Animal cruelty is a major issue in the United States. Using animals to fight as in the case of Michael Vick or just abusing them happens every day. The ASPCA is a model of many non-profit organizations that try to protect and care for mistreated, abandoned and abused animals.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was founded by Henry Bergh. Henry Bergh, born in 1813 to a prominent shipbuilder, was a man of leisure touring Europe. He observed many cruel acts to animals and took up the cause to prevent them.
He came back to the U.S. and started giving speeches and finding supporters for his cause. In 1866, the New York State Legislature granted him a charter for the organization. Soon after, an anti-cruelty law for animals was passed and the society was given the authority to enforce it. By his death in 1888, humane societies and anti-cruelty laws started to appear in my states.
The organization first concentrated on horses and livestock but cats and dogs were soon to follow. Dogs, especially, were used to turn treadmills, pull small carts and fight. Stray dogs in the streets of New York were captured, put in cages and dropped in the East River to drown. In 1894, it starting providing shelter for dogs and cats and if required gas was used for euthanasia.
In 1912, it opened a hospital for animals. The doctors at the hospital developed many procedures to treat animals and avoid certain death. In 1918, the hospital starting using anesthesia. In 1954, it added pathology and radiology programs. In 1961, it preformed open heart surgery on a dog.
With the development of kitty litter and canned food, pet ownership increased in the U.S. Its shelters became a good source for a pet. It developed a dog training class to make a dog more desirable as a pet. It introduced tattooing a number on an animal for licensing. In the mid-80′s, it developed the microchip for identification. In 1972, it supported the spay/neutering of adopted pets.
It provides aid in the investigation of animal cruelty crimes, trains law enforcement and lobbies to pass laws to protect animals. It also deals with disaster preparedness by providing emergency services when a natural disaster occurs. Providing supplies, rescuing and caring for abandoned pets, veterinarian services and reuniting owners with their pets are some of the services it conducts during and after a natural disaster.
The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City but has support throughout the country. It supports the city’s animal control program with the animal control Poison Center, Animal Behavior Center, Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital, mobile spay/neuter clinics and adoption centers. Mission Orange is an initiative for support from other cities to stop unnecessary euthanasia of pets.