masters’ forgiveness and next command.

Those that are fortunate to be found and rescued from a horribly difficult life are vetted, vaccinated and sterilized prior to being adopted out. Cristina lobbies endlessly for laws to protect the suffering of Galgos. Expenses are boundless and great, and through your continued support, we are proud to be able to offer them this grant.

http://www.galgosinfronteras.org

Tel.0034 6290208403
[email protected]
EIN : 23805 (Spain Registration)

Association of Friends to the Abandoned Animals of Moita has been working with strays dogs and cats for over 15 years. The organization began by a group of volunteers getting together and occupying an abandoned farm with the many stray dogs that were in need of shelter and immediate care. During this time the physical conditions were very poor and they had little support.

They put out a plea for help and over the years they were able to build a new shelter with the help of the population and the many volunteers that responded to cry for help.  The building alone took over 3 years to fabricate and the land itself remains quite costly to maintain.

Because they lack any official support by the state, they survive only with the help of associated people and donations. With more than 300 dogs and 200 cats in the shelter alone and the feeding of a very large number of stray animals within the surrounding villas their need for dry food is enormous and their rations are sparse.

With a volunteer staff of 25 to date, the organization draws awareness to their cause via education in schools, nursing homes and to the general public about the necessities of sterilization and adopting rather than buying.

Every day animals are left at their doorstep, sick and hungry, requiring veterinary care but they refuse an animal in need. They have many senior animals living out their final days in the shelter and many others who require life long treatment and care.

Phone: (+351) 967633449
http://www.animalife.pt/aaaamoita
Facebook: Voluntarios AAAAMoita
Email : [email protected]
501c3 ID: 505113210

Situated in Mazatlan, Mexico, Amigos de los Animales is a group of dedicated individuals providing a much needed service to the community.  Their goal is to create an environment free of homeless dogs and cats.

Acting as a refuge for all unwanted animals, Amigos de los Animales believes that every animal in need deserves a chance at survival and a forever home. They will accept any dog or cat brought to their doorstep during hours of operation. Strictly non-profit and operating solely on donations, fundraisers and adoptions, they make every possible effort to treat the homeless, sick and injured animals that cross their path as well but are limited due to funding and resources.

Their focus is to promote the humane treatment of domestic animals through education, pet population control (spay/neuter), rescue and adoption.  Since their debut in June of 1996, the organization has helped hundreds of animalsfind homes and treatment. They have also also designed and implemented a successful catch, spay/neuter and release program for feral cats.

http://www.amigosdelosanimalesmazatlan.com/

[email protected]
[email protected]

Indonesia does not have animal welfare laws that manage strays or domestic animals, so there are no rescue organizations that come to the aid of the abused or neglected, and tragically there are many. Compassion for animals in Bandung is very low, they are treated as commodities through ‘backyard breeding’, and they are treated horribly.

What officially started The Whiskers’ Syndicate, an organization Josie founded some months after her arrival to Indonesia, was a female cat named Grace who belonged to the boarding house she was staying at. Being pregnant, the cat was constantly kicked, hit and starved by the boarding attendant’s young son, and began to take refuge in Josie’s room. Grace gave birth to five kittens and the young son demanded that Josie give Grace and her kittens to his devices but she refused, and was threatened with eviction.

Josie took Whiskers’ Syndicate to the next level when she rescued two small cats that were crushed by a motorcycle and needed extensive vet care. She began by sending their stories and plea out on the Internet. However, along with the pouring support, came a growing number of cats from people who started dumping injured and strays at her doorstep.

Currently there are 35 cats and kittens living under her care, each of them a different victim of neglect and abuse that has left permanent defects on their bodies. Josie has no volunteers, she is providing shelter, food and care for the cats on her own very limited budget and now finds herself facing eviction once again.

We learned of Josie and The Whisker’s Syndicate through many of our concerned supporters who saw her plight on the internet and we are pleased to offer her an International Grant through our Shelters Program. With your support, Josie will be able to find a suitable sanctuary for her animals and will continue her fight for the welfare of animals in Indonesia. Her next mission is to run a TNR (Trap and Release) program with better planning, execution, and greater result so that she can show people that there are better options in stray management other than culling.

www.whiskerssyndicate.com

Kitty Kind rescues homeless cats and kittens, makes sure they receive needed veterinary care, and finds forever homes for them. Unadoptable animals live at the shelter for life. They sponsor a Seniors for Seniors event, matching potential senior owners with older cats and a Kitty Koncert Memorial event where owners who have recently lost a pet can come together and comfort each other and remember their special animals.

SPCA International is proud to support the amazing work at Kitty Kind with a Shelter of the Week grant.

Contact/Donate info: http://www.kittykind.org/donations.html

Website: http://www.kittykind.org/index.html

Special Needs K9, Inc. is a volunteer run, non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue of dogs and other animals with physical, medical and other special needs. Founded by Michael Pravec and his wife Stacey in 2009, the organization strives to save animals that other groups may view as “unsaveable”.  In addition to helping dogs and other animals with disabilities in shelters, rescue groups and foster homes, but they also provide post-adoption aid to people that have the heart but not the funds to rescue these poor creatures, and provide a forever home for them. They specialize in the rescue of the abused, neglected and the least adoptable animals but their purpose and goals are much broader.

The organization is a strong advocate against the mistreatment of animals and for their well-being and survival. They finance medical procedures, treatments and purchase equipment that provides aid to disabled or otherwise affected animals. They find foster and forever homes for the ones that are difficult to adopt due to their special needs and assist new owners with post adoption training and socializing for their new “best friend.”

Special Needs K9 members believe that all animals, including those that may have physical, medical or other special needs deserve a chance to live a happy life.  A dog that has only three legs or one that is blind, as well as the abused and neglected all deserve that same chance…A chance at life and love!  These wonderful creatures were put on this earth to give us unconditional love and companionship. Unfortunately, some humans are not as giving as their pets. Some of the pets are tortured or neglected, some get sick or injured, and in many cases they are just “thrown” away into shelters or worse. This is where Special Needs K9 steps in and to make a difference. “Animals give us so much, and we in return should at the very least give them a chance.”

SPCA International is thrilled to award Special Needs K9 with a Shelter of the Week Grant to help with their life saving efforts.  The funds will further help with the medical costs and day to day care of their deserving rescues.

To donate securely via Paypal please visit their website at:
http://specialneedsk9.org/?page_id=10

or to donate by check or money order, please mail to:
Special Needs K9, Inc.
P.O. Box 303
Oakland, NJ  07436

www.specialneedsk9.org