Archives: Shelter

Animal Friends Foundation (AFF) is an entirely volunteer run organization committed to finding solutions for the unwanted companion animal population. Founded in 2003, its crucial work now helps thousands of animals in its community every year. 

AFF has forged strong relationships with many organizations and municipalities in its area to build a great animal care network. Through this network it is able to offer low-cost spay and neuter vouchers that are accepted at many different location throughout southern New Jersey. It also communicates tirelessly with its local municipalities to promote “Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return” for feral cat communities.

AFF also offers help to compassionate people who are interested in improving care for feral cat colonies nearby. AFF provides low-cost housing and education as long as a local individual is willing to be responsibility for providing food, water, shelter and veterinary care. This great service empowers many neighborhoods to solve their feral community overpopulation in a humane and sustainable way.

SPCA International is proud to honor Animal Friends Foundation. This remarkable team of volunteers is taking significant steps every day to save animals in southern New Jersey. If you would like to learn more about Animal Friends Foundation, please visit its website at: www.animalfriendsfoundation.com.

Second Chance Animal Shelter is a unique organization that has been serving the East Brookfield area in Massachusetts since 1999. Second Chance is fulfilling a vital need in its community by combining many standard shelter services with other, more innovative programs needed as communities change and expand.

In 2008, a Second Chance volunteer came up with an idea to help pet parents who might otherwise surrender their pets due to economic stress. The Second Chance board not only listened to this idea, but mobilized and Pet Food Pantry was born. Pet Food Pantry assists down and out pet parents by providing pet food to local food pantries, so parents can pick up pet food at the same time they pick up their people food essentials. It is impossible to know how many pets have been saved through this program – in this economy SPCA International has seen surrender rates rise in shelters all across the world – but it is easy to assume thousands.

Since its founding, Second Chance has been committed to providing low-cost spay and neuter to the community through its S.P.O.T. (Stop Pet Overpopulation Today!) program. In 2008, it administered a record number of spay and neuters – 2,055 (up from 1,761 in 2007). Second Chance is also providing superior adoption programs and another record-breaking number proves it – the organziation placed 693 homeless pets in 2008, up from 468 the year before.

SPCA International is proud to honor Second Chance Animal Shelter as Shelter of the Week. We commend its hard work and innovative efforts to provide homes and resources for all the needy animals in their community. You can learn more or donate directly to Second Chance Animal Shelter by visiting www.secondchanceanimals.org.

Furkids was founded in 2002 by Samantha Shelton. Samantha was compelled to start a no-kill shelter after finding a stray mother cat with her kittens and was unable to locate a shelter to take them. Now, Furkids is the largest cage-free cat shelter in Georgia. The organization’s main goals are to provide a cage-free, no-kill shelter environment, to find permanent, loving homes for all its animals, promote spay and neuter, and educate its community about Georgia’s animal overpopulation problems.

Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue is an exceptional organization that works closely with other area organizations to save bunnies facing imminent death due to space constraints in city shelters and pounds. This special Rhode Island rescue has been operating since 2002 and in that short amount of time it has found forever homes for more than 1000 rabbits.

Even in a little state like Rhode Island, the rate of pet rabbit surrenders is very high.  Most shelters and pounds don’t have much bunny space, or an extensive rabbit-homing network to help them manage an influx of these special creatures. That’s where Sweet Binks comes in. By partnering with the other shelters, Sweet Binks provides bunnies whose time has run out one more chance at finding a forever home. The strong partnerships that Sweet Binks has built allow it to be there for bunnies with nowhere else to turn.

Sweet Binks also provides the community with essential rabbit care and training education. It knows that if individuals who adopt or buy rabbits are educated in proper rabbit care and training, the rabbit surrender rate will decrease.

Sweet Binks is working every day to spread the “ADOPT A BUNNY” message. We hope you’ll take a moment to explore its Web site: www.rirabbits.org. SPCA International is very proud to honor such superior dedication to these treasured animals.

Located in beautiful Honolulu, HI, Wild Bird Rehab Haven provides treatment and rehabilitation to the native birds that call the island home. 

This entirely volunteer-run organization assesses injury, treats shock and dehydration, splints broken bones, administers medications, treats a variety of other wounds, performs physical therapy, feeds hungry babies, and provides supportive care to all the birds it receives.

Wild Bird Rehab Haven has seen an increase in the number of birds it has treated, due to an increase in human land consumption that infringes on birds natural habitat. This loss of natural habitat forces many birds to find shelter in unlikely places that often prove dangerous.

A bird’s primary defense is its flight and without it, a bird is vulnerable to being attacked or killed by another animal or humans. If you come into contact with a bird that appears injured, Wild Bird Rehab Haven strongly suggests that you first call your local wildlife officials before taking direct action yourself. However, if you are unable to get in touch with your local wild animal rehabilitation facility, Wild Bird Rehab Haven suggests the following:

– Catch the bird and gently hold it in your hands to assess its condition. If the bird appears weak, cold, or has any apparent injuries such as an open wound, drooping wing, or broken leg, it requires immediate assistance.

– If the bird is bleeding, apply light pressure to the wound until bleeding stops.

– If the bird appears weak, it may require rehydration. You may provide the bird with juicy bits of fruit or small amounts of Gatorade or sugar water to help it rehydrate. 

– A bird missing feathers must be kept warm by using a heating pad or a heat lamp, but provide space for the bird to move away from the heat source so it can monitor its own heat.

– Carefully place the bird in a covered container that has proper ventilation. The container should be soft, warm and padded. Keep the bird in a quiet place, giving it access to warmth until you can reach your local wildlife officials or a veterinarian.

Wild Bird Rehab Haven takes in native birds throughout the island of Honolulu who have found themselves in harm’s way and gives them a safe environment where they can thrive. SPCA International commends this extraordinary team of volunteers and is proud to honor them as Shelter of the Week. To learn more about Wild Bird Rehab Haven, visit its Web site www.wildbirdrehabhaven.org.

Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary, located on 12 acres in Gainesville, FL is a safe haven for primates from all over the United States that have been abused, confiscated by authorities, retired from research, or were once pets. Jungle Friends is home to over 100 primates and has a long waiting list. 

Primates are any of an order of mammals that are characterized especially by advanced development of binocular vision, specialization of the appendages for grasping and enlargement of the cerebral hemispheres. That includes apes, monkeys and related forms like lemurs and tarsiers.

Though Jungle Friends specializes in New World primates, it is available to help any primate in captivity by giving them a permanent home or working with their caregiver to find a safe, healthy and stimulating environment for the primate in their care.

Jungle Friends, like SPCA International, discourages the public from keeping primates as “pets” and hopes the practice of trapping monkeys in the wild and forcing them to live in captivity will end. Many monkeys that are found in exotic pet stores or sold by private distributors are baby monkeys that were once pulled from their mother’s arms, sometimes when they are only three days old. It is not hard to imagine the horror both mother and baby must feel during this traumatic and forced separation. Sadly, it can take a lifetime for the grief-stricken mother to come out of a depression brought on by such thievery.

Although primates are cute and seem like they would be fun to own, they are wild and exotic animals and are not appropriate for any household to have as a pet. In many states it is illegal to own an exotic animal and requires special licensing and approval from local authorities. It is important to know that these magnificent creatures cannot be adapted to our society; nor can they be rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

Jungle Friends works toward creating a better life for the unfortunate primates who have found themselves helpless victims in a captive situation. It works in cooperation with other credible animal sanctuaries, primate associations and animal protection organizations.

Jungle Friends' ability to do this charitable work and provide a safe haven for its resident primates, as well as doing educational outreach and assisting with the rescuing of any primate in a crisis situation, depends solely upon donations.

SPCA International applauds Jungle Friends’ commitment to ensure that the primates who come into its care receive all that it needs to be happy socially, psychologically and physically. If you would like to learn more about Jungle Friends please visit www.junglefriends.org.

The Pauline S. Schneegas Wildlife Foundation (SWF) has been rescuing and rehabilitating wildlife for 25 years. Located in Garfield County, CO this foundation has professionally rehabilitated and released an estimated 5,000 animals.

Thanks to an on-site veterinary facility, SWF can provide care to incoming wildlife immediately. SWF serves injured and orphaned wildlife of all species, including threatened and endangered species. After any emergency veterinary care is completed, SWF provides the appropriate nutrition to each animal and assists them in their effort to re-learn all the skills necessary to be released back into the wild.

Some wildlife taken in by SWF are unable to be released in the wild because they were bred into captivity and do not have enough of the natural instincts to make it on their own. These animals find permanent sanctuary at SWF and live as ambassadors for all wrongly adopted “pet” wildlife. These resident animals are introduced to children and adults who participate in educational programs with the specific purpose of increasing knowledge, raising awareness and developing an appreciation of wildlife and habitat protection. Currently, SWF has two mountain lions, three bobcats, two foxes, two wolves and several raptors in permanent residence.

SWF teaches conservation and wildlife programs to groups of all ages. Over the years it has hosted and educated hundreds of children and adults. The Foundation hopes that all the people they educate leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of wild creatures. SWF always strives to teach that only through community responsibility and deep respect will we be able to protect habitat and wildlife for generations to come.

SPCA International is proud to honor the Schneegas Wildlife Foundation as Shelter of the Week. Thanks to its hard work and dedication, SWF staff and volunteers are not only saving the wildlife that comes to them for shelter, but also cultivating humane and compassionate communities through its education programs. To learn more about Schneegas Wildlife Foundation, please visit www.schneegaswildlifefoundation.org.

Ee-mee-tah is the Blackfeet Indian word for dog and their word for cat is Poos. Friends of Ee-mee-tah and Poos is located in Browning, MT. Created in 1996, the organization has been working to improve the living conditions of dogs and cats on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Life for these animals is usually short and miserable. Cases of parvo, distemper and mange are all too common. Many of the dogs are run over by cars and each loss of life seems to matter to very few people.

Harvey Fine, a Canadian citizen, would frequently travel through the Town of Browning on business. During each visit he would see malnourished, sick dogs wandering the streets. This was because very few people had fenced yards and the dogs roamed freely. At the local convenience store, desperate dogs, often shadowed by starving puppies, hung out hoping someone would take pity on them and throw them a handout. Harvey was one of the few who seemed to care. He would gather up as many of the dogs as he could and take them to the closest veterinarian which was 18 miles west of Browning. He would pay for vaccines and made sure the dogs had good food to eat. If the veterinary hospital could not find a home for the dogs, Harvey would take them back with him to Calgary, Alberta. It was his compassion and determination that resulted in many of these dogs getting a second chance at life.

Harvey knew that a more effective solution had to be found for dealing with the stray animals on the reservation. Eventually, Harvey met with Charles Berger. Charles was a Program Manager working to start a Blackfeet Animal Control agency. Their meetings led to the formation of Friends of Ee-mee-tah and Poos. Harvey made an initial donation of $1,000 to get the organization off the ground. From the beginning, the mission of Friends of Ee-mee-tah and Poos has been to assist families of Glacier County with veterinary care for their dogs and cats as well as offering low cost spay and neuter.

All donations are used to cover the cost of rescuing dogs and cats on the reservation and covering veterinary costs for as many of the animals as possible. Friends of Ee-mee-tah and Poos spends an average $20,000 a year to meet the medical needs of dogs and cats on the Blackfeet Reservation, the Town of Browning and the town of Cut Bank – all in Glacier County, MT. Since its inception, the organization has been responsible for over 1,000 dogs and cats being spayed and neutered thanks to a grant from the Sands Memorial Foundation. These efforts have been expanded by the Montana Spay/Neuter Task Force who have spayed and neutered an additional 800 Blackfeet Reservation dogs and cats at no charge to their caregivers.

Friends of Ee-mee-tah and Poos has rescued and adopted out hundreds of dogs by networking with veterinarian Ethel Connelly, to whom Harvey would initially take the dogs he found. The organization also works with the Flathead Spay/Neuter Task Force, Animal Rescue Foundation of Calgary Alberta, the Missoula Humane Society and animal rescue groups in Montana and Idaho to ensure as many dogs and cats as possible don’t spend their lives living on the streets, scrounging for food. Sadly though, for every dog that Friends of Ee-mee-tah and Poos saved, 25 others will be euthanized by Blackfeet Animal Control.

It was the compassion of one man that led to improved living conditions for the animals on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation and SPCA International applauds his initial efforts and the result of his determination not to turn his back on animals desperately in need of help.

Baghdad Cat Rescue was started by a British woman, Louise, when she found a fun-loving kitten while a contract employee in Tikrit, Iraq in 2005. Refusing to leave her four-legged friend behind, Louise was determined to get Simba back to the UK. Little did she know how many challenges she would encounter.

Simba’s trip to the UK was nothing short of an amazing adventure that included thrills and suspense. His journey included a 12-hour road trip from Tikrit to Umm Qasr, Iraq; a smuggle over the Iraqi/Kuwaiti border; a several week stay in Kuwait, while his paperwork was being processed; and a six-month quarantine once in the UK. These challenges made Louise realize there had to be a better way when she befriended four new animals in 2007 while working in Baghdad again.

Simba’s adventure paved the way for Louise to get Felix, Pudding, George and Mr. Googles to the UK, without the same struggles and stress Simba went through. But her adventure in rescuing animals out of Iraq didn’t stop there. Louise now helps other contractors and British troops arrange transport of their new four-legged friends from Iraq to the UK.

Baghdad Cat Rescue is now assisting with dogs as well and has helped Operation Baghdad Pups on several occasions by providing a safe-house for animals in danger. Without Louise’s help, SPCA International would have lost several animals, including a cat and her five kittens, which belonged to a U.S. soldier.

Over the years Louise has spent close to $60,000 of her own money to help the wonderful animals that call the warzone home. SPCA International is proud to honor Baghdad Cat Rescue as Shelter of the Week and knows the grant money that comes with this award will help Louise save even more animals.

Please visit www.baghdadcatrescue.com to learn more and to support Baghdad Cat Rescue with a personal contribution.

SPCA International has awarded a $1,000 Emergency Grant to Oswego SPCA located in Oswego, New York. On August 31, the organization’s volunteers were called to a home in nearby Palermo to remove almost 100 animals. The request came from the New York State Police who were investigating the homicide of an 11 year old girl named Erin Maxwell who resided at the home with her parents.

In order to proceed with their investigation 80 cats that lived inside the home, which reeked of feces and urine, had to be removed. In lieu of pressing animal cruelty charges, the family agreed to release all the animals to the Oswego SPCA. Oswego SPCA was overwhelmed by the influx of this many cats and turned to the community in desperation to find safe foster homes while they assessed their needs.

The cats are all in foster homes, now but some of the arrangements are only temporary. Now, Oswego SPCA is looking for more foster and/or permanent homes for the cats.

Call to Action: SPCA International asks anyone who lives in Northwestern New York or can drive there to consider helping the Oswego SPCA by offering to foster or adopt a cat.

The cats have been seen by veterinarians and overall they are in pretty good shape. Surprisingly enough, the majority of the cats are well socialized and would make a great companion for a person or family. These cats deserve a much better life than they have had so far.

Oswego SPCA had no way to anticipate that they would find themselves in a situation where they would suddenly have to care for so many animals. The organization stepped up immediately when they learned of the tragedy and they have been working diligently ever since to make sure the cats are well cared for. This has created an unexpected financial burden on the organization though, which is why SPCA International is compelled to help. SPCA International thanks and commends Oswego SPCA for being on the frontlines and taking action to remove these cats from deplorable living conditions and finding them forever homes.

SPCA International wants to be able to continue to help organizations like Oswego SPCA and it is the donations we receive from supporters like you that make it possible for us to assist when local shelters get overwhelmed and reach out for help.Donate to our Shelter of the Week Emergency Grant program today to help the next cruelty case victims.