The ASPCA first worked to protect horses in New York City.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), sometimes known as just the SPCA, was based on the United Kingdom's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Because America was not ruled by a monarchy, the "Royal" was changed to "American." The ASPCA is one of the nation's leading charities devoted to animal welfare. Its motto is: "We are their voice."
History
The RSPCA was founded in 1824, although then it was known as just the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals until it gained the backing of the Royal Family. The ASPCA was founded in New York City 1866 by Henry Bergh. It was to be the SPCA's official American chapter. Bergh first focused the SPCA's finances and energies to improving the conditions of cart horses in New York City, ending cockfighting and lessening the suffering of animals at slaughterhouses.
Functions
The ASPCA works to rescue domestic and wild animals in need; give medical aid to those animals; prosecute animal abusers; give financial grants to other animal welfare organizations across America; research and implement the best ways of running and maintaining animal shelters; and staff the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, previously known as the National Animal Poison Control Center phone line.
Rating
Charity Navigator, a charity watchdog group, gave the ASPCA three stars out of four and an overall rating of 57.74 percent on a 1 to 100 scale (as of June 2010). The ASPCA president receives a six-figure salary, although the ASPCA's paid staff salaries take only 2.1 percent of the ASPCA's annual budget. Charity Navigator's website also reported that for every dollar the ASPCA spends in fund raising, it gets a return of $1.17.
Misconception
The ASPCA has only one animal rescue shelter in New York City and does not operate any other animal organizations that include the initials SPCA in them, such as the Pennsylvania SPCA or PSPCA. The ASPCA is not a governing body of any of the other animal shelters that have SPCA in their names. No governing body exists for U.S. animal shelters.
Fun Fact
The APSCA began the first ambulance for horses in 1867. It was a fire-engine red, horse-drawn cart with a roof but empty spaces on the sides in order to give the ill horse ventilation. This was the first ambulance for any species in New York City. The first ambulance for humans did not hit the streets until 1869.
Tags: York City, animal shelters, Cruelty Animals, first ambulance, other animal, Prevention Cruelty