Founded in the United States in 2006, SPCA International has a simple but vast mission: to advance the safety and well-being of animals. Because the majority of local SPCAs and humane societies around the world are not affiliated with national organizations, as many would presume, SPCA International seeks to develop and utilize a worldwide platform that both supports independent animal shelters and promotes the safety of animals. It strives to assist the growth and impact of independent shelters through alliance building, information networking, national and international programs.
In 2007, SPCA International launched its first major shelter initiative, Shelter of the Week, which provides financial support at the local level by awarding four to six emergency grants every month to selected animal welfare organizations. These grants help struggling shelters, both in the U.S. and worldwide, to improve physical conditions, enhance spay and neuter programs, and ultimately reduce euthanasia rates. From dog and cat rescues to wildlife rehabilitation centers, SPCA International has extended support to shelters in almost every U.S. state, as well as to numerous international organizations.
At the request of many U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, SPCA International founded its second major initiative, Operation Baghdad Pups, in 2008. This wonderful program provides veterinary care, as well as clearance and transport, for the animals that U.S. service members have come to love during deployment in the Middle East. But more than that, Operation Baghdad Pups brings comfort and peace of mind to the U.S. soldiers when they return home from serving overseas. To date, SPCA International has helped hundreds of soldiers transport their animals out of the war zone.
SPCA International plans to expand the scope of current programs, launch new initiatives, increase the number of shelter grants awarded, improve educational awareness, and make a big difference in the lives of animals throughout the world.
Learn more at www.spcai.org/act
