The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The ASPCA, founded in 1866, is North America's first animal welfare organisation, focused on animal rescue, protection, veterinary care, disaster response, advocacy, and grants to partner organisations.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is the first animal welfare organisation in North America, founded in 1866. Based in the United States, it operates across the continent with a mission centred on animal rescue, protection, and advocacy. Its work spans hands-on field operations, policy reform, and financial support for partner organisations.
The ASPCA's activities include providing veterinary care, responding to disasters that affect animals, and running adoption and behavioural rehabilitation programmes. It also conducts animal welfare research and trains law enforcement and shelter professionals. Through its advocacy arm, the organisation pushes for stronger animal protection laws at state and federal levels.
A significant part of the ASPCA's model involves its grants programme, which has distributed more than $200 million to over 4,000 organisations - including shelters, municipal agencies, rescue groups, and universities - since 2001. The organisation directly impacts hundreds of thousands of animals each year, with millions more benefiting from the lasting solutions it helps fund and develop through collaboration with local agencies.