January 2013

Now that the Emergency Boarding Facility for Sandy animals is closed, we’re taking a moment to look back at the hundreds of amazing reunions that we got to witness there.

We want to thank Rachael Ray for her generous gift that allowed us to launch the facility, and to thank the many animal welfare organizations from near and far who helped us run this operation.

We also want to take a moment to thank all of our supporters. Without you, we couldn’t have helped any of the families whose pets we boarded after Sandy—nor could we have helped the thousands of others who benefited from our other Sandy relief programs like search-and-rescue and food distribution.

We invite you to watch this video and remember that our work is sponsored by your generosity and kindness!

Tonight, hundreds of animals who were once boarded with us are now sleeping near their loved ones once again.

Our boarding facility also housed stray animals found in disaster areas in the wake of Sandy. Those who weren’t claimed after exhaustive efforts to find their families are getting happy endings, too: All were transferred to either our Adoption Center or our rescue partners for adoption, and some have already found loving homes.

From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you, ASPCA supporters! We’re committed to staying ready to respond to any natural disaster at a moment’s notice, and we’re so glad you’re in our corner.

While we love senior shelter dogs, we can’t help but get excited when we have a litter of adorable puppies under our care. Recently, a litter of five sweet puppies left our Adoption Center for loving homes!

Boo

One of these cuties was a puppy with a velvety black coat named Inky, now called Boo.

Boo’s adopter, Diamond Durant, had never visited the Adoption Center before but fell in love with this “adorable, sweet, and playful” puppy right away.

“Boo is very sweet, loves to play and loves to sit on my lap,” Diamond says. “She nibbles on everything and calls for attention when she enters a room.”

Opal

Boo’s sister Pinky was also matched with a loving family. Her adopter, Pamela Harris, renamed her Opal and reports that this little puppy is thriving.

“We were thinking about what it would be like to adopt a slightly older dog, but then we met Opal,” Pamela says. “She was nervous and shaky, and the minute Joe picked her up and held her she licked his face and fell sound asleep. That was it—we were adopting her.”

And while Opal is still adjusting to the chilly New York City wind, she is adapting quickly to her new home.

“Opal hilariously hops when she runs, she politely sits before going out and coming in, and she loves her toys,” Pamela says. ”She has her moments of rambunctious puppy-ness and on the whole is beyond sweet.”

Opal will soon attend puppy playgroups, “where she can romp and get some of her ya-yas out,” and puppy obedience classes.

We’re so excited that these puppies got a second chance to find loving homes!

If you’re looking to adopt a puppy in NYC, check in with the ASPCA Adoption Center! We often have puppies for adoption, but they are frequently adopted before their pictures make it up on our website.

 Got a Happy Tail of your own? Submit it to happytails@aspca.org and you could see it on the ASPCA Blog.

Do you know any Shih Tzus or Yorkies? How about a dog named Bella or Lucky? Chances are good that you do if you live in NYC. New York public radio station WNYC has created a really cool map detailing the most popular dog breeds and names in the Big Apple, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Examining dog licensing records for almost 100,000 dogs, WNYC found the most common pooch on the street is a mixed-breed named either Max or Bella.

While the map is super cool for finding the most common dogs in each NYC neighborhood, the data it uses—provided by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which runs the dog licensing program—also reveals a sad fact: Only one in five dogs in NYC is licensed.

So, what’s the big deal? Well, not only is it illegal to have an unlicensed dog in the city, but licensing helps reunite lost dogs with their pet parents and assists with medical follow-ups for individuals potentially exposed to infected dogs. Plus, the proceeds from registration fees help support New York City’s Animal Care & Control (AC&C).

“If the city encouraged and enforced dog licensing, we would be able to raise more revenue for animals in need,” says Michelle Villagomez, the ASPCA’s NYC Legislative Director. 

According to the 2009-2010 American Pet Product Manufacturers Survey, if 50% of NYC dogs were licensed, the City could raise approximately $3.7 million to help animals.

“A well-funded animal population control program would likely reduce the number of dogs and cats euthanized and reduce potential threats to public health and safety,” says Villagomez.

The license fee is $8.50 for an altered dog and $34 for an unaltered dog. The surcharge of $25.50 for unaltered dogs goes to the City Animal Population Control Fund to help AC&C implement a population control program.

If you’re a New Yorker with an unlicensed dog, what are you waiting for? License that pup to help save lives!

Bronx resident Raul Sanchez has pleaded guilty to his involvement in a major dog fighting operation.

Sanchez, who harbored 50 dogs in a Bronx apartment building basement, was arrested in June and indicted in July on multiple charges related to animal fighting, aggravated cruelty to animals, and possession of a weapon. He faces one to three years in prison. If granted parole, Sanchez would be prohibited from owning animals during the length of his parole. He could also face deportation to his native Cuba after his sentence is served.

In 2012, ASPCA responders assisted the NYPD in the investigation and rescue of the dogs, who were suffering in cramped cages in a dark and dingy basement. The room included a makeshift fighting arena with capacity for dozens of spectators. The dogs were transferred to a temporary shelter, where they received care from ASPCA’s veterinary staff and were evaluated by the ASPCA’s Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team.

We’re working nonstop to combat the cruel practice of animal fighting nationwide, and we’re making progress. Earlier this week, legislators reintroduced the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act, which would make it a federal offense to attend an organized animal fight and would impose additional penalties for bringing a minor to an animal fight.

Please join us in our efforts by asking your own House representative to support this important humane legislation.

If ever there was a dog whose prospects looked grim, it was Carson the Shih Tzu. Two years ago, when the three-year-old breeding dog was rescued from a puppy mill in central Minnesota, Carson’s face and underweight body were completely overwhelmed by huge mats of hair, urine and feces. When his rescuers bathed him, they discovered that his eyes had been eaten away by infection. There was nothing left to save: His eye sockets were cleaned out and his lids sewn shut.

Jessica Danielson was on Petfinder.com seeking a companion for her senior pooch Diesel, and although she wasn’t looking for a challenge, she was drawn to Carson’s posting. “I knew I could give him everything he needed. God put him right there and said ‘This is the one. He needs you.’ When I called the rescue to set up a meeting, Carson’s foster mom almost started crying because she thought he’d never find a home.”

“It took almost a year before he would trust me enough to cuddle me, kiss my face, and just feel safe enough to wander the house,” remembers Jessica. In spite of his rough start, Carson is now a very loving and affectionate boy who has taught his new mom, in her words, about “survival, trust, and the real meaning of love!”

Carson’s impact on Jessica doesn’t end there. Now in love with the breed, she went on to adopt two more rescued Shih Tzus—Ernie and Mr. Wiggles—and became a volunteer foster mom for special-needs dogs through Ruff Start Rescue.

Did you adopt a puppy mill dog? Tell us your story by emailing dogstory@aspca.org. And remember, never buy a puppy in a pet store or online—they almost always come from puppy mills. While a pet store puppy may be hard to resist, purchasing one dooms his parents, dogs like Carson, to lives of cruelty, filth and neglect.

Visit NoPetStorePuppies.com to learn more and take the pledge not to buy anything at pet stores or on websites that sell puppies.

Jennifer Richmond got a very special gift for her birthday 11 years ago. That day, she visited the ASPCA Adoption Center and adopted “the love of her life,” a special kitty named Nicholas. 

“He was a small, shy, black-and-white, six-month-old kitten,” Jennifer recalls. “He has grown into the most lovable and sweetest lap cat you will ever meet.”

The two formed a lasting bond that is still going strong today.

“At 11 years old he still has energy to play, calls for treats and purrs so loud it makes you laugh,” Jennifer says.

A few years ago, Jennifer decided it was time for Nicholas to have a feline friend. She visited the ASPCA Adoption Center once again to look for a cat who would be the perfect buddy for Nicholas. Her search was successful—she found Joey, a “rambunctious, gray, three-month-old kitten with more energy than you can imagine.”

“I wasn't sure how all this energy would work with an older cat, but within days they were fast friends,” Jennifer remembers. “They love each other.”

It’s safe to say Nicholas and Joey are two very lucky cats.

“I can’t imagine life without either of them,” Jennifer says. “I am greeted at the door when I get home, and they cuddle during TV time and find their place on the bed when we go to sleep. I can’t thank the ASPCA enough for rescuing them. You have helped create our special family.”

Oh, the excitement! The Inaugural Parade is getting started in just moments, and the ASPCA is in D.C. to help.

The D.C. Department of Health asked the ASPCA to assist with today’s parade, and we were proud to accept the responsibility. Field Investigations & Response Team members are attending to any animal-related cold weather issues or concerns, and they're stationed along the parade route in case an animal emergency should occur—particularly with any of the more than 200 horses in the parade.

The parade is set to start at 2:36, but those horses—and 40 dogs scheduled to appear on a float—arrived at the staging area hours before their big moment in the spotlight. ASPCA staffers have been with them all day to ensure that they stay happy and healthy.

“I am so happy that the D.C. Department of Health recognizes the importance of providing a safe environment for the animals in the Inauguration Parade, and I’m honored that the ASPCA was asked to take part in this historic event,” Field Investigations and Response VP Tim Rickey told us.

If you'd like to watch, check out friend-of-the-ASPCA Dan Harris' livestream of the inaugural events here.

We could not be more excited to announce and congratulate the contestants of the 2013 ASPCA Rachael Ray $100K Challenge! From coast to coast, all 50 animal shelters are sure to engage in a friendly, fierce and exciting competition to save the most animals’ lives over the course of the Challenge. The shelters will compete to win prizes in the form of ASPCA grant funding, ranging from $5,000 to a grand prize of $100,000 for the Challenge’s top performing shelter.

The bar for these contestants has been set high: The 2012 Challenge contestants saved a collective total of 56,232 animals during the three-month competition.

Stay tuned for continuing coverage of this year’s Challenge. The participating shelters will host Challenge Kickoff Weekend events June 1-2. We know they’ll be hard at work preparing between now and then!

For a complete list of the 2013 contestants, please visit our Challenge site.

Thanks to the power of social media, a puppy will soon have a new forever home!

After their previous dog died of cancer, a pair of sisters took to Facebook on Tuesday in an effort to get their father to adopt another. The pair posted a photo of themselves holding a sign that read, “Hi World. We want a puppy! Our dad said we could get one if we get one million likes! He doesn’t think we can do it! So ‘LIKE’ this!”

Luckily for the two girls and their new puppy, the photo quickly hit the goal, amassing 1.2 million likes in just seven hours. In a post on their Facebook page, Twogirlsandapuppy, the girls’ father promises he’ll be true to his word to give a lucky dog a new home.

Congratulations, girls!

Are you interested in adopting a new puppy, too? Visit our Virtual Adoption Center today!

Photos: [top] Jack and [bottom] Jill, before and after receiving treatment at the ASPCA's Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital.

Can you imagine leaving your pets behind in your former home, even in the worst possible circumstances? We can’t either. And yet, after Jerome Smith, 23, was evicted from his Harlem apartment, he chose to do just that to his six-month-old puppies.

When New York City Animal Care & Control officers opened the door to Smith’s former home in September, they found Terrier mix puppies Jack and Jill, all alone and in bad shape.

The officers called ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, and our agents brought the pups to ASPCA Bergh Memorial Animal Hospital right away.

ASPCA veterinarians found Jack and Jill to be dehydrated, malnourished and severely underweight. Jack weighed 12.7 pounds and Jill weighed 8.5 pounds. By contrast, after being fed a balanced diet and receiving treatment by ASPCA staff, Jack now weighs 36.5 pounds and Jill weighs 30.3 pounds—a 187 and 256 percent increase, respectively.

The ASPCA arrested Smith in December. He was charged with two counts of misdemeanor animal cruelty. If convicted, he faces up to two years in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.

Jack and Jill's story ends happily. On January 13, Jill was adopted! Jack is waiting for a forever family at the ASPCA Adoption Center, located in Manhattan. To learn more about how you can adopt Jack, please visit the ASPCA Adoption Center online.

Update 1/18/13: We are thrilled to report that Jack was adopted!

If you suspect you’ve witnessed animal cruelty, please report it.

If you’re looking for a way to make your charitable donations work harder in 2013, we’ve got a great idea: Join our rock-star monthly donors, the ASPCA Guardians.

Guardians are a pretty big deal at the ASPCA. In fact, they're the backbone that sustains our work. These generous folks are also practical thinkers: They know that giving monthly allows us to spend less time fundraising and more time rescuing animals—and that's what this program is all about.

Ready to make 12 gifts in 12 months to save lives? Here's all you have to do to become a Guardian:

1. Take three minutes to sign up.
2. Watch as your 12 automatic gifts help animals all year.
3. Smile to yourself every time you hear the ASPCA rescued an animal from a puppy mill, dog fighting ring or natural disaster, knowing you played a role.

That's it! After 12 months, you will have changed so many animals' lives for the better. Ready to increase the impact of your donations? Join the hundreds of thousands of animal lovers who call themselves ASPCA Guardians.

We were thrilled to take part in 129 happy reunions last Saturday as families displaced by Hurricane Sandy came to pick up their pets from our Emergency Boarding Facility (EBF) in Brooklyn. The boarding facility has been open since November, and the effort is now coming to a close. We put out calls for pet parents to come and take their pets home. 

The Goldstein family of South Freeport, Long Island, traveled to Brooklyn on Saturday to pick up their 3-year-old beagle, Captain Morgan, who had been under our care at the Emergency Boarding Facility for seven weeks. Captain Morgan’s furry friend, Skylar, the Goldstein’s cat, waited for Captain Morgan in the car so they could all go home together.

Jordyn Clarke of Rockaway Beach was reunited with her cat, Kary, a tortoiseshell mix, and Midnight, a pit bull mix, on Saturday. Jordyn’s bungalow on the beach was destroyed, and she has found new housing in Brooklyn. Midnight is being fostered for a few days by a friend until Jordyn is settled in. Midnight’s third birthday is next week, and it will be especially nice for her to be at home.

Thomas Young of Far Rockaway and his son picked up their remaining two dogs at the EBF on Saturday.  They had already brought home their Shih Tzu, Prince, who, upon returning home, “went right into his kennel!” Brindle, a pit bull mix, and Venom, a mastiff, were thrilled to see each other and tumbled into the car with Young’s son. “These are our kids,” says Young, whose family is staying in a hotel and working to rebuild their home.  

Cuddles, a young female tabby, was reunited with Shondelle Dodson, who was displaced from her home in Canarsie after Hurricane Sandy. She adopted Cuddles from the ASPCA Adoption Center in Manhattan in 2012.

Check out our Facebook photo album for more adorable reunion pics!

If you or someone you know is missing a pet post-Sandy, please urge them to visit the ASPCA emergency boarding facility at 1508 Herkimer St. in Brooklyn as soon as possible. Pet parents who wish to reclaim their pets from the boarding facility should call the Hurricane Sandy Pet Hotline at (347) 573-1561.

Photos: [top] Midnight and Jordyn Clarke reunited at the EBF on January 5. [bottom] Shondelle Dodson and Cuddles together again in Brooklyn, NY.

Champion, available at the ASPCA.

Guess what?! Miley Cyrus has added yet another adorable pooch to her ever-growing canine clan. Bean, a tiny, tan Chihuahua mix, may be the most recent pet to join to Miley’s family, but she’s certainly not the first.  In fact, just last May, Miley and her fiancé, Liam Hemsworth, adopted a rescued Lab mix named Mary Jane.

In addition to Mary Jane and Bean—or “little burrito,” as Miley’s nicknamed her—Miley shares her  home with Happy, a Rottweiler/Beagle mix; Mate, a German Shepherd; and Floyd, an Alaskan Klee Kai.

Paws up to Miley and her dedication to helping homeless pets!

Looking to become the proud parent of a rescued pet yourself? Check out our Adoption Section to find a lovable companion near you!

This week, we’re beginning to wind down the Brooklyn emergency boarding facility we opened in November for Sandy victims’ pets and pets found in the aftermath. We’re trying as hard as ever to reunite the remaining animals with their families—and we need your help!

Since the boarding facility opened, the ASPCA and other local agencies have been working around the clock to track down the families of lost pets through grassroots outreach, flyers, advertising, public service announcements and the Animal Care & Control of NYC’s lost pets website.

To date, we’ve reunited more than 100 pets with their families, but nearly 140 displaced animals still remain at the emergency shelter. Of course, any unclaimed pets will receive the best possible placement when the facility closes, but we’d love for them to go home with their original families.

That’s why we need you to share the information below!

If you or someone you know is missing a pet post-Sandy, please tell them to come to the ASPCA emergency boarding facility (at 1508 Herkimer St. in Brooklyn) as soon as possible, or visit the lost Sandy pets site to view all lost pets residing at the facility. Pet parents who wish to reclaim their pets from the boarding facility should also call the Hurricane Sandy Pet Hotline at 347-573-1561..

Thank you! 

So you might be asking: Since we meet so many amazing, resilient animals and selfless adopters here at the ASPCA, how could we possibly select our favorites? Well, people, we really can’t. Instead, we’ve rounded up five ASPCA stories that stood out for their heartwarming outcomes and were shared far and wide via email, Facebook and Twitter.

Here are our top five animal stories of 2012.

1. Milo and Mia
2. Britney
3. Cagney and Lacey
4. Ninja
5. Trolley

Got an animal story you’d love to share? Tell us about it in the comments or email us at happytails@aspca.org.