Animals Archives | America's Charities https://www.charities.org/category/animals/ Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:20:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.charities.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-ac-favicon-32x32.png Animals Archives | America's Charities https://www.charities.org/category/animals/ 32 32 Hurricane Katrina put animal-related disaster response in the spotlight—and set its future course https://www.charities.org/news/hurricane-katrina-put-animal-related-disaster-response-in-the-spotlight-and-set-its-future-course/ Wed, 27 Aug 2025 17:09:49 +0000 https://www.charities.org/?p=26537 Photo by: Carol Guzy

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The 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina has prompted the recirculation of so many disturbing images along with the return of painful memories of the misery and suffering the disaster visited upon the residents of the Gulf Coast states. Distressed and displaced citizens, their homes and lives destroyed, seeking food, drinking water and safe refuge at the Superdome and other sites. More than $100 billion in damages, over 1500 deaths and very little help in sight. How could this have happened? 

As the plight of animals came into focus, with thousands of them trapped in homes and stranded in New Orleans and other communities, we moved as quickly as we could to meet the demands of the crisis. One of the things I remember most about Katrina is that it was all hands on deck across our entire organization. It didn’t matter if you were a wildlife scientist, a lobbyist, a graphic designer, an IT specialist, a state director or an accountant. For weeks and in some instance months, you were a responder.  

Virtually overnight, as the extent of the disaster became evident, we turned ourselves into a full-scale, round-the-clock animal rescue operation. We sent dozens of staff members—wave after wave—into the field in Louisiana and Mississippi, and reassigned dozens of others at our headquarters to related response work. 

My daughter was a toddler then, so I wasn’t able to deploy. Instead, I worked long hours at a center where we took calls from people desperate to tell us about the animals they were forced to leave behind, to let us know where their pets could be found and to plead for our help. Those calls were heartrending. 

Two decades have not dimmed my memory of an older man who reached out to us. He had left his dog in the house with food and a bathtub full of water. Like others who were ordered to evacuate New Orleans, he thought he would be permitted to return to save her. But he wasn’t because government officials subsequently restricted access to the area in which his home was located. He was broken, sad, full of guilt and, like countless others subject to a mandatory evacuation order, helpless.  

I’ll never forget the elation I felt after hearing that our responders on the ground, who were authorized to carry out rescues in restricted areas, went in and got his dog, and eventually the two were reunited.  

We will never know how many animals perished. But we know that because of our efforts, the efforts of an army of skilled and devoted people from local animal shelters, animal rescue groups and other organizations and our donors’ support, we were able to bring thousands of animals to safety at an events center in Gonzales, Louisiana, and other locations in the region. Many were reunited with their families, and many others went out to shelters across the country for placement in new homes. Ultimately, it became one of the largest animal rescue deployments in history

All too often, it takes a disaster of great magnitude to spur needed change. Long before Katrina, for years and years, we had been making the case for the inclusion of animals in preparedness planning, with only limited success. After Katrina, we had no trouble making the point. There were a lot more people, and a lot more decision-makers, ready to listen and ready to act. The storm and its aftermath had shown dramatically how the fates of people and the animals they love are intertwined. 

Twenty years later, this single disaster remains emblematic of government failureenvironmental injustice and a fateful lack of appreciation for the centrality of animals in our lives. The forced abandonment of thousands of them in New Orleans and the inability of most disaster response entities to grasp the importance of animal-related preparedness strategies compounded the tragedy.  

Still, Katrina was a true catalyst of change. Within two years, we had helped to secure passage of legislation in the U.S. Congress, the PETS (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards) Act, which incentivized the inclusion of animals in disaster preparedness planning by linking it to disaster funding. On several occasions, the bill’s primary sponsor, the late Rep. Tom Lantos, stated that the image of a child being separated from his dog outside of the Superdome in New Orleans was the driving factor: “The dog was taken away from this little boy, and to watch his face was a singularly revealing and tragic experience. This legislation was born at that moment.”  

The PETS Act carries with it an implicit recognition that pets are not just part of our families but a part of society and deserving of civil protection in their own right. However, the PETS Act was not the end of anything. It was the beginning of something. Namely, it kickstarted the drive to embed awareness of animals and concern for their welfare into all facets of disaster planning, at all levels, in both the private and public sector, worldwide. Helping communities to prepare for animals’ needs in disaster is a signature element of our global outreach work today. 

The outpouring of generosity from supporters enabled us to help to rebuild the animal protection infrastructure in the Gulf Coast region, providing millions of dollars for construction of new animal shelters and the establishment of shelter medicine programs at two veterinary schools, among other commitments. 

Over the decades, we have built one of the strongest disaster response teams in the world, ready to deploy at a moment’s notice to help animals and the people trying to care for and protect them in moments of crisis. We’re witnessing the adoption of more enlightened disaster response and preparedness policies, not just in the United States but worldwide. Today, the whole world knows that animal rescue is a crucial component of effective response, not a sideshow distraction in a disaster scenario.  

Without question, Katrina exposed some weaknesses in our field which we’re still trying to address. In its aftermath, we carried out a series of spay and neuter initiatives with local partners, using advanced research concerning public attitudes that helped us to sharpen our approach to increasing access to veterinary care and other pet services in underserved communities. This was the seedbed of today’s access-to-care movement, including our Pets for Life program and our More Than a Pet campaign

So many years later, the images we associate with Katrina still produce an inevitable sadness. Failing levees and floodwalls. Whole neighborhoods submerged. Markings spray-painted on homes to indicate the presence of animals in need of rescue, and the presence of victims, human and animal. Panicked animals stranded on the streets of so many communities, in the sweltering heat of a Gulf Coast summer. All the tears and heartbreak.  

But we did not stand by as the crisis unfolded and neither did our supporters and donors, Together, we stood up for animals, just as we stood up for the people who loved them and were trying to help them. And today, we’re standing by them still, in community after community, in country after country, changing the conversation about animals in distress, changing the approaches taken to their plight and changing the outcomes for more animals and people than we could ever count. 

This is the true legacy of Katrina, the one we guard so carefully and the one we keep close to heart. 

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May is National Pet Month https://www.charities.org/news/may-national-pet-month/ Mon, 08 Apr 2024 18:05:29 +0000 http://charities.local/may-national-pet-month/ Whether they are just being cute, goofy, and playful, or are providing assistance to people with disabilities, disorders, or impairments, pets contribute so much love and many benefits to people’s lives. May is National #PetMonth, a time to celebrate our furry friends, and America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are…

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Whether they are just being cute, goofy, and playful, or are providing assistance to people with disabilities, disorders, or impairments, pets contribute so much love and many benefits to people’s lives.

May is National #PetMonth, a time to celebrate our furry friends, and America’s Charities is celebrating the following agents of change who we are proud to call our members.

One of the most cost-efficient ways you can support these nonprofits is to donate to them through your employer’s workplace giving program (Don’t have a program? Click here to have your employer contact our team.) Click on each charity’s name below to learn more about their work, and for more ways to support them!

  • Animal Welfare League of Arlington: Located in Arlington, Virginia, the Animal Welfare League of Arlington (AWLA) finds homes for homeless animals and provides important community services to help people keep and care for their pets, including: low-cost rabies vaccination and microchip clinics; affordable monthly Wellness Clinics each year for income-qualified* clients to have their dog(s) and/or cat(s) examined by a veterinarian and given vaccinations; Interest-free loans and outright grants for emergency veterinary assistance; and a behavior helpline that is available to all pet owners to help them understand and work with their pets, rather than surrender them in frustration. Click here for information about other services they provide and ways you can support them.
  • Best Friends Animal Society: Every day, nearly 5,000 dogs and cats are killed in our nation’s shelters simply because they don’t have safe places to call home. They’re not sick. They’re not damaged. They’re just homeless. And Best Friends Animal Society has proposed a bold plan to change all that. For over 30 years, Best Friends Animal Society has been running the nation’s largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals and building effective programs that reduce the number of animals entering shelters. Now, they’re raising the stakes. We’re witnessing a sea change in the animal welfare movement. A tipping point. An unwillingness to accept the killing of dogs and cats as a “necessary evil.” Animal welfare leaders and passionate individuals are coming together in every corner of the nation, uniting to achieve a common goal. And we need you to join us as we harness that energy in an unprecedented effort to change things for good. Click here for more information about Best Friends Animal Society’s work and learn how you can get involved.
  • Canine Partners for Life: Canine Partners for Life (CPL) trains and places certified service dogs with persons who have physical disabilities, mobility impairments, and seizure and cardiac disorders, to increase their independence and quality of life. By assisting its human partner with many physical tasks and providing constant companionship, a service dog can make the miracle of greater independence possible. CPL provides professionally trained service dogs and lifetime support services. Each dog is trained to meet the specific needs of each individual recipient. CPL places full service dogs with persons 12 years and older. For many adult recipients, once paired with a service dog, they are able to enter, remain in, or return to the workforce. Our dogs allow children to enjoy a more integrated school experience. Many of our recipients stay healthier longer or may not need a wheelchair or other aid as early, thanks to the help of their dogs. Since its founding in 1989, CPL has placed over 700 canine partners with individuals who have disabilities or are in other situations of need. Learn more about this unique organization and their incredible work!
  • Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind: Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind was founded in 1992 by husband and wife – Eric and Sharon Loori. Our dogs are bred specifically for guiding right here at our facility.  We work mostly with Labrador Retrievers, but also train Smooth-coated Collies and Barbets. Our puppies are raised by volunteers called “Puppy Raisers” for approximately 1.5 years, then the dogs begin their formal training for guide work. It takes about four to five months to train a guide dog.  Ten days to two weeks are spent training the client and the dog together as a team. The average work life of a guide dog is eight to 10 years. It costs $25,000 to breed, raise, train and place one guide dog, which includes lifetime technical support. We provide training and guide dog placement at no cost to the client. Our work is funded through the generous support of caring individuals, grant support, and service clubs. Discover more about this nonprofit!
  • PAWS Atlanta: PAWS provides love, nutrition, medical care and basic training to enrich the lives of homeless animals until permanent, safe homes can be found. Since its inception in 1966, they’ve adopted over 46,000 animals into loving, permanent homes. As one of the oldest and very few no-kill shelters in Georgia, PAWS Atlanta focuses highly on each pet’s health, going to great lengths to provide medical care for extreme illness or injury for all pets in their care and are confident that they go into a forever home healthy. In the past five years, PAWS has spayed or neutered over 6,000 animals and vaccinated over 15,000 animals in Metro Atlanta through low-cost clinics. Their programs include pet adoption and foster services, pet wellness clinics, veterinary services for the public, low cost spay/neuter services, discount health preventatives and pet dentals, behavioral training, a pet food bank for loving owners going through hard times, senior support and pet matching assistance, summer camps, and community outreach and education. We receive no funding from federal, state or county governments; the vital we offer to the community are made possible by our program fees, grants, fundraising and the generosity of our supporters. Learn more!
  • PetSmart Charities: PetSmart Charities, Inc. (PetSmart Charities) is committed to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets by supporting programs and thought leadership that bring people and pets together. Through its in-store adoption program in all PetSmart® stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, PetSmart Charities helps to find forever homes and families for more than 500,000 shelter pets each year. PetSmart Charities also provides grant funding to nonprofits aligned with its mission under four key areas of support: Preventing Pet Homelessness; Helping Shelter Pets Thrive; Supporting the Bond Between People and Pets and Providing Emergency Relief and Disaster Support. Learn more!
  • SPCA Luzerne County: The SPCA’s mission is the prevention of cruelty to animals by providing: Shelter for unwanted, discarded, neglected, and often abused animals; an adoption program to place these animals into caring, permanent homes; humane educations programs to enlighten the public about animal problems; and humane law enforcement and prosecution programs to address animal cruelty. Learn more!

 

 

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More Than a Pet campaign will help people struggling to access care for their pets https://www.charities.org/news/more-pet-campaign-will-help-people-struggling-access-care-their-pets/ Thu, 11 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/more-pet-campaign-will-help-people-struggling-access-care-their-pets/ People have tremendous love for their four-legged family members, and that human-animal bond transcends race, ethnicity, geography and socioeconomic status. Yet millions of pet owners struggle to care for their pets due to a lack of access to pet care. The joy, unconditional love and health benefits of the human-animal bond are priceless, but the…

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People have tremendous love for their four-legged family members, and that human-animal bond transcends race, ethnicity, geography and socioeconomic status. Yet millions of pet owners struggle to care for their pets due to a lack of access to pet care.

The joy, unconditional love and health benefits of the human-animal bond are priceless, but the sad reality is that millions of pets in the U.S. are living in poverty with their families. Rising inflation and systemic poverty have left many families struggling to access essential care and supplies for their pets.

No one should be denied the opportunity to own a pet …

… because animals bring joy to our lives.

… because animals improve our mental health and help keep us active.

… because animals are so much #MoreThanAPet!

More than 20 million pets live with their owners in poverty across the U.S. To put it into perspective, this number is three times greater than the number of pets who enter shelters each year. Moreover, 70% of these pets have never seen a veterinarian. As a result, people are often forced to choose between meeting their own needs and those of their pets. All too often they lack any access to veterinary care, pet-inclusive housing and other vital resources such as pet food and supplies. We have heard firsthand from countless families that they would rather skip a meal themselves than not be able to care for their pets. No one should ever be in this position.

As an organization dedicated to the well-being of animals, we cannot ignore this national crisis. A key part of our work is to achieve equity in access to pet care for underserved communities. These efforts are long overdue and necessary to recognize the human in “humane.” Through our Pets for Life and Rural Area Veterinary Services programs, we are creating a world where everyone can experience the unconditional love and benefits of an animal companion, regardless of their race, ethnicity, geography or socioeconomic status.

Take Janis and her dog, Freeda, a poodle mix. Janis first received palliative and end of life veterinary care for her senior Chihuahua, Baby, through a local Pets for Life partner in Idaho, Better Together Animal Alliance. Losing Baby was difficult, but Janis found solace in having Freeda. However, the necessary grooming for Freeda to stay healthy was financially out of reach. Having access to veterinary care and grooming at no cost has meant everything to Janis. Janis shared, “It takes a community sometimes. I am so grateful for Pets for Life. I don’t know what I’d do without them.”

I’m proud of this work and the commitment of everyone involved in executing these programs. As we continue to address the realities of pets in poverty in the U.S., we invite you to join us as we launch our More Than a Pet campaign with the help of five partners: ADM, Smalls, Motel 6, Ollie and TQL. The campaign aims to raise awareness and provide solutions to increase access to care and keep families and their pets together, happy and healthy. Grammy-winning musician Mya is also supporting the campaign, along with her dogs, Tango, Jemma and Jax, and her cat, Journey.

We invite everyone to show support for this campaign by sharing why their companion animals are #MoreThanAPet. Campaign partner Smalls is donating a bowl of food for every photo shared, up to $1 million, to pets and their families in need.

People who live with their pets through difficult circumstances are a testament to the power, the value and the resilience of the human-animal bond. Together, we can build a society in which families who experience poverty with their pets are seen, valued and have equal access to resources.

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Nearly 200 dogs saved from slaughter as HSI shuts down 18th dog meat farm https://www.charities.org/news/nearly-200-dogs-saved-slaughter-hsi-shuts-down-18th-dog-meat-farm/ Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/nearly-200-dogs-saved-slaughter-hsi-shuts-down-18th-dog-meat-farm/ Late last year, Humane Society International discovered another heartbreaking scene on a South Korean dog meat farm: Dozens and dozens of dogs were locked in feces-filled cages awaiting slaughter. Many were pregnant, days away from giving birth to puppies who would only know a life of misery. In early March, international team members arrived in…

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Late last year, Humane Society International discovered another heartbreaking scene on a South Korean dog meat farm: Dozens and dozens of dogs were locked in feces-filled cages awaiting slaughter. Many were pregnant, days away from giving birth to puppies who would only know a life of misery.

In early March, international team members arrived in Seoul to support HSI/Korea in removing these dogs and starting the rehabilitation process.

This was the 18th dog meat farm Humane Society International has closed. The dog meat farmer, 73-year-old Mr. Yang, who has been operating in South Korea’s Chungcheong province, will now retire and grow cabbages and other crops to be self-sufficient and to sell locally, thanks to Humane Society International/Korea’s Models for Change program, which has been helping farmers transition away from dog meat since 2015.

This closure is part of HSI’s efforts to end the dog meat trade throughout Asia, and it comes at a particularly crucial time, as public and political support for our position is increasing in South Korea. National Assembly Member Insoon Nam and members of her staff also joined the HSI team on the farm to see the conditions themselves in a sign of growing support for ending the dog meat industry in South Korea,

Last year, first South Korea’s First Lady, Kim Keon-hee, openly called for a ban on the industry, and latest opinion surveys show that 87.5% of South Koreans don’t eat dog meat and 56% support a ban. HSI’s campaign has been working for years to raise awareness about the plight of dogs on meat farms, urging the government to begin a program that mirrors HSI’s model to phase out dog meat.

The nearly 200 dogs and puppies our team saved from the now-shuttered farm are being transported to the U.S. and Canada to eventually seek adoptive families. But first they will need to heal from their trauma. 

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Coming Together for Dogfighting Survivors https://www.charities.org/news/coming-together-dogfighting-survivors/ Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/coming-together-dogfighting-survivors/ An unknown number of dogs were chained in the woods on a recent Sunday morning, and rescuers could hear them barking before they saw them. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the joint rescue in September is believed to be the biggest takedown of an alleged dogfighting operation in South Carolina’s history: The first…

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An unknown number of dogs were chained in the woods on a recent Sunday morning, and rescuers could hear them barking before they saw them.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the joint rescue in September is believed to be the biggest takedown of an alleged dogfighting operation in South Carolina’s history: The first day, federal officials interrupted a scheduled dogfight and rescued 14 dogs. The next day, federal and state law enforcement officers executed nearly two dozen search and seizure warrants at multiple properties. More than 20 people were arrested for state charges relating to animal cruelty and dogfighting. Officers worked with animal welfare organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States, to rescue 275 dogs.

Because the dogs were housed across so many locations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General assigned the responders to work at specific sites. Our Animal Rescue Team helped remove 70 dogs from three sites and witnessed the heartbreaking conditions the animals lived in firsthand. Responders also found evidence of dogfighting, such as a self-propelling treadmill and a large pit with chairs around the perimeter.

“Some of the dogs had no shelter. None of the dogs had water. They were really emaciated. […] Many of them had open infected wounds,” says Laura Koivula, HSUS director of animal crimes and investigations, about the dogs on the property she was assigned to work.

Several dogs had injuries so severe they needed emergency veterinary care, including a small black dog with gaping wounds on his chest and a leg injury that made him limp. “You could smell the infection, the odor of the infection, before you got up to him,” says Jessica Johnson, senior director of our Animal Rescue Team. A circle of worn grass around the end of his chain indicated that he had been confined to the same spot for a while.

Johnson stroked the dog’s back as she took in the scale of his injuries. The young dog accepted her affection but stayed hunched over, staring straight ahead. Koivula describes his face as “totally blank.” She suspects he “simply didn’t have much [energy] left in him to acknowledge the fact that we were there.”

Despite everything they had endured, many of the dogs eagerly approached responders with wagging tails. Others were withdrawn and fearful. After the rescue, the dogs went to confidential locations to recover. The HSUS continues to care for 44 dogs, including the small black dog, now called Ray.

The seizure was a collaborative effort between government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Bark Nation helped remove, transport and care for dogs from one of the three properties assigned to our rescue team, and RedRover assisted with the hands-on needs of the 44 dogs in our care during their initial arrival. Koivula is also grateful to the local, state and federal agencies who pursued the case that made this rescue possible.

“Building a case like this takes months, sometimes years, of research and investigation,” says Koivula. “It is a massive effort and takes a lot of dedication from so many people.”

Now freed from their chains, the dogs’ role is simple: rest and recuperate. After undergoing extensive surgery to repair his wounds, Ray is doing just that. Johnson visited him after his surgery and was greeted with gentle tail wags. After a little while, the small dog fell asleep, his head in her hand.

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Support Humane Society International’s Global Efforts to Protect All Animals https://www.charities.org/news/support-humane-society-internationals-global-efforts-protect-all-animals-0/ Tue, 11 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/support-humane-society-internationals-global-efforts-protect-all-animals-0/ Support Humane Society International through your employee giving program:  As a donor, you can support Humane Society International by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program. While there may be multiple donation options depending on your employer-sponsored charitable giving program, payroll deduction pledges in particular are a cost effective and near effortless way to support Humane Society International and have a big…

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Support Humane Society International through your employee giving program: 

As a donor, you can support Humane Society International by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program. While there may be multiple donation options depending on your employer-sponsored charitable giving program, payroll deduction pledges in particular are a cost effective and near effortless way to support Humane Society International and have a big impact. 

For instance: 

  • $15 (57 cents x 26 pay checks) = Cost for food for a small or medium dog for one week   

  • $100 ($3.85 x 26 pay checks) = Cost to provide initial basic medical care to ready rescued dogs, cats, or small animals for placement into a new home   

  • $390 ($15.00 x 26 pay checks) = pays for expert medical and behavioral treatment of dogs rescued from Korean Dog Meat Farms   

If you are a Federal or Postal employee/retiree, or military personnel, click here to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign donation portal and search for CFC# 67938. 

If you work in the private sector, or work for a State/county/local government or municipal agency, please contact your HR for a link to your organization’s workplace giving donation site.  

Are you an employer? As Humane Society International’s workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this. 

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Support the Humane Society of the United States to Protect Animals Worldwide https://www.charities.org/news/support-humane-society-united-states-protect-animals-worldwide-0/ Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/support-humane-society-united-states-protect-animals-worldwide-0/ Support the Humane Society of the United States through your employee giving program. Together with millions of supporters, we take on puppy mills, factory farms, the fur trade, trophy hunting, animal cosmetics testing and other cruel industries. We rescue and care for thousands of animals every year through our Animal Rescue Team’s work and other hands-on animal care…

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Support the Humane Society of the United States through your employee giving program.

Together with millions of supporters, we take on puppy mills, factory farms, the fur trade, trophy hunting, animal cosmetics testing and other cruel industries. We rescue and care for thousands of animals every year through our Animal Rescue Team’s work and other hands-on animal care services.

Earlier this year, the HSUS Animal Rescue Team was approached by the U.S. Department of Justice to remove roughly 4,000 beagles from a breeding facility that supplied laboratories that test on animals. As of Labor Day weekend, all 4,000 were on their way to loving homes! While the Humane Society of the United States is no longer fundraising for the rescue and transportation of the 4000 beagles, the Animal Rescue Team and donations are always needed for extraordinary events like the beagles, natural disasters, hoarding and cruelty cases that require their immediate response.

As a donor, you can fund immediate response efforts and help the Humane Society of the United States fight all forms of animal cruelty by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program. While there may be multiple donation options depending on your employer-sponsored charitable giving program, payroll deduction pledges in particular are a cost effective and near effortless way to support the Humane Society of the United States and have a big impact.

For instance:

  • $1.00 per pay period (x 26 paychecks = $26 total) buys a large bag of dry cat food for the HSUS Animal Rescue team.
  • $5.00 per pay period (x 26 pay checks = $130 total) rescues one animal from a puppy mill, hoarding or fighting situation.
  • $8.00 per pay period (x 26 checks = $208 total) provides basic medical care to ready four rescued animals for placement into a new home.

If you are a Federal or Postal employee/retiree, or military personnelclick here to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign donation portal and search for CFC# 11894.

If you work in the private sector, or work for a State/county/local government or municipal agency, please contact your HR for a link to your organization’s workplace giving donation site. 

Are you an employer? As the Humane Society of the United States’ workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

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Historic transport of approximately 4,000 beagles spared from animal testing https://www.charities.org/news/historic-transport-approximately-4000-beagles-spared-animal-testing/ Tue, 06 Sep 2022 04:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/historic-transport-approximately-4000-beagles-spared-animal-testing/ Update: On July 21, 2022, the HSUS Animal Rescue Team started removing the nearly 4,000 beagles from the mass breeding facility and transporting them to shelter and rescue partners across the country. As of Labor Day weekend, all 4,000 were on their way to loving homes! Thank you to everyone who supported this effort. The…

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Update:

On July 21, 2022, the HSUS Animal Rescue Team started removing the nearly 4,000 beagles from the mass breeding facility and transporting them to shelter and rescue partners across the country. As of Labor Day weekend, all 4,000 were on their way to loving homes! Thank you to everyone who supported this effort. The Humane Society of the United States is no longer fundraising for the rescue and transportation of the 4000 beagles. The Animal Rescue Team and donations are always needed for extraordinary events like the beagles, natural disasters, hoarding and cruelty cases that require their immediate response.


The Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue Team was approached by the U.S. Department of Justice to remove roughly 4,000 beagles from a breeding facility that supplied laboratories that test on animals. HSUS will coordinate the placement of these dogs with our shelter partners to ultimately find them loving homes.

This removal of the beagles comes as a result of a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice in May that described shocking violations of the Animal Welfare Act at the breeding facility, owned by a company called Envigo. Government inspectors found that beagles there were being killed instead of receiving veterinary treatment for easily treated conditions; nursing mother beagles were denied food; the food that they did receive contained maggots, mold and feces; and over an eight-week period, 25 beagle puppies died from cold exposure. Other dogs suffered from injuries when they were attacked by other dogs in overcrowded conditions.

Finding partners who can make space and find homes for around 4,000 dogs in the summer—a time of year when animal shelters already are over-capacity—will be a feat of epic proportions. We are ready to take on the challenge and are grateful to our rescue and shelter partners—a network of local rescue groups and shelters in communities throughout the country—whose dedicated efforts will make it possible for these dogs to find loving homes.

While our Animal Rescue Team works to provide immediate relief to these roughly 4,000 dogs, others in our organization are working to prevent suffering for animals through legislative, regulatory and corporate efforts, as well as public education. In that vein, our campaign to end the use of animals in laboratory testing is one of our top priorities. We work with policymakers and those within the biomedical industry to replace inhumane and unreliable animal tests with more innovative, advanced and reliable non-animal methods. 

We will not stop fighting for better approaches in research and testing to address the suffering of hundreds of thousands of animals—including dogs, primates, pigs, mice and rats—who are in laboratories and the breeding facilities that supply them right now, and the millions who suffer every year. We are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and pharmaceutical industry to accelerate changes to ultimately replace outdated animal tests with superior modern technologies. You can add your voice to our calls for action.

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Immediate Need for Volunteers! Help the HSUS Animal Rescue Team https://www.charities.org/news/immediate-need-volunteers-help-hsus-animal-rescue-team/ Wed, 18 May 2022 04:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/immediate-need-volunteers-help-hsus-animal-rescue-team/ Volunteer with the Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue Team (ART). Learn more by visiting: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/volunteer-our-animal-rescue-team There is an urgent and ongoing need for animal care support in Washington County, MD (approximately 1.5 hour from Washington DC) at the Humane Society of the United States animal care and rehabilitation center, with different options…

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Volunteer with the Humane Society of the United States Animal Rescue Team (ART). Learn more by visiting: https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/volunteer-our-animal-rescue-team

There is an urgent and ongoing need for animal care support in Washington County, MD (approximately 1.5 hour from Washington DC) at the Humane Society of the United States animal care and rehabilitation center, with different options to volunteer. If interested, please complete an application found on the Animal Rescue Volunteer webpage and a member of the team will be in touch with more information. 

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How Humane Society International is taking action for Ukraine and its animals—and how you can help https://www.charities.org/news/how-humane-society-international-taking-action-ukraine-and-its-animals-and-how-you-can-help/ Fri, 04 Mar 2022 05:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/how-humane-society-international-taking-action-ukraine-and-its-animals-and-how-you-can-help/ Amid the conflict in Ukraine, shelters, rescue groups and veterinary clinics in Ukraine are trying to keep their operations going, making every effort to provide safety and urgent care to animals caught up in the conflict. Relief workers and organizations are also doing all they can to clear the way for emergency entry into neighboring…

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Amid the conflict in Ukraine, shelters, rescue groups and veterinary clinics in Ukraine are trying to keep their operations going, making every effort to provide safety and urgent care to animals caught up in the conflict. Relief workers and organizations are also doing all they can to clear the way for emergency entry into neighboring nations for Ukrainians with pets. 

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of Humane Society International (HSI)’s partner, family-owned Mars, Inc., HSI is in a position to respond right away to the needs of Ukraine’s animals and those seeking to help them. In previous collaboration with Mars, Inc., a worldwide COVID-19 relief effort, HSI was able to help more than 280,000 animals in 36 countries on five continents, providing desperately needed food, veterinary care and other support. 

With no time to waste, HSI is prioritizing support to shelters, rescue groups and veterinary clinics in Ukraine. It is vitally important to sustain these institutions in their efforts to maintain operations and services. In many cases, they are helping individuals and families who cannot flee but are trying to hold onto and care for their pets and other animals. In addition, some groups are caring for animals on the streets. The demands and needs of the moment are substantial and will continue to be significant in the future.

To assist these organizations, HSI is collaborating with a partner in Ukraine, UAnimals, to assess and prioritize the needs of shelters and clinics actively engaged in relief. HSI in Germany is working with Berliner Tiertafel to provide refugees with pet food and necessary supplies for their animals as well as veterinary care if needed.

HSI is also planning to support animal groups in neighboring countries such as Poland and Romania as they assist refugees arriving from Ukraine with their pets. The groups trying to provide relief are going to need food, carriers, medicines and critical supplies. 

The same is true for zoos and wildlife rescue centers in Ukraine, and HSI will do their best to help them meet their needs, too.

Read more here about HSI’s plan for taking action and make a donation to support their work.

If your company has a workplace giving program, please consider featuring Humane Society International as a charity to support alongside other Ukraine crisis relief funds.

 

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Animal Rescue Continues in Kentucky https://www.charities.org/news/animal-rescue-continues-kentucky/ Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/animal-rescue-continues-kentucky/ The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS) Animal Rescue and Response team is currently on the ground in Mayfield, Kentucky to search for and rescue animals after the recent devastating tornado. The team will be stationed at the Mayfield-Graves Animal Shelter after being called in to provide critical aid and expertise. They are going…

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Support The Humane Society of the United States' Rescue and Response Efforts

The Humane Society of the United States (The HSUS) Animal Rescue and Response team is currently on the ground in Mayfield, Kentucky to search for and rescue animals after the recent devastating tornado. The team will be stationed at the Mayfield-Graves Animal Shelter after being called in to provide critical aid and expertise. They are going through the rubble and searching for animals who were lost or separated from their families. They’ve rescued dozens of animals thus far and are continuing to search day in and day out, doing their part to help this community heal.

Please support these lifesaving efforts by donating to the HSUS’s Emergency Animal Relief Fund. Your gift today will ensure that their team can continue to answer the call during times of emergency wherever, whenever and however animals need help. (Find out how your one-time donation will be used.) Monthly gifts support their rescue and response efforts as well as their critical work to protect all animals.

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Support Humane Society International’s Global Efforts to Protect All Animals https://www.charities.org/news/support-humane-society-internationals-global-efforts-protect-all-animals/ Tue, 12 Oct 2021 04:00:00 +0000 http://charities.local/support-humane-society-internationals-global-efforts-protect-all-animals/ Support Humane Society International through your employee giving program: As a donor, you can support Humane Society International by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program. While there may be multiple donation options depending on your employer-sponsored charitable giving program, payroll deduction pledges in particular are a cost effective and near effortless way to support Humane Society International…

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Support Humane Society International through your employee giving program:

As a donor, you can support Humane Society International by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program. While there may be multiple donation options depending on your employer-sponsored charitable giving program, payroll deduction pledges in particular are a cost effective and near effortless way to support Humane Society International and have a big impact.

For instance:

  • $15 (57 cents x 26 pay checks) = Cost for food for a small or medium dog for one week  
  • $100 ($3.85 x 26 pay checks) = Cost to provide initial basic medical care to ready rescued dogs, cats, or small animals for placement into a new home  
  • $390 ($15.00 x 26 pay checks) = pays for expert medical and behavioral treatment of dogs rescued from Korean Dog Meat Farms  

If you are a Federal or Postal employee/retiree, or military personnelclick here to donate through the Combined Federal Campaign donation portal and search for CFC# 67938.

If you work in the private sector, or work for a State/county/local government or municipal agency, please contact your HR for a link to your organization’s workplace giving donation site. 

Are you an employer? As Humane Society International’s workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work – through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

 

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