Author: SPCAI Staff

Earlier this month, our team traveled to Spain to meet with our dear partners at SOS GALGOS. It was a trip filled with learning, advocacy, rescue work, and unforgettable moments of compassion. Alongside SOS GALGOS, we met with local leaders, rescued dogs in need, marched for change, educated children, and helped 15 Galgos begin new lives in the United States. 

We wouldn’t have been able to accomplish any of this without your support. Here’s a look at everything we accomplished together.

Standing Together on World Galgos Day

Our trip lined up with World Galgos Day, a powerful day of marches and demonstrations across Spain and around the world. In Barcelona, nearly 1,000 people gathered to stand up for Galgos and other hunting dogs who face terrible abuse.

The march began near Arc de Triomf and continued through the city to the Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya. Our SPCA International banners drew attention as marchers chanted and called for change. The message was clear: the world is watching, and Galgos deserve better. 

We will continue to raise awareness of the suffering of Galgos worldwide. More people must understand the reality of these animals if we want real, lasting change. 

Meeting With Local Leaders for Change

Our journey took us to Calatorao, where we met with David Felipe, the town’s mayor. We had a positive and meaningful conversation about the welfare of Galgos and the urgent need for compassion-driven change.

We explained why the current legal status of Galgos is harmful, what we hope to see in the future, and the steps that can be taken to achieve it. We also provided copies of the children’s book for local teachers to use in their classrooms.

By helping children learn empathy and kindness at a young age, we hope to inspire a future where animals are treated with care and respect. Real change begins with education, open dialogue, and working together.

Inspiring Compassion Through Education

While in Barcelona, we joined SOS Galgos for one of their School Workshops at the shelter. These workshops teach children about the lives of Galgos, the hardships many face, and why compassion matters.

The day ended with a special reading program. Children sat quietly, reading their favorite books aloud while the dogs rested beside them. For many rescued Galgos, who arrive scared and unsure of people, these gentle moments help them relax and begin to trust again. Watching children and dogs comfort one another was incredibly moving and reminded us of the power of kindness.

Rescuing Aragon

We also spent time with a local rescuer named Martha, whose deep knowledge of the area helps SOS Galgos save dogs from dangerous situations. She guided our team through villages and pointed out places where Galgos have been abandoned or injured in the past.

That same day, we met a Galgo who had been found alone at a gas station near the highway. He had no home, no bed, and no name. We named him Aragon, after the region where he was found.

Aragon traveled back with us to the SOS Galgos shelter in Barcelona. He was calm and gentle during the long car ride and arrived just before sunset. There, he enjoyed a warm meal, a soft bed, and his first night of safety and love. Aragon is now receiving medical care and beginning his journey toward a forever home.

Bringing 15 Galgos to Safety

One of the most exciting parts of our trip was helping 15 Galgos travel to the United States. These are the dogs you helped fundraise for earlier this year. Because of generous donors like you, these dogs were given a second chance.

We ensured every dog was prepared for their trips, with medical care, spay or neuter surgeries, vaccines, and travel documents. The pups were driven overnight from Barcelona to Madrid. There, we built 15 travel crates, filled them with fresh linens, gave each dog a new coat, and made sure they could stretch their legs and drink water before their 9.5-hour flight.

Our team accompanied the dogs on their 9.5-hour journey to O’Hare International Airport. There, four amazing rescue partners were waiting to welcome them: American Greyhound, Inc., Serenity Animal Group, Kansas City Regap, and Magnificent Mutts & Meows Rescue.

Together, we watched as each Galgo took their first steps on U.S. soil, then continued to their foster and forever homes across the Midwest.

This trip reminded us that real change happens through many small but meaningful actions, whether it is a conversation with a mayor, a child reading to a rescue dog, a march through city streets, or a quiet car ride with a dog finally heading toward safety.

None of this would be possible without the compassion of our supporters. Because of you, these dogs are getting a second chance at life.

Thank you for standing with us and for helping create a kinder world for animals everywhere.

February is Spay & Neuter Month, and at SPCA International, we are proud to celebrate it with action.

This year, we are committing more than $270,000 to spay-and-neuter efforts around the world. These funds will support trusted partners in Brazil, Nepal, Panama, Serbia, South Korea, Tanzania, Uganda, Ukraine, the United States, and Venezuela, helping them spay and neuter stray animals and provide free or low-cost sterilizations to pets in low-income communities.

Every day, animals are born into situations where there are not enough homes, food, or medical care. Unplanned litters often mean more animals living on the streets, facing hunger, disease, injury, and cruelty.

Spaying and neutering is the most humane and effective way to prevent this suffering before it starts.

When animals are spayed or neutered:

• Fewer puppies and kittens are born without homes
• Communities see fewer animals living on the streets
• Shelters are less overcrowded
• Animals live healthier, longer lives

Spaying and neutering is not about limiting life. It is about protecting it.

Spay & Neuter Month is a time to celebrate progress, but it is also a reminder that this work must continue year-round.

At SPCA International, we remain committed to humane, practical solutions that protect animals and support the people who care for them. By investing in spay and neuter programs around the world, we are helping build a future where fewer animals suffer, and more can live safe, healthy lives.

Together, we can stop the cycle of overpopulation and create kinder communities for animals everywhere.

Last month, we shared an urgent plea to help a Galgo in desperate need. Camino was found dumped in a plastic bag. We don’t know who left her there, or what she endured before that moment, but we knew we had to act. We had to make sure she would never feel pain like that again.

Her story broke our hearts. And when we asked for your help, you answered. Because of your support, Camino was rescued.

She is now safe in Barcelona at a shelter run by our trusted partners. She is receiving medical care, growing stronger each day, and slowly learning that she is no longer alone. Camino is now loved, protected, and one step closer to the forever home she deserves.

None of this would have been possible without you. Camino is alive today because you chose to care. Thank you!

When U.S. service member Angel was deployed to a base in Africa, he never expected to meet a tiny cat who would change his life. Nala was small, scared, and living on her own, but she quickly found comfort in Angel. From the start, the two formed a strong bond. Angel promised Nala that one day he would bring her back to the United States and give her the safe, loving home she deserved.

Before Angel could begin planning her rescue, things became more complicated. Nala was pregnant, and soon after, she gave birth. Life on the base was dangerous for stray animals, and when base security took Nala’s kittens for population control, Angel’s fear grew. He knew Nala would be next. If security found her, he would never see her again.

Sadly, that fear became reality. Nala was captured and dumped far out in the desert, left to starve and die. Angel was heartbroken. By then, he had already been sent back to the United States and could do nothing to help her. He believed he had lost her forever.

But Nala’s story didn’t end there.

Against all odds, when Angel later returned to the base, something incredible happened. Nala found him. After being abandoned in the desert, she had wandered back, searching until she reached the one person she trusted. When Angel saw her again, he knew he could not wait another moment. He reached out to us right away for help.

We moved quickly to bring Nala into our care and give her the love and medical attention she needed. Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our supporters, Nala was safe at last. With donor support, we were able to cover her care and arrange her journey home.

Soon after, Nala boarded a flight to Florida, where she was welcomed home by Angel’s wife. Today, Nala is happy, safe, and very much at home. She loves spending her days curled up next to her family and can’t wait until Angel’s deployment is over so she can jump into the arms of the hero who saved her.

In just a few days, our team is traveling to Spain to stand alongside local partners and animal welfare organizations in defense of Galgos, Spanish greyhounds who suffer unimaginable cruelty in the name of hunting.

Every year, Galgos are used by local hunters to chase hares during hunting season, which runs from October through February. During this time, many of these dogs are kept in terrible conditions. They are often starved and denied water, so they will hunt harder. They are not treated like living, feeling animals, but like tools.

When hunting season ends, the suffering does not stop. Many Galgos are brutally killed, beaten, hanged, or buried alive. Others are abandoned on the side of the road, injured, frightened, and left to survive on their own. These dogs did nothing wrong. They are gentle, loyal, and trusting, yet tens of thousands are discarded every year once they are no longer considered useful.

On February 1, SPCA International will join local partners and animal welfare organizations in Barcelona to march for the rights of Galgos. Together, we will raise awareness about the pain these dogs endure and urge the Spanish government to enact and enforce stronger animal welfare laws. This march is about raising awareness, promoting accountability, and driving change.

Our work in Spain will not stop there. We will be meeting with local officials to push for stronger protections for animals. We will also host educational workshops geared towards elementary school-aged children to help teach compassion and responsible treatment of animals to future generations. 

We will also travel to regions where Galgos are used for hunting and where they are frequently abandoned after the season ends. We aim to rescue some of these dogs and get them the care and safety they deserve.

This will be an emotionally challenging journey. Witnessing suffering firsthand is never easy. But it is necessary. Galgos cannot speak up for themselves, so we must be their voice.

We will be sharing updates from Spain on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as this important work unfolds. Please stay tuned, stand with us, and help us fight for a future where Galgos are protected, valued, and treated with the compassion they deserve.

Together, we are asking for change.

Earlier this year, we shared the heartbreaking stories of three dogs in desperate need of help — Rani, Ari, and Gerry. Thanks to your kindness, these sweet pups are now safe, healing, and surrounded by love!

When our partners first rescued them, their conditions were dire. Gerry had been beaten, and his eye was severely injured. We weren’t sure if his eye could be saved. Ari had been burned and even run over by a car. Rani, just a young pup, was starving, hurt, and sick with ticks and infections. His front leg was broken, and he was so weak.

But because of you, everything changed. They got the medical care, food, and love they needed to heal.

We’re so happy to share that Ari, Gerry, and Rani have made full recoveries! They are all healthy, playful, and ready to find their forever homes. Best of all, Gerry’s eye was saved! He can see just fine now and loves everyone he meets.

These three dogs are proof that kindness can change everything. You gave them a second chance, and now they get to be happy, loved, and carefree.

Thank you for caring so much and for helping animals like Rani, Ari, and Gerry find hope again.

This holiday season, we’re celebrating some of the recent touching reunions made possible by our Patriot Pets program—moments where compassion, courage, and devotion brought U.S. service members and the animals they rescued back together on American soil.

Pluto

When Richard first spotted Pluto wandering near his base in Poland, the little cat was skinny, limping, and struggling to survive. Richard stepped in immediately, providing Pluto with the medical care he needed and offering the comfort and companionship that only a true friend can give. Far from home, Pluto became Richard’s emotional anchor, a steady source of joy during long, challenging days.

When it was time for Richard to return to El Paso, Texas, he couldn’t imagine leaving Pluto behind. Thanks to our Patriot Pets program and the generous supporters who fuel it, he didn’t have to. We brought Pluto into our care, arranged his transport to the U.S., and reunited him with Richard in a beautiful moment captured on video. Today, the two are back where they belong: together.

Imchi

Palmer found Imchi when she was a tiny, 8-week-old kitten trying to survive in the Middle East. He knew right away that she needed help. He became her protector, caregiver, and family during his deployment.

When Palmer’s time overseas came to an end, he reached out to us to ensure Imchi could also go home. On the day before Thanksgiving, the pair reunited at the Seattle airport, where Palmer joyfully announced, “It’s the baby’s first Thanksgiving and Christmas.” Now Imchi is settling into life with Palmer and his family, warm, safe, and surrounded by love, just in time for the holidays.

Grace

Grace was a pregnant stray when U.S. soldiers first noticed her wandering near their work area in the Middle East. She later returned with four tiny kittens, an entire little family looking for kindness. The soldiers took the family in, all promising to provide them with homes in the United States. And with our help, they did it! We were able to bring this cat family into our care and eventually help transport them to their forever homes in the United States, where they will live with their respective soldiers.

These reunions remind us why our Patriot Pets program matters so deeply. For many soldiers, the animals they rescue become family. And thanks to caring people like you, these families get the chance to stay together, no matter the distance.

It’s that magical time of year again — the season of giving, cuddles by the fire, and spoiling our furry family members! Whether you’re shopping for a friend or family member and their beloved pet or want to treat your own four-legged companion, we’ve rounded up the perfect gifts that celebrate the special bond we share with animals.

Pajamas from Pittie Clothing Co

What’s better than cozying up on a chilly winter morning in matching PJs with your pet? Pittie Clothing Co. offers adorable pet pajamas (and matching human sets!) that bring instant joy and make for the cutest photos for your holiday card. And what’s even better is that Pittie Clothing Co. is committed to giving back to pitties in need. They’ve donated over 4,000 pajamas to animal shelters nationwide and donate a percentage of their proceeds to help shelter animals find their forever homes. 

Fi Smart Tracking Collar

Safety meets style with the Fi Smart Collar — a GPS-enabled tracker that helps keep pets safe and gives owners peace of mind. Best of all, when you purchase a Fi collar through SPCA International’s partnership, a portion of the proceeds helps fund our global efforts to rescue and protect animals in need. It’s a gift that gives back in the most meaningful way.

Custom Portrait from Perkie Prints

Perkie Prints allows you to put a portrait of your pet anywhere you can think of, from t-shirts and mugs to baby onesies and Christmas ornaments. Their website is easy to use, making creating a custom gift fun and effortless.

Bistro Tile Small Stoneware Dog & Cat Bowl

Serve up style this holiday season with the Bistro Tile Small Stoneware Dog and Cat Bowl. This beautifully crafted bowl brings a touch of elegance to mealtime. Made from durable stoneware, it’s perfect for both food and water and sturdy enough to handle even the most enthusiastic eaters.  Whether you’re treating your own pet or gifting it to a fellow animal lover, this charming bowl is sure to make every meal feel just a little more special.

Snuffle Ball by Lambwolf Collective

Make playtime extra special with the Holiday Monti Snuffle Ball. It’s soft, durable, and designed to engage your pet’s mind by hiding treats inside its folds. A fun way to keep pets entertained while stimulating their natural foraging instincts.

Custom Pet Portrait Denim Jacket

This custom hand-painted pet portrait denim jacket is an absolute showstopper and the perfect gift for someone who loves fashion and their pet. Each jacket is one-of-a-kind and painted with love, turning your furry friend’s face into wearable art that’s sure to turn heads (and tails).

Barkwhiz Puzzle Toy

For curious pups who love a challenge, the Barkwhiz Puzzle Toy is the ultimate boredom buster. It’s interactive, durable, and helps build your dog’s problem-solving skills — perfect for keeping those winter blues away.

Frisco Holiday Advent Calendar

Add a little extra joy to the countdown this holiday season with the Frisco Holiday Advent Calendar for Cats! This festive set lets you celebrate the 12 days of Christmas with your favorite feline. Each day reveals a new toy to keep your cat active, curious, and entertained. Thoughtfully designed by the pet experts at Chewy, every toy encourages interactive, mentally stimulating play for endless fun.

Custom Pet Slippers

What’s cozier than slippers on a winter morning? Slippers with your pet’s face on them! These custom fluffy slippers are soft, adorable, and make an unforgettable gift for any pet lover who wants to carry their furry friend everywhere they go.

Personalized Dog Bone Ornament

Make your holiday tree extra special this year with the Personalized Lenox Dog Bone Ornament! This elegant keepsake adds a touch of timeless charm to your festive decor. The ornament can be personalized with your pet’s name, making it the perfect way to celebrate your furry family member. Whether it’s for your own pup or as a heartfelt gift for a fellow dog lover, this ornament is a delightful way to honor the pets who make the holidays so merry and bright.

We are excited to announce one of our most exciting projects yet: Clinic in a Box! This fully equipped mobile veterinary clinic is built to bring essential medical care directly to animals in need. Inside, veterinarians can perform spay and neuter surgeries, give vaccinations, and provide general treatment to pets who might otherwise go without care. For too many animals, access to veterinary services is limited by cost, distance, or long wait times. Clinic in a Box is designed to overcome those barriers and ensure that animals in underserved or remote areas receive the care they deserve.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we are thrilled to announce that we will launch this clinic with a multi-day spay and neuter event in Kern County, California. Partnering with our longtime friends at Marley’s Mutts, who have been committed to improving the lives of animals and people across California for years, we will provide sterilization surgeries and medical care for approximately 400 animals. This event will not only give pets the care they urgently need, but it will also address one of the root causes of the crisis: overpopulation. Spaying and neutering reduce the number of unwanted litters, ease the burden on shelters, and increase the chances of every pet finding a loving home.

Kern County faces one of the country’s most severe animal welfare challenges. Nearly 40 percent of animals in shelters are euthanized, and there is often a waiting list of about 500 animals needing spaying and neutering services. Even more concerning, around 90 percent of animals in the area are not yet altered. By directly bringing Clinic in a Box into these communities, we can help families who cannot afford or access traditional clinics. This project will finally allow people in remote and underserved areas to get the veterinary care their pets need.

We are in the final stages of planning this event and cannot wait to share more updates with you. The launch of Clinic in a Box is only the beginning. Our long-term vision is to bring these mobile clinics to communities across the United States and eventually worldwide. With every animal treated and every community served, we are one step closer to a future where no pet is left without care.

Thank you for believing in this vision and for making it possible to take this exciting first step toward healthier, happier lives for animals everywhere.