Archives: Press

SPCA International is pleased to announce a meaningful new partnership with Mountainside Treatment Center aimed at addressing a critical and often overlooked barrier to addiction treatment: what happens to a person’s beloved pet when they need to go away for care. Without a safe place for their animals, many people are forced to make an impossible choice—surrender their pets to shelters or forgo treatment altogether. Together, SPCA International and Mountainside are working to ensure no one has to choose between getting help and staying connected to the animals they love.

Through SPCA International’s PAWsitive Recovery program, individuals entering treatment at Mountainside will now have access to temporary foster care for their pets. This vital support allows people to prioritize their health and healing, knowing their animals are in safe, loving hands.

The partnership unites two organizations deeply committed to compassion, healing, and hope. The Mountainside sober community is embracing this effort wholeheartedly, with many excited to sign up to serve as foster caregivers themselves.

“Caring for a dog provides a sense of responsibility, connection, and purpose—all of which are essential to long-term recovery,” said Jana Wu, LCSW, Director of Cultural Integration at Mountainside Treatment Center.  “We’re proud to support this partnership and look forward to seeing our community members help others through fostering. It’s a beautiful way to give back to someone else who’s just beginning their journey.”

For many, this program has been a lifeline. “Without this program, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” shared one PAWsitive Recovery participant. “If you hadn’t accepted my babies, I would have gone back to the streets and never would have gotten my life together like I have. I don’t even know if I would have stayed sober. So, thank you for doing what you do for addicts who want to clean up their lives and don’t have any place to keep their babies.”

Serena Saunders, the PAWsitive Recovery program manager, started the initiative in honor of her late dog, Oscar, who stayed by her side during her own struggles with addiction. Sober since 2021, Serena understands firsthand how powerful the bond between people and their pets can be during difficult times. “People entering recovery have often lost so much—their families, their homes, their support systems,” said Saunders. “You don’t take away the one thing that hasn’t given up on them. That’s their animals. Oscar never gave up on me. This program is for him—and for every person who needs to know they’re not alone.”

SPCA International and Mountainside Treatment Center are united in their mission to build a more compassionate recovery community across the Tri-State area.

To become a foster, request care for your pet, or support the program, visit: spcai.org/mountainside

---

About Mountaisinde Treatment Center

Mountainside believes that everyone is capable of achieving recovery. Compassionate, best in class staff provides comprehensive treatment with a holistic approach for you and your loved ones delivered in-patient, out-patient and virtually. This has been our approach since our founding in 1998, positively reshaping the lives of over 20,000+ alumni. We do more because we care more. We believe in every one of our clients who walks through our doors – before they believe in themselves. We see the strengths and values in people that addiction often eclipses.  And we work to help clients discover these qualities so they can have fun and live a fulfilling life without substances. What’s more, we understand that addiction impacts the entire family. We are a leader in family programming to help members in their support for their loved ones in treatment.  Mountainside has been nationally recognized as one of the first to have ASAM 3.7, TJC and CARF accreditation as a leader in substance use disorder and drug and alcohol treatment. We encourage you to learn more about how we do more and care more at mountainside.com.

We are pleased to announce that the CDC has responded to feedback from the public, industry partners, and various countries by clarifying and simplifying some of the processes for bringing dogs into the United States from rabies-free and low-risk rabies countries. 

We thank the CDC for incorporating this feedback and making adjustments while continuing to prioritize the health and safety of dogs and people in the U.S. However, significant challenges still need to be addressed for dogs entering from high-risk countries, including increased costs and roadblocks for nonprofits, individuals importing their pets, and foreign-vaccinated service dogs attempting to enter the U.S.

While we appreciate the CDC’s efforts, SPCA International urges further reevaluation of the regulations. It is crucial to consider the impact on the human-animal bond and the logistical difficulties faced by individuals and nonprofits. Further simplifying the transport process is essential to ensure that dogs, whether owned by military personnel, expatriates, or rescued by animal welfare groups, can safely and feasibly enter the United States.

SPCA International recognizes the importance of protecting dogs and people in the U.S. from rabies and other foreign animal diseases. However, the recent regulatory changes implemented by the CDC effective August 1 will prevent huge numbers of healthy dogs from traveling safely to their homes in the U.S. These new regulations penalize responsible pet owners and jeopardize the life-saving work of NGOs and animal shelters globally.

The new regulations have left airlines unprepared, lacking systems for travelers who hand-carry their pets or require service animals. While some airlines can meet the regulations through cargo transport, they now require a third-party importer, causing costs to skyrocket. Additionally, the number of ports of entry for dogs from high-risk countries has been reduced from 18 to 6, adding significant costs and roadblocks for individuals trying to enter the country with their pets. Consequently, many airlines have decided it is not worthwhile to adhere to the regulations and will start to refuse dogs on flights. Furthermore, foreign government agencies, such as Canada’s Canadian Food Inspection Agency, are unable to meet the new CDC requirements, resulting in both Canadian and American-owned dogs being unable to cross from Canada into the United States with the necessary paperwork.

The human-animal bond, especially between soldiers and the dogs they meet on deployment through programs like SPCA International’s Patriot Pets, is indispensable for the mental and emotional well-being of both humans and animals. SPCA International’s vast experience in rescuing and transporting dogs to the United States ensures that these vital relationships are preserved. SPCA International strictly adheres to U.S. vaccination and import protocols and arranges for the safe and legal transportation of these beloved pets, ensuring they are reunited with their servicemembers, providing comfort, healing, and unwavering companionship.

SPCA International believes that the current regulations provide sufficient safeguards for animal and public health and safety in the U.S., but the new regulations, starting August 1, will have a detrimental impact. We urge the CDC to reevaluate these regulations to consider the significant impact on the human-animal bond and the logistical challenges posed to airlines and foreign government agencies. It is imperative that the transport process be simplified to ensure that dogs, whether owned by military personnel, expatriates, or rescued by animal welfare groups, can safely and feasibly enter the United States.