Category: Feature Stories

By Meredith Ayan, Executive Director

In 2013, a team from SPCA International traveled to Barcelona, Spain, to meet with our partner organization, SOS Galgos. For years they have been working to stop the torture of Spanish Greyhounds (galgos) in Spain. Since that first field work trip, the partnership between SPCAI and SOS Galgos has blossomed into a force fighting for ending the practice of hare coursing in Spain. 

Over the years we have been on the front lines of this issue. From protesting through the streets of Barcelona to speaking at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid we have seized opportunities to speak out against this cruel practice. 

Around the world, the most important component to ending cruelty toward animals is humane education. It has always been an important piece of SOS Galgos work. Now, after 4 years of planning, SOS Galgos is proud to announce they have broken ground (VIDEO) on a humane education center in Esplugues near Barcelona; the first of its kind anywhere in the world. They have been granted land by the government to educate the community and encourage participation. SPCA International has pledged our largest Shelter Support Fund grant ever to ensure the future of this project – $40,000 over two years.  

I recently received this message from SOS Galgos founder, Anna Clements:

“First steps towards the construction of our very first education centre.

The first phase, of what has seemed like an obstacle race in order to set up our school in Esplugues, has begun. A substantial piece of land, granted to us by the local council, will serve as a school to help teach local children about responsible pet ownership as well as help people with special needs, the focus always being on rescued galgos whom will always be present at the school.

We have had to endure huge bureaucratic set backs but today, finally, machines were at work on the land to get some basic work started. 

Let's hope that this will be the start of a model that can be implanted all around Spain to contribute to improve the welfare of galgos, and all animals in general for that matter, for generations to come. 

Thanks to the grant given to us by SPCA International as well as your donations, we will be able to fund the rental of the [prefab] building, the fencing and the architect's fees.”

Together, SPCAI and SOS Galgos will continue to work to end the suffering of these beautiful, gentle animals. Community education will ensure that future generations have compassion and empathy toward animals and understand why the tradition of hare coursing with galgo and podenco are inhumane. Together we are making our world a better place.

To add your voice, please sign our Spanish Greyhound petition encouraging the government to outlaw this cruel practice. 

By Emma Koeniger, SPCAI Staff

November is a month of celebration for all of us here at SPCA International because we distributed our 800^th Operation Military Pets (OMP) grant this month. In 2013, SPCA International recognized that shelters around military bases in the U.S. and all over the world were experiencing high surrender rates. Upon further research we identified that many military families were forced to surrender their beloved furry family members when they were unable to afford the high costs of transporting them to their next duty station when receiving Permanent Change of Station orders. Starting in April of 2013 SPCA International gave its first OMP grant to a family with 2 dogs traveling from California to Germany and by the end of the year this new program had helped 121 families (39 cats, 161 dogs and 1 horse) stay together.

As word of this program spread, need grew and by 2015, SPCAI set a higher goal of distributing at least $15,000.00 in grants each month to military families in need of help with pet transportation costs. We have assisted families moving to South Korea, Australia, Bahrain, South Africa and Norway just to name a few. These 800 families have been comprised of 208 cats, 993 dogs, 1 bunny, 3 horses and 1 bird. SPCA International will continue to help even more amazing military families in the coming year!

By Lori Kalef, SPCAI Staff

There is nothing warm and cozy about cuddling with a blanket or wearing a jacket made from down.  

While not every company uses the 'live plucking' method, a very large percentage does, the better part originating from China (80%).  The typical process of plucking feathers is excruciatingly painful for geese and ducks.  The birds are live-plucked for the first time at about ten weeks old, and are plucked again four to six times a year until they are sent to slaughter at about four years old.  The workers hoist them up by their necks, their legs get tied, and their feathers are pulled out in large chunks in a process that the industry refers to as "ripping"; the birds struggle and panic, sometimes even breaking limbs in an attempt to escape. 

Luckily you can help eradicate this trade by not purchasing anything made from down and in this day and age there are so many warm and stylish alternatives! One of the most common down alternatives is the use of blown fibers and fiber balls. These fibers are blown inside the garment in a very similar manner to how down feathers are added. These down alternatives provide an entirely similar degree of softness and warmth similar as that of down. You often can’t tell the difference, and you might even prefer the alternative in a blind test.

One stand-out down alternative brand called “Save the Duck” is a smart and ethical company that looks to the future, not just to capture the new trends, but to strive for a shared objective: living in a totally animal-cruelty-free world. Their products are 100% animal free and do not utilize feathers, leather, hide or fur.

On Outside Online you can find a comprehensive list of down alternative outerwear, check out it out! 

By Meredith Ayan, Executive Director

Many people have followed the news out of Montreal recently, where the city council ruled to pass “Breed Specific Legislation” or “BSL”. This ruling states the following:

• Any dog resembling a pit bull is now illegal to adopt or purchase.
• All pit-bull type dogs must be muzzled when in their yard or out on walks.
• Families must pay a fee for a permit ($150) to keep the dogs they already own.

The breeds affected by this group are: Staffordshire bull terriers, American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, any mix with these breeds and any dog that presents characteristics of one of these breeds.

So what’s the problem?
The guidelines of the law are so vague they extend to any type of dogs with “pit-bull” like characteristics. Visual breed recognition is entirely subjective and notoriously unreliable. Family dogs with no history of aggression or behavioral problems are subject to all of the restrictions above. For those that cannot afford the permit, they are forced to surrender their beloved family member to a shelter, knowing they have no chance of being adopted or re-homed under this new law. Can you imagine condemning your best friend to death?

The CDC has declared BSL to be an ineffective measure for protecting the public. Instead, they found focusing on responsible pet ownership and educating children and the public about bite prevention to be a more effective tool. We encourage every parent to educate their children on how to safely and respectfully interact with all animals.

Currently, a judge has ordered a delay of the ban, and a longer-term suspension of the by-law is being sought from the Quebec Superior Court. We hope Montreal will see that they are on the wrong side of history, and repeal this by-law quickly and in its entirety.