American Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals

TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN THE U.S.

SEE SCHEDULE OSVS INCLUDES THE ASPCA ANIMAL HOSPITAL (NYC), ASPCA SPAY/NEUTER ALLIANCE (NC), NORTHERN TIER SHELTER INITIATIVE, ASPCA ADOPTION CENTER (NYC), ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER (IL), ANIMAL RECOVERY CENTER (NYC), CANINE ANNEX FOR RECOVERY & ENRICHMENT (NYC), KITTEN NURSERY (NYC), KITTEN FOSTER PROGRAM (LA), ANIMAL RELOCATION PROGRAM, AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE PROGRAMS INCLUDING SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS IN NEW YORK CITY AND LOS ANGELES; AND COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINICS (CVCS) IN LIBERTY CITY, MIAMI, AND IN THE NEW YORK CITY BOROUGHS OF THE BRONX AND BROOKLYN. IN 2021, ASPCA SVS PROGRAMS HELPED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ANIMALS THROUGH MEDICAL CARE, BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT, RELOCATION, EMERGENCY AND STANDARD SHELTERING, POISON EXPOSURE CONSULTATIONS, FOSTERING, AND ADOPTION.2021 SVS HIGHLIGHTS1. HELPING AT-RISK PETS AND THEIR OWNERS IN NY, LA, AND MIAMIASPCA DIRECT ANIMAL CARE PROGRAMS IN NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, AND MIAMI ARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED AND STAFFED TO PROVIDE EXPERT VETERINARY, BEHAVIORAL, AND PLACEMENT CARE TO ANIMALS AND COMMUNITIES WHO NEED IT MOST. ASPCA ANIMAL HOSPITAL, ANIMAL RECOVERY CENTER, AND CANINE ANNEX FOR RECOVERY AND ENRICHMENTIN 2021, THE ASPCA ANIMAL HOSPITAL TREATED MORE THAN 8,750 ANIMALS, AND THE ANIMAL RECOVERY CENTER (ARC) AND CANINE ANNEX FOR RECOVERY AND ENRICHMENT (CARE) PROVIDED CARE FOR MORE THAN 360 ANIMAL VICTIMS OF CRUELTY, AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF WHOM WERE RESCUED THROUGH THE ASPCA-NYPD PARTNERSHIP. ASPCA ADOPTION CENTER & KITTEN NURSERYEACH YEAR, THE ASPCA ADOPTION CENTER AND KITTEN NURSERY IN NEW YORK CITY FOCUSES EXCLUSIVELY ON PROVIDING CARE, TREATMENT, AND ADOPTION SERVICES FOR HUNDREDS OF CATS AND DOGS WITH COMPLICATED MEDICAL AND/OR BEHAVIORAL NEEDS, INCLUDING FROM NYPD CRUELTY CASES, AS WELL AS ANIMALS RESCUED AND RELOCATED FROM DISASTER AND OTHER EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN 2021, 1,415 ADOPTION CENTER ANIMALS WERE ADOPTED FROM THE ADOPTION CENTER INTO SAFE AND LOVING HOMES, MOST OF THEM WITH SUPPORT FROM NEARLY 600 FOSTER HOMES. ASPCA LOS ANGELES KITTEN FOSTER PROGRAM IN 2021, THE ASPCA LOS ANGELES KITTEN FOSTER PROGRAM FOSTERED NEARLY 1,400 CATS, PERFORMED MORE THAN 4,000 MEDICAL EXAMS, AND PROVIDED POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR MORE THAN 1,430 VULNERABLE CATS.ASPCA COMMUNITY MEDICINEASPCA VETERINARY CLINICS IN LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK CITY, AND MIAMI ASSISTED MORE THAN 58,480 ANIMALS WITH BASIC AND PREVENTATIVE CARE IN 2021, INCLUDING MORE THAN 43,740 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES.OPENING OF BROOKLYN COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINIC IN APRIL, THE ASPCA OPENED THE BROOKLYN COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINIC (CVC), SUPPORTED BY THE ALEX AND ELISABETH LEWYT CHARITABLE TRUST, TO CREATE BETTER ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE VETERINARY SERVICES FOR UNDERSERVED PET OWNERS AND IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF DOGS AND CATS IN BROOKLYN.THE BROOKLYN CVC SERVES EAST NEW YORK, AN AREA WITH LIMITED EXISTING RESOURCES FOR VETERINARY CARE. BEFORE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE BROOKLYN CVC WAS COMPLETE, THE ASPCA WAS OPERATING A MOBILE CLINIC IN THE PARKING LOT TO HELP PET OWNERS AFFECTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THE PERMANENT FACILITY OFFERS PARTIALLY AND FULLY SUBSIDIZED BASIC AND PREVENTIVE VETERINARY CARE TO BROOKLYN RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES AND VACCINATIONS FOR HOMELESS DOGS AND CATS BEING CARED FOR BY ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING ANIMAL CARE CENTERS OF NYC. OVERALL NUMBER OF ANIMALS DIRECTLY ASSISTED BY LOCATION:NYC* ASPCA BRONX CVC: NEARLY 12,400 ANIMALS* ASPCA BROOKLYN CVC: MORE THAN 11,400 ANIMALS* ASPCA NYC MOBILE CLINICS: MORE THAN 7,000 ANIMALS* ASPCA GLENDALE, NYC SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC: NEARLY 6,800 ANIMALS MIAMI, FL* ASPCA MIAMI CVC: MORE THAN 6,500 ANIMALSLOS ANGELES* LOS ANGELES CLINIC AND MOBILE VEHICLES: MORE THAN 22,000 ANIMALS2. MOVING ANIMALS FROM PERIL TO OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ANIMAL RELOCATIONASPCA ANIMAL RELOCATION PROGRAMS COMPLETED MORE THAN 1,025 ANIMAL TRANSPORT TRIPS IN 2021, RELOCATING MORE THAN 34,550 ANIMALS (ROUGHLY 24,700 DOGS AND 9,760 CATS) FROM UNDER-RESOURCED SHELTERS TO SHELTERS WHERE THOSE ANIMALS HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF BEING ADOPTED. THESE LIFESAVING JOURNEYS INCLUDED 895 GROUND TRANSPORTS AND 132 AIR TRANSPORTS. THE ASPCA ANIMAL RELOCATION PROGRAM REDUCES OVERCROWDING AT PARTNER SHELTERS AND HELPS CREATE THE CAPACITY FOR SHELTERS TO CREATE AND STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS THAT WILL HAVE A LONG-TERM POSITIVE EFFECT ON ANIMAL WELFARE IN THEIR SURROUNDING COMMUNITY.SINCE STARTING THE RELOCATION PROGRAM IN 2014, THE ASPCA HAS TRANSPORTED MORE THAN 200,000 COMPANION ANIMALS ON OVER 7,800 TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE U.S., MAKING THE ASPCA THE LARGEST NATIONAL TRANSPORTER OF SHELTER DOGS AND CATS FOR ADOPTION.3. ADVANCING THE PRACTICE AND IMPACT OF SPAY/NEUTER SURGERYSPAY/NEUTER SURGERY CONTINUES TO BE AN IMPACTFUL WAY TO ADDRESS ANIMAL OVERPOPULATION AND REDUCE LENGTHS OF STAY IN ANIMAL SHELTERS SO SHELTERS CAN ASSIST MORE ANIMALS IN NEED. THE ASPCA PERFORMS, TRAINS, AND PROMOTES THE PRACTICE OF EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT SPAY/NEUTER PROCEDURES IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS.ASPCA SPAY NEUTER ALLIANCEIN 2021, THE ASPCA SPAY NEUTER ALLIANCE (ASNA) IN NORTH CAROLINA PERFORMED MORE THAN 20,000 SURGERIES, INCLUDING LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES FOR SHELTERS AND RESCUES IN THE REGION. ASNA ALSO ADMINISTERED MORE THAN 10,550 FREE RABIES SHOTS AND TRAINED 30 VETERINARIANS AND MORE THAN 80 VETERINARY STUDENTS IN HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH-VOLUME SPAY/NEUTER TECHNIQUES.INCLUDED IN THE TOTAL SURGERY COUNT, ASNA DELIVERED OVER 3,240 "COMMUNITY CAT" PACKAGES FOR FERAL CATS (SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY, RABIES AND OTHER VACCINATIONS, IVERMECTIN, AND EAR TIPS). NEW YORK CITYIN NEW YORK CITY, THE ASPCA COMMUNITY MEDICINE TEAM PERFORMED 25,995 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES AT PERMANENT FACILITIES INCLUDING THE ASPCA ANIMAL HOSPITAL AND ASPCA COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINICS IN THE BRONX AND BROOKLYN, AS WELL AS ON ASPCA MOBILE SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS. LOS ANGELESTHE ASPCA LOS ANGELES COMMUNITY MEDICINE TEAM PERFORMED 16,913 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY IN 2021, INCLUDING AT OUR SOUTH L.A. CLINIC WHERE THEY SPAYED/NEUTERED 6,880 SHELTER AND RESCUE ORGANIZATION ANIMALS, PUBLIC ANIMALS, AND FOSTERED KITTENS. THAT NUMBER ALSO INCLUDES 10,033 CATS AND DOGS SPAYED OR NEUTERED ABOARD ASPCA MOBILE CLINICS.IN OCTOBER, THE LOS ANGELES TEAM ACHIEVED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE: COMPLETING THEIR 100,000TH SPAY/NEUTER SURGERY SINCE ASPCA SPAY/NEUTER SERVICES STARTED IN 2014. MIAMITHE ASPCA MIAMI COMMUNITY VETERINARY CLINIC PERFORMED 837 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES, MORE THAN HALF OF WHICH WERE FOR CLIENTS IN LIBERTY CITY, WHERE THE CVC IS SITUATED AND WHERE WE'RE FOCUSING THIS EFFORT TO ADDRESS THE PRESSING PET CARE NEEDS OF THAT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY.4. HELPING PETS EXPOSED TO POTENTIAL TOXICITY STAFF AT THE ASPCA ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER (APCC), HEADQUARTERED IN ILLINOIS, ANSWERED MORE THAN 415,900 CALLS IN 2021, ASSISTING MORE THAN 401,500 ANIMALS. THE APCC IS THE ONLY POISON CONTROL CENTER FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON ANIMALS AND IS STAFFED BY NEARLY 200 VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING BOARD-CERTIFIED TOXICOLOGISTS, VETERINARIANS, VETERINARY TECHNICIANS, AND VETERINARY ASSISTANTS. THE APCC'S PROPRIETARY DATABASE CONTAINS DATA FROM OVER FOUR MILLION RECORDED CASES. THE APCC ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR PET OWNERS AND THE VETERINARY COMMUNITY.ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF VETERINARY TOXICOLOGY DISCOVERY, APCC RESEARCHERS DISCOVERED IN 2021 THAT THE LIKELY TOXIC COMPONENT IN GRAPES AND RAISINS IS TARTARIC ACID. THE APCC WAS THE FIRST ORGANIZATION TO PUBLISH THIS DISCOVERY IN A SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL. ALTHOUGH THE APCC DISCOVERED MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO THAT GRAPES AND RAISINS MAY BE TOXIC TO DOGS, THE TOXIC COMPONENT WAS UNKNOWN UNTIL THIS TIME.

SEE SCHEDULE OESSENTIAL TO THE ASPCA'S MISSION IS BRINGING AWARENESS TO ITS PROGRAMS AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC, ILLUSTRATING HOW PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS CAN ENGAGE AND GET INVOLVED IN HELPING TO PROTECT ANIMALS FROM CRUELTY. THE ASPCA HAD MORE THAN 54 MILLION PAGE VIEWS ON ASPCA.ORG IN 2021, BRINGING AWARENESS TO MORE THAN 3 MILLION SUPPORTERS AND THE PUBLIC ON EFFECTIVE ACTION THEY CAN TAKE ON BEHALF OF ANIMALS. SOCIAL MEDIA POSTINGS ARE A KEY PART OF THE ASPCA'S EDUCATION PROCESS, AND THEY KEEP THE PUBLIC UPDATED ON POLICY WINS AND DETAILS OF THE ASPCA'S ANTI-CRUELTY EFFORTS. THE ASPCA'S PROMOTIONS GENERATED MORE THAN 240 MILLION SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS IN 2021. THE PUBLIC WAS UPDATED ON ACTIONS THEY CAN TAKE, INCLUDING LETTER WRITING, PHONE CALLS, SOCIAL MEDIA OUTREACH, AND PETITIONS TO LEGISLATORS TO ENSURE ANIMALS ARE GIVEN THE GREATEST POSSIBLE PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW.IN 2021, THE ASPCA SENT MORE THAN 11 MILLION ADVOCACY EMAILS TO ASPCA SUPPORTERS, URGING THEM TO TAKE ACTION ON A VARIETY OF ANIMAL WELFARE ISSUES. WITH THE HELP OF ADVOCATES, THE ASPCA SECURED NEW ANIMAL PROTECTION LAWS AND REGULATORY WINS FOR ANIMALS IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN STATE LEGISLATURES. THE ASPCA DISTRIBUTED NEARLY 3.5 MILLION PRINT AND DIGITAL COPIES OF ASPCA ACTION, THE ASPCA'S MEMBER MAGAZINE. ASPCA ACTION INCLUDES INFORMATION ON ASPCA EVENTS AND PROGRAMS AND PET CARE INSIGHT AND ADVICE. LEGISLATIVE AND ANIMAL ADVOCACY NEWS KEEPS ASPCA MEMBERS UP TO DATE ON CURRENT AND FUTURE INITIATIVES AND HOW THEY CAN HELP ENSURE THAT ANIMALS RECEIVE NECESSARY PROTECTION. THIS MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE ON THE ASPCA WEBSITE, ALONGSIDE MANY ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR THE PUBLIC. THE ASPCA PROVIDED VITAL INSIGHT, HOPE, AND SUPPORT DURING THE PANDEMIC THROUGH MEDIA PLACEMENTS HIGHLIGHTING THE ORGANIZATION'S SUBSTANTIAL PANDEMIC RESPONSE PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY. MANY OF THESE ARTICLES COVERED ONE OF THE MOST ENCOURAGING RESPONSES TO THE PANDEMIC: A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN ANIMAL FOSTERING ENTHUSIASM, WHICH HELPED SHELTER ANIMALS DIRECTLY AND ALLEVIATED PRESSURE ON STRAINED ANIMAL SHELTERS. IN 2021, THE ASPCA APPEARED IN 15,616 MEDIA STORIES, INCLUDING 1,586 PLACEMENTS IN HIGH-EXPOSURE OUTLETS SUCH AS ABC NEWS, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, CNN, FORBES, FOX NEWS, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, THE HILL, THE NEW YORK TIMES, NBC NEWS, TODAY, USA TODAY, AND THE WASHINGTON POST. THE ASPCA ALSO ENGAGED MANY CELEBRITY INFLUENCERS TO SUPPORT ITS LIFESAVING EFFORTS IN 2021, INCLUDING RICKY GERVAIS, BROOKE SHIELDS, PATRICK STEWART, ERIC MCCORMACK, ANDY COHEN, AND EDIE FALCO, WHO CONTRIBUTED THEIR VOICES TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE ASPCA'S PROGRAMS FOR DOGS, CATS, HORSES, AND FARM ANIMALS IN NEED.THE ASPCA'S NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC EDUCATION EFFORTS HAVE HELPED TO ELEVATE THE STATUS OF ANIMALS TO BE SEEN AS DESERVING OF CARE AND TREATED WITH THE KINDNESS AND RESPECT THEY DESERVE.

SEE SCHEDULE OPRE INCLUDES THE BEHAVIORAL REHABILITATION CENTER (NC), THE CRUELTY RECOVERY CENTER (OH), THE ASPCA LEARNING LAB (NC), NATIONAL FIELD RESPONSE, LEGAL ADVOCACY & INVESTIGATION; HUMANE LAW ENFORCEMENT (WHICH INCLUDES THE ASPCA-NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT PARTNERSHIP, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORK IN NYC, AND THE FORENSIC SCIENCES TEAM), EQUINE WELFARE, FARM ANIMAL WELFARE, THE ASPCA PUPPY MILL INITIATIVE, BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE TEAM, ASPCA GRANTS, AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS (COVERING FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS).2021 PRE HIGHLIGHTS1. DISASTER AND CRUELTY RESPONSE: RESCUING AND BRINGING CARE TO ANIMALS IN CRISISASPCA NATURAL DISASTER AND CRUELTY RESPONSE ACTIVITY IN 2021 BROUGHT ASPCA RESCUE TEAMS TO ANIMAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES IN OHIO (INVOLVING 90 DOGS), FLORIDA (TWO CASES INVOLVING MORE THAN 90 ANIMALS), IOWA (INVOLVING MORE THAN 500 DOGS), NORTH CAROLINA (INVOLVING 60 DOGS), ALABAMA (INVOLVING 30 DOGS), NEW YORK (INVOLVING 80 DOGS), AND MISSOURI (INVOLVING 20 ANIMALS).ASPCA TEAMS ALSO RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY TO ASSIST ANIMALS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE IDA IN LOUISIANA (ASSISTING 1,500 ANIMALS) AND TORNADOES IN KENTUCKY (ASSISTING MORE THAN 500 ANIMALS). MANY OF THE ANIMALS RESCUED FROM THESE CASES RECEIVED CARE AT THE ASPCA'S CRUELTY RECOVERY CENTER IN OHIO AND/OR THE BEHAVIORAL REHABILITATION CENTER IN NORTH CAROLINA BEFORE BEING PLACED WITH SHELTER PARTNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION. IN ADDITION TO OPERATING THE CRC FACILITY IN OHIO, THE ASPCA ALSO OPENED A TEMPORARY SHELTER IN TENNESSEE, WHICH ACCEPTED SHELTER DOGS WHO WERE EVACUATED FROM LOUISIANA AFTER HURRICANE IDA HIT THE AREA IN LATE AUGUST.RESCUE WORK HIGHLIGHTS:NORTH CAROLINA NEGLECT CASE (FEBRUARY 2021)IN FEBRUARY, ASPCA RESCUE TEAMS HELPED CALDWELL COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL (CCAC) RESCUE MORE THAN 60 NEGLECTED DOGS - AS WELL AS LIVESTOCK AND OTHER ANIMALS - FROM A PROPERTY IN LENOIR, NORTH CAROLINA. DOGS OF VARYING BREEDS, SIZES, AND AGES, INCLUDING NEWBORN PUPPIES, WERE FOUND LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS INSIDE A SHACK WHERE THE FLOOR WAS COVERED IN FECES, URINE, AND MUD. LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY WERE FOUND LIVING AMONG PILES OF TRASH, AND THE ANIMALS WERE FED OUT OF A TROUGH, FORCING THEM TO COMPETE FOR FOOD.ASPCA SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS PROVIDED SHELTERING, MEDICAL CARE, AND PLACEMENT SUPPORT FOR THE DOGS. THEIR OWNER WAS CHARGED WITH FELONY CRUELTY TO ANIMALS AND ALLOWING ANIMALS TO LIVE IN CROWDED OR UNSANITARY CONDITIONS, A MISDEMEANOR. ALABAMA CRUELTY CASE (MARCH 2021)AT THE REQUEST OF THE HAMILTON, ALABAMA POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE ASPCA DEPLOYED A RESPONSE TEAM IN MARCH TO ASSIST WITH THE RESCUE OF NEARLY 30 DOGS, INCLUDING PUPPIES, FROM A PROPERTY IN HAMILTON. THE ASPCA PROVIDED SUPPORT WITH EVIDENCE COLLECTION, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, FORENSICS EXAMS, MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CARE, AND SHELTERING FOR THE ANIMALS. WHEN INVESTIGATORS ARRIVED ON THE PROPERTY, THEY DISCOVERED DOGS OF VARIOUS BREEDS AND AGES LIVING IN FILTHY AND OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS, WITH MANY SUFFERING FROM UNTREATED MEDICAL ISSUES. DECEASED ANIMAL REMAINS WERE ALSO FOUND ON THE PROPERTY.THE OWNER WAS EVENTUALLY CHARGED WITH 13 MISDEMEANOR COUNTS OF ANIMAL CRUELTY, AND THE DOGS WERE FORFEITED TO THE ASPCA.IN THE WEEKS FOLLOWING THE INTERVENTION, THE DOGS RECEIVED MEDICAL CARE, FORENSIC EXAMS, BEHAVIOR EVALUATIONS, AND DAILY CARE. THE ASPCA RELOCATED MANY OF THEM TO OUR TEMPORARY CRUELTY RECOVERY CENTER IN OHIO AND OTHERS TO THE ASPCA BEHAVIORAL REHABILITATION CENTER IN NORTH CAROLINA. OHIO CRUELTY CASE (MAY 2021)IN MAY, AT THE REQUEST OF BELMONT COUNTY ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE, THE ASPCA ASSISTED WITH THE RESCUE OF MORE THAN 90 NEGLECTED, MIXED-BREED DOGS FROM A PROPERTY IN SHADYSIDE, OHIO. WHEN INVESTIGATORS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, THEY FOUND THE ANIMALS LIVING IN A DILAPIDATED SINGLE-WIDE TRAILER, AND MANY WERE CONFINED TO A DARK ROOM WITH NO ACCESS TO FRESH AIR, FOOD, OR WATER. THE DOGS WERE EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS LEVELS OF AMMONIA, AND DECEASED DOGS WERE ALSO FOUND ON THE SCENE. SOME ANIMALS HAD SEVERE UNTREATED MEDICAL CONDITIONS, INCLUDING PUNCTURE WOUNDS, SCARRING, AND PAINFUL EYE CONDITIONS, AND SEVERAL PUPPIES AND DOGS NEEDED EMERGENCY TRANSPORT TO RECEIVE CRITICAL CARE.THE ASPCA SUPPORTED THE CASE BY ASSISTING WITH OPERATIONAL PLANNING AND REMOVAL, EVIDENCE COLLECTION, FORENSIC EXAMS, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, MEDICAL AND BEHAVIORAL CARE, AND RELOCATION TO THE ASPCA CRUELTY RECOVERY CENTER (CRC) IN OHIO.MISSOURI CRUELTY CASE (SEPTEMBER 2021)IN SEPTEMBER, AT THE REQUEST OF THE CARUTHERSVILLE, MISSOURI POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE ASPCA ASSISTED WITH THE RESCUE OF 19 DOGS AND ONE CAT FROM FILTHY, UNSAFE CONDITIONS AT A PROPERTY IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI. MANY OF THE DOGS INVOLVED IN THIS CASE WERE UNDERWEIGHT, AND SOME SUFFERED FROM UNTREATED MEDICAL ISSUES. THE ASPCA ASSISTED WITH OPERATIONAL SUPPORT, ANIMAL REMOVAL, EVIDENCE COLLECTION, LEGAL ASSISTANCE, AND FORENSICS EXAMS. NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH DURING NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH IN SEPTEMBER, THE ASPCA RELEASED NEW DATA FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY CONFIRMING THAT MORE THAN ONE IN FIVE PET OWNERS HAD EVACUATED THEIR HOMES DUE TO A DISASTER OR EMERGENCY AND THAT NEARLY HALF LEFT AT LEAST ONE PET BEHIND WHEN THEY EVACUATED. THESE RESULTS WILL ENABLE DISASTER RESPONSE EXPERTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR PET OWNERS, ESPECIALLY THE 83% OF PET OWNERS WHO REPORTED LIVING IN A COMMUNITY TYPICALLY STRUCK BY NATURAL DISASTERS.2. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL ADVOCACY & INVESTIGATIONS: SUPPORTING LOCAL AND NATIONAL POLICIES THAT HELP ANIMALS IN NEEDTHROUGHOUT 2021, THE ASPCA GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND LEGAL ADVOCACY TEAMS KEPT INTENSE PRESSURE ON FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO ENSURE COMPASSIONATE ANIMAL WELFARE PROTECTIONS WERE ENACTED AND EXPANDED. HIGHLIGHTS OF THAT WORK:STATE EFFORTSNEW YORKWITH ASPCA SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT, THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL ENACTED TWO BILLS INTO LAW TO EXPAND CO-SHELTERING OPTIONS SO PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND THEIR PETS CAN STAY SAFELY TOGETHER. INTRO. 1483 REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES (DHS), IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES, TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO ACCOMMODATE PETS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO ARE HOMELESS BY PROVIDING PET-FRIENDLY SHELTERS. INTRO. 1484 REQUIRES DHS TO DELIVER A MONTHLY REPORT ON THE PLACEMENT OR DISPOSITION OF PETS WHO BELONG TO PEOPLE WHO ENTER HOMELESS SHELTERS. THE COMPILATION OF THIS DATA WILL FACILITATE EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF PET-FRIENDLY SERVICES.TO SUPPORT THE ANIMAL SHELTERING FIELD IN NEW YORK, THE ASPCA ALSO WORKED TO ENSURE THAT CAPITAL FUNDING FOR ANIMAL SHELTERS AND RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK WOULD BE REINSTATED IN THE 2022 NEW YORK STATE BUDGET. THE TEAM ALSO HELPED DEFEAT A BUDGET PROPOSAL THAT WOULD HAVE REQUIRED EXCLUSIVE USE OF EPRESCRIPTIONS BY VETERINARIANS. MANDATING EPRESCRIPTIONSWHICH MANY SHELTERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO IMPLEMENTWOULD HAVE COMPLICATED THE DELIVERY OF VETERINARY SERVICES.FLORIDAIN FLORIDA, WITH STRONG ASPCA SUPPORT, THE BOARDS OF COMMISSIONERS OF ORANGE AND MANATEE COUNTIES, FLORIDA, PASSED ORDINANCES TO SHUT DOWN THE PUPPY MILL PIPELINE INTO THOSE COMMUNITIES BY BANNING THE SALE OF CATS AND DOGS IN RETAIL STORES. MULTIPLE ASPCA TEAMS SUPPORTED THIS LEGISLATIVE SUCCESS WITH DEDICATED WORK, INCLUDING AN OFFICIAL LETTER AND DIRECT TESTIMONY FROM ASPCA LEGAL ADVOCACY COUNSEL TO MANATEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. KANSAS AND NORTH CAROLINATHE ASPCA LED A CAMPAIGN TO OVERTURN A 30-YEAR-OLD LAW IN OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS, BARRING RESIDENTS FROM OWNING PIT-BULL-TYPE DOGS AND JOINED A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUCCESSFULLY STOPPED AN ANTI-PIT BULL ORDINANCE IN STONEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.MISSOURIIN MISSOURI, THE ASPCA SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED FOR THE ENACTMENT OF A NEW LAW ESTABLISHING PET PROTECTIVE ORDERS, ENSURING THAT PETS ARE LEGALLY ABLE TO BE INCLUDED WHEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR OTHER THREATS REQUIRE SUCH ORDERS. NEVADAAFTER IDENTIFYING THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY AS RIPE FOR REFORM IN THE REALM OF PETS AND HOUSING, ASPCA GOVERNMENT RELATIONS EFFORTS LED TO THE INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE OF CUTTING-EDGE LEGISLATION TO PROHIBIT BREED DISCRIMINATION IN HOME INSURANCE.