Author: SPCAI Staff

Most of us enjoy summer hikes, swims, and other outings with our pets… follow these tips to keep them safe from the heat. 

• Never leave your pet in a car! — A parked car quickly heats up and can reach temperatures 20 to 30 degrees higher than outside. Exposure to this high heat and low airflow can quickly result in the death of a pet. Please leave your pet at home or run that errand later. 

• Always provide water – In the summer, your pet will naturally drink more water than usual. Make sure they always have plenty of clean water available, especially when you are out of the house. There are some great collapsible bowls for when you and your pet are on the go.  Hiking anyone?

• Pets need shade – not a doghouse! If pets must be left outside during the day, hanging a tarp is a quick solution for a yard without tree cover. Unfortunately, a dog house can trap heat and become even hotter than outside.  

• Avoid Asphalt – Hot asphalt can burn our pet’s feet – Consider walking your pet in the morning or evening to avoid the midday sunbaked asphalt.  

• Trim haircut – Some dogs can benefit from a summer haircut, but they should never be shaved! Check with your vet to learn if you should trim your pet’s coat or not. Some long hair acts as a natural cooling system and daily brushing is the best advice.

If you detect any signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion, such as excessive drooling, red or purple tongue, vomiting, and suspect your pet is at risk, contact your vet right away for medical care that may save your pet’s life.

When Sergeant Foster’s wife, Dana, called him eight years ago to ask if she could bring home a dog that another U.S. Air Force family had to leave behind, he said no. He was newly stationed in Guam and the family was still getting settled, but Dana brought Boomer the dog home anyway. To this he says, “Well you know, that’s what being married is like.”

Now, eight years later, Sergeant Foster says Boomer is part of the family. He has been through military assignments in Guam, England, and now North Dakota. Sergeant Foster tells us, “Who knew this free rescue dog would be worth over $5,000 from moving around the world? We love him so much and he brings us such joy that it's worth the extra stress and planning. He's our forever pet.” SPCA International was honored to help keep this family together through their most recent military reassignment in March from the United Kingdom to North Dakota.    

Even though the U.S. Air Force moves military families and their possessions (except the family pets), reestablishing in a new place is surprisingly expensive. The Fosters had to buy all new appliances to fit U.S. outlets, as well as a new car built for driving on the right-hand side of the road! By providing for Boomer’s travel expenses, SPCA International was able to make this military family’s move just a little easier with the help of an Operation Military Pets grant. This family received a $500 grant to cover a portion of the cost to move Boomer to North Dakota. Without financial aid from Operation Military Pets many families (like Boomer’s family before the Foster’s) would be forced to leave their pet behind. 

Sergeant Foster says there aren’t many organizations that support military members directly like Operation Military Pets does, so he will definitely tell others and support SPCA International in the future. Here at SPCA International, we would like to thank Sergeant Foster and his family for their service. 

Boomer is loving North Dakota Summers too!

By Team Lemonade

As a company with a mission to transform insurance into a social good, we regularly ask our Lemonade community which causes they’re passionate about, and would like to support.

Sounds like a bizarre question coming from an insurance company, we know, but it’s part of how we’re built.

Back to our community. They spoke, and we listened. Our Lemonaders expressed their passion for animal rights, which sparked a search high and wide for an animal rescue organization.

We were looking for an organization that measured its impact: data-driven, knew how to communicate proven results, and most of all, was committed to transparency, one of our core values.

When we found SPCA International, we knew we found the right fit for our Giveback program (more on that soon).

Partnering with SPCAI is part of our journey to fix the broken insurance system. A system that, for centuries, wanted to protect you when things went wrong, but often breeded a feeling of distrust, and put you through hurdles that left you stranded.

So beyond bringing insurance into the 21st century through technology (we use algorithms instead of paperwork, bots instead of brokers!), we transformed the very fundamental business model to remove any conflicts of interests, and include giving back.

Instead of making money from denying claims, which is the norm within the industry, we treat your premiums as if it’s your money, take a flat fee for our services, and return what’s left to a cause you care about. We call this the ‘Giveback.’

Rest assured, this isn’t marketing fluff. Lemonade is a B-Corp, which means we’re committed to a double bottom line. In fact, Giveback is an integral part of our business model, and since we’re driven by a community-focused and do-good culture, Giveback is just one way we’re committed to the public good.

This is why we’re so excited to announce the Lemonade <> SPCA International partnership. We’re thrilled to welcome such a devoted and impactful organization such as SPCAI, who have helped thousands of animals around the world. And we’re humbled this wonderful cause is welcoming us to their community, with open arms.

So, how does the Lemonade Giveback work?

When you get a Lemonade renters or homeowners insurance policy, we ask you to choose your ‘Giveback’ cause. People choosing the same cause form a ‘virtual group;' behind the scenes, we use their premiums to pay their claims, and Giveback any leftover money to their common cause (in this case, the SPCAI).

We think of Giveback as a social contract among our community, where the size and allocation of our donation is determined not by our big profits or big hearts, but by the good fortune and good behavior of our members.

For us, Team Lemonade, this is deeply gratifying. At the end of the day, ‘it’s not our money.' It’s money our community has entrusted to us, first and foremost to help our members recover from unfortunate events in their lives, and secondly to help the less fortunate in our broader community. We feel privileged to do both – and are grateful to our community for the trust and support. 

Stay safe, and thank you for supporting SPCAI!

Sign up for Lemonade Renters Insurance and support SPCA international today!

When Angela Cherry, a veterinary technician by training, visited the Yucatan Peninsula, she was appalled by the horrific state of the animals she saw. Angela couldn't ignore their plight, so she founded Helping Paws Across Borders to provide much needed medical attention, including spay and neuter services, for animals in Latin American and Caribbean countries. 

The model is simple but impactful. US-based veterinarians and vet techs collect supplies and volunteer their time to provide quality medical care to animals in impoverished areas at no cost. By providing routine care, major surgeries, spay and neuter services, and education, Helping Paws Across Borders is making life less painful for suffering animals, reducing animal overpopulation, and helping people learn how to provide a healthy life for their pets. Their ultimate goal: stop animal neglect and abuse. 

Helping Paws Across Borders has held events in Mexico, the Bahamas, Belize, Honduras, and New Mexico. This year, they are partnering with over 20 other organizations on a Spayathon for Puerto Rico. The goal is to spay and neuter 20,000 animals by 2019.  

*In addition to all this amazing work, Helping Paws Across Borders is also partnering with SPCAI and CFF this month on the Dogs of Chernobyl project in Ukraine.