In fact, collectively, the Humane Society of the United States, the ASPCA, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals take in roughly $300,000,000 per year--a powerful testament not only to the love the American people have for animals and their desire to see them protected, but our collective faith in these organization to represent the animals' best interest. As a Founder’s Society member, you are entitled to our member newsletter, ASPCA Action, as well as a listing in our Annual Report. In 2007, we launched the ASPCA Partnerships program to support at-risk animals in communities around the country through grants, training and many other resources. Released by Warner Brothers, it was the first movie from a major motion-picture studio to be shot using the three-dimensional, or stereoscopic, film process and one ...read more, On April 10, 1963, the USS Thresher, an atomic submarine, sinks in the Atlantic Ocean, killing the entire crew. In 1863, Bergh had been appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic post at the Russian court of Czar Alexander II. Following the creation of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the United Kingdom in 1824 (given Royal status in 1840), Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on April 10, 1866, in New York City on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment at the hands of humans, and must be protected under the law. It was there that he was horrified to witness work horses beaten by their peasant drivers. It is the oldest animal welfareorganization in the United States. It was founded by Henry Bergh on April 10, 1866. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. In fact, the rescue is often just the beginning of an animal’s journey, and our work to get potential pets off the streets and into permanent homes touches every corner or America: the ASPCA’s assistance, funding and expertise help facilitate tens of thousands of animal adoptions around the country every year. It uses strategies that are beyond the abilities of local organizations. Learn more about the ASPCA's work to rescue animals from abuse, pass humane laws and share resources with shelters nationwide. Founded in the 1800’s, the ASPCA had a noble beginning as the first “humane” group in America. Join our fight today! Our Vision Statement To lead our community in promoting a high quality of life for animals. We are a privately funded 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit corporation, and are proud to boast more than 2 million supporters across the country. But those tens of thousands of animals—now happy, safe and loved—are the result of more than a century of hard, dedicated work. ...read more, On April 10, 1941, the German and Italian invaders of Yugoslavia set up the Independent State of Croatia (also including Bosnia and Herzegovina) and place nationalist leader Ante Pavelic’s Ustase, pro-fascist insurgents, in control of what is no more than a puppet Axis regime. It should come as little surprise that the ASPCA’s official seal, drawn by Frank Leslie and unveiled in 1867, depicts an angel of mercy protecting a fallen carthorse from a spoke-wielding abuser. Already a force to be reckoned with, our reach only grew in 2013 when we announced a groundbreaking partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). St. Croix Animal Shelter is founded in Afton. Each contribution to the ASPCA means aid for homeless, neglected and abused animals all over the United States. They believe pet insurance will help further this goal by making veterinary care more affordable. In 1973, the ASPCA Adoptions department began spay/neuter for all adopted animals, and in 1995, we acquired the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), which is still known as the preeminent animal poison control center in North America. Founded in 1866, the ASPCA was the first huma… From the start, animal rescue has been at the heart of what we do—both in practice and on the ground. He argued that protecting animals was an issue that crossed party lines and class boundaries. What’s more, we pioneered the use of state-of-the-art microchips for animal identification. But the apple has fallen far from the tree. We once again appreciate that violence is violence and that it claims victims of many kinds. Underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, and he founded the ASPCA on the clear belief that all animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment and must be protected under the law, a groundbreaking partnership with the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Canine Annex for Recovery & Enrichment (CARE) ward, $25 million, multi-year commitment to Los Angeles, the relocation of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center. Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first animal welfare organization in North … Click Here to view our By-laws. Henry Bergh created the ASPCA based on … The oldest SPCA organization is the RSPCA, which was founded in England in 1824. With millions of supporters all around the country, we know that we are closer than ever to achieving our ultimate goal: a nation free from cruelty to animals. Founder’s Society Membership runs from January to December. Bergh was a hands-on reformer, becoming a familiar sight on the streets and in the courtrooms of New York. It works on issues including companion animals, wildlife, farm animals, horses and other equines, and animals used in research, testing and education. While on assignment in Russia as an American diplomat, a New Yorker named Henry Bergh stopped a carriage driver from beating his fallen horse. American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (usually referred to as the ASPCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing the abuse of animals. Consider the following: The ASPCA is not your local pet shelter. In 2013, we announced a $25 million, multi-year commitment to Los Angeles to help tackle the city’s homeless animal crisis, and we launched Safety Net programs to assist pet owners where help is needed most. In 1866, he founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®. From left: Executive Director Meredith Ayan and Program Manager Lori Kalef with a rescued Spanish Greyhound. In 1867, the ASPCA operated the first ambulance for injured horses, a full two years before New York City’s Bellevue hospital put the first ambulance for humans into service. In recent years, our work has taken on new life with the formation of animal protection initiatives on both coasts. The collection includes one of his most beloved stories, "The Gift of the Magi," about a poor but devoted couple who each sacrifice their most valuable possession to buy a ...read more, The legendary rock band the Beatles spent the better part of three years breaking up in the late 1960s, and even longer than that hashing out who did what and why. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/aspca-is-founded. SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was founded in England in 1824 and is recognised as the world's oldest and most influential animal welfare organisation. © 2021 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Henry Bergh, who founded the ASPCA 140 years ago, was a childhood hero of mine. The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”. We advanced the use of anesthesia in animal surgery, and inaugurated dog obedience training classes in 1941. Thanks to Henry Bergh, the world was rapidly becoming a better place for animals. Field rescues, medical operations and behavioral treatment are all methods we use to save the life of an animal, but at the ASPCA, we are also focused on the bigger picture—that is, saving the lives of many animals at once. During this infamous trek, known as the “Bataan Death March,” the ...read more, O. Henry’s second short story collection, The Four Million, is published. In its first two years alone, that partnership increased the number of animal cruelty arrests in New York City by more than 200%. Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), byname Humane Society, nonprofit animal-welfare and animal rights advocacy group founded in 1954. Privacy Policy  Legal Info. On April 10, 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by philanthropist and diplomat Henry Bergh. What’s more, we published an ASPCA-sponsored study in early 2017 showing dramatic decreases in shelter intake and euthanasia of homeless dogs and cats, and an 18.5% increase in adoptions—proof that progress is occurring on a national scale. It began with the opening of our first veterinary facility, a horse dispensary on Manhattan’s 24th Street, in 1912. In fact, we just recently announced the relocation of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center to a permanent new facility in Weaverville, North Carolina. Millions of people joined the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade to help us fight for better laws in states across the nation, and we continued to see victories in Congress in the form of the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act (2007), the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act (2010), the Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act (2014) and the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act (2014)—just to name a few. He was instrumental in also founding the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children nine years after establishing the ASPCA. Looking back, we now know that that Russian carthorse was the “first” in what was soon to be a long line of firsts. When founded, the ASPCA was the first and only humane society in the Western Hemisphere, and its formation prompted the New York State Legislature to pass the country’s first effective anti-cruelty law. “After four years of arduous service, marked by unsurpassed courage and fortitude, the Army of Northern Virginia has been compelled to yield to ...read more, On April 10, 1778, Commander John Paul Jones and his crew of 140 men aboard the USS Ranger set sail from the naval port at Brest, France, and head toward the Irish Sea to begin raids on British warships. In 2013, we opened the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center—the first and only facility dedicated to providing behavioral help for canine victims of cruelty—and just last year we completed the expansion of our Canine Annex for Recovery & Enrichment (CARE) ward, which treats victims of cruelty rescued through our partnership with the NYPD. Nine days later, the first effective anti-cruelty law in the United States was passed, allowing the ASPCA to investigate complaints of animal cruelty and to make arrests. The SPCA of Texas is a 501(c)3 charity. The ASPCA’s official seal, drawn by Frank Leslie and unveiled in 1867. Henry Bergh, who founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in 1866, might have perfectly understood Showing Animals Respect & Kindness founder Steve Hindi’s frustration, expressed on November 14, 2020 in his ANIMALS 24-7 guest column “Talk can’t stop pigeon-shooting psychopaths.” Your continued support as a Founder's Society member truly makes a difference. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. As the decades flew by, our legal efforts gained focus and strength. The men present knew they were creating the world's first animal welfare charity, but they couldn't have imagined the size and shape that the charity would become today. By 1961, we were poised to perform our first open-heart surgery on a dog. Founder’s Society—Annual gifts of $500 or more. Exclusive Subaru VIP offer for ASPCA Guardians & Founders. The ASPCA was founded by Henry Bergh in 1866 "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States." In fact, by the early 2000s, the ASPCA had become a common presence in the face of natural disasters, puppy mill busts, dog fighting raids and other forms of cruelty intervention. Founded in 1907, Chenango SPCA (CSPCA) is a nationally recognized, no kill animal shelter that provides care for lost and homeless pets, adopts pets to new homes, and educates families and the community about the needs of companion animals. It should come as little surprise that the ASPCA’s official seal, drawn by Frank Leslie and unveiled in 1867, depicts an angel of mercy protecting a fallen carthorse from a spoke-wielding abuser. The reason we now see photos of sad animals on TV is partly due to the legacy of Henry Bergh, New York-born founder of the ASPCA. SPCA International was founded in the U.S. in 2006. The new organization’s first goal was to secure humane treatment for … The well-publicized trip was part of the PRC’s attempt to build closer diplomatic relations with the United States, and was the beginning ...read more, One day after surrendering to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, Confederate General Robert E. Lee addresses his army for the last time. As the pioneer and innovator of the humane movement, the ASPCA quickly became the model for more than 25 other humane organizations in the United States and Canada. The Humane Society of Ramsey County merges with the St. Croix Animal Shelter in Woodbury to become the Humane Society for Companion Animals. 2001. All rights reserved.The ASPCA is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization. Pet population control, along with effective measures to keep animals from being surrendered, were also a critical key to our success in the field of animal placement. Eight years later, Henry Bergh invented a canv… “This is a matter purely of conscience; it has no perplexing side issues,” he said. Born a peasant in 1879, Zapata was forced into the Mexican army in 1908 following his attempt to recover village lands taken ...read more, The day after the surrender of the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese, the 75,000 Filipino and American troops captured on the Bataan Peninsula begin a forced march to a prison camp near Cabanatuan. Despite its name the ASPCA is not affiliated with local SPCAs and gives little of its money to them. The Central California SPCA (CCSPCA), established in 1946 and located in Fresno County, California, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit humane society. And by the spring of 1970, there was little more than a tangled set of business relationships keeping the group ...read more, On April 10, 1953, the horror film The House of Wax, starring Vincent Price, opens at New York’s Paramount Theater. Our Mission Statement Our mission is to provide protection, placement, and education to […] The mission of our organization is simple but vast: to advance the safety and well-being of animals. They represent the full circle of our work, impacting animal victims of cruelty at every stage, and they comprise the foundation on which we will continue to build for years to come. We were founded in a London coffee shop in 1824. From the start, animal rescue has been at the heart of what we do—both in practice and on the ground. The year was 1863, and it was then and there that Bergh realized the effect he could have on the world. In 1867, the ASPCA operated the first ambulance for injured horses, a full two years before New York City’s Bellevue hospital put the first ambulance for humans into service. En route back to America, a June 1865 visit to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London awakened his determination to secure a charter not only to incorporate the ASPCA but to exercise the power to arrest and prosecute violators of the law. On April 10, 1834, a fire at the LaLaurie mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana, leads to the discovery of a torture chamber where enslaved workers are routinely brutalized by Delphine LaLaurie. The ...read more. American Humane — the country’s first national humane organization — was founded on October 9 in Cleveland, Ohio, by local humane society representatives from around the United States. A Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is a common name for non-profit animal welfare organizations around the world. ASPCA is founded On April 10, 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by philanthropist and diplomat Henry Bergh, … Rescuers found a 70-year-old black woman trapped in the kitchen during the fire because ...read more, The U.S. table tennis team begins a weeklong visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the invitation of China’s communist government. After Mary Ellen McCormack, 9, was found tied to a bed and brutally beaten by her foster parents in 1874, activists founded the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Henry Bergh set the tone in the 1870s when he became a prosecutor of animal abuse cases outside of New York City, and from then on, we have made it a top priority to work closely with all levels of government to pass stronger anti-cruelty laws, and to defeat harmful bills. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. Over the ensuing years, progress in the field of animal rescue became as much a part of the ASPCA’s DNA as the compassionate roots on which we were founded. From there, the advancements poured forth: ASPCA veterinarians were the first to operate on a horse with a broken kneecap (a procedure considered impossible at the time) and the first to use radium to treat cancer in animals. Text STOP to opt-out, HELP for more info. Our EIN is 75-1216660. One of the ASPCA’s priorities is helping pet parents care for their animal companions. All Rights Reserved. This was the first mission of its kind during the Revolutionary War. One hundred and twenty-nine sailors and civilians were lost when the sub unexpectedly plunged to the sea floor roughly 300 miles off the coast of New England. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! From medical developments to field rescues to pioneering partnerships, here's a look at some of the successes we—and our millions of supporters over the years—have achieved on behalf of abused, abandoned and neglected animals. We also promoted the use of the mechanical “gyro-pigeon” as an alternative to live pigeon shoots. Emiliano Zapata, a leader of peasants and indigenous people during the Mexican Revolution, is ambushed and shot to death in Morelos by government forces. And by the time Bergh died in 1888, 37 of the 38 states in the Union had passed anti-cruelty laws. Bergh’s impassioned accounts of the horrors inflicted on animals convinced the New York State legislature to pass the charter incorporating the ASPCA on April 10, 1866.