Events

We know our pets can sometimes seem like they’re from a galaxy far, far away, but the love we have for them is as large as any energy field. To honor Star Wars Day, we want to see your Wookiees. If your pet is a dead ringer for Chewbacca, Yoda or maybe an Ewok (like our very own adoptable Gracie) tweet us a pic!

 If you’re not too busy bulls-eyeing womp rats in your T-16, celebrate Star Wars Day with us by sending your pet’s pic to @ASPCA with hashtag #StarWarsDay so we can help you show off your furry friend. We’ll be adding our favorite pics to a photo album on both Facebook and Google Plus that you can share with friends.

 If you sense a disturbance in the Force today, it’s probably from all the cuteness. Check out our Wookie Facebook album!

Happy Earth Day, planet lovers! If you have an animal companion, you’ve got plenty of opportunities to cut down on waste, raise your pet’s quality of life and color your corner of the world green. Here are some fun ways you can celebrate Earth Day with your pet:

Spring Cleaning: Empty out the dark corners of your closets, basement and attic, but before throwing your dusty treasures away, call your local shelters and ask if they need old towels, bedding, leashes, litter boxes and pet toys.

The Power of Poop: Scoop dog poop with biodegradable bags instead of plastic bags from the grocery store. If you’re a suburbanite (or an urbanite with a lawn), do some research on doggie septic systems—they help keep your lawn free of smelly surprises and break waste down into a liquid the ground can absorb.

Garden of Delights: If you have space, consider growing your own garden for your fruit- and veggie- loving reptiles and small mammals. Before using insecticides, research mulching and other gardening practices that can help reduce the amount of insecticides and herbicides you might need.

Spot On: Should your furry love leave a little dribble (or more) on the carpeting or floor, don’t reach for the bleach. Use vinegar instead. This environment-friendly liquid can act as an effective odor-remover and can kill mold and bacteria.

Cut Back: There are plenty of small ways to cut back on energy and materials. Instead of using a blow dryer to dry your freshly bathed pet, towel or air dry her. Walk your dog to the doggie park rather than driving there. Or cut down on paper products—clean up with rags or recycled paper towels.

Are you doing something special for Earth Day? Tell us about it in the comments!

For the fifth year in a row, the ASPCA was honored to be selected as one of five national charities to participate in the Subaru “Share the Love” winter event. During the campaign, which took place from November 2012 to January 2013, Subaru donated $250 to the new owner’s choice of five participating charities whenever a new vehicle was purchased or leased. As a result, $1.4 million was raised for the ASPCA, and 100% of the funds have been distributed as grants to animal welfare organizations in all 50 states!

Bu that’s not all! During “Share the Love,” we helped match shelters with local Subaru dealerships to host events promoting pet adoption. A record 116 events took place, resulting in more than 1,300 adoptions. 

Adoption event attendees and grantees were encouraged to share pictures from the events on Twitter, and now you can join in! Help us share our love back to Subaru on behalf of all the animals they have helped: Share your love by tweeting photos of your pets and your very own Subaru vehicles using the hashtag #aspcaSTL.

Reminder for ASPCA Guardians and Founders: You may be eligible for a special offer from Subaru when you lease or purchase a new Forester, Impreza, Legacy, Outback, Tribeca, WRX, STI, BRZ or XV Crosstrek. As an added bonus, Subaru will also donate $100 to the ASPCA! Please review offer details on ASPCA.org before contacting your local Subaru dealership.

"People want their dog to be a friend, not afraid.

But sometimes, fear grips dogs so tightly they shake, cower, bite, growl or pee. It can be constant, painful and hard to overcome. Such dread can consume a dog when it's freed from a cage at a puppy mill or hoarder's home because that's the only life the dog has ever known.

Until now, it was up to animal shelters to ease the fears, knowing if they didn't, euthanasia was the likely alternative. But this week, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals opens its Behavioral Rehabilitation Center at St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in Madison, N.J.”

We have so much more news to share with you about this thrilling new facility—and how we hope to use it to offer a lifeline to animals across the country—and we’ll bet you’ve got questions. We can’t wait to tell you everything, so stay tuned to ASPCA.org for all the details.

In the meantime, read the entire Associated Press story.