The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is the oldest animal welfare organization in North America, founded in 1866 and operating for more than 150 years. Headquartered in the United States, it works to prevent animal cruelty and advance animal welfare through a broad portfolio of programs spanning rescue operations, veterinary care, adoption initiatives, behavioral rehabilitation, research, legislative advocacy, and disaster response.
Rather than operating its own network of shelters, the ASPCA works collaboratively with local agencies, shelters, and rescue groups across the country. Since 2001, it has distributed more than $200 million in grants to over 4,000 organizations - including animal shelters, municipal agencies, rescue groups, and universities. It also provides training and support to hundreds of local agencies, equipping law enforcement, shelter professionals, and other partners with tools to improve animal welfare practices and crisis response.
The organization's technical work spans several domains:
- Veterinary care and behavioral rehabilitation for animals in its direct programs
- Disaster and emergency response, deploying teams to animal crises throughout the country
- Animal welfare research informing both practice and policy
- Advocacy for more effective animal protection legislation at state and federal levels
- Grants management and partnerships with thousands of organizations nationally
The ASPCA's hands-on work directly impacts hundreds of thousands of animals each year, with its broader network of partnerships and grants extending its reach further across the country.
