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ASPCA
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| ASPCA | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | New York, New York |
| Type: | 501(c)(3) |
| Top official: | Matthew Bershadker, President and CEO |
| Founder(s): | Henry Bergh |
| Year founded: | 1866 |
| Website: | Official website |
As of 2014, ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in New York, New York. The group's aim was to advocate for the prevention of cruelty toward animals through education, animal health services, community outreach, and lobbying. In 2016, the ASPCA was advocating for the passage of Massachusetts' Minimum Size Requirements for Farm Animal Containment measure, which would prevent some animals from being raised in confined spaces. The measure appeared on the ballot on November 8, 2016.[1][2]
Mission
According to the ASPCA's website in 2016, the group's mission was as follows:[1]
| “ |
The ASPCA’s mission, as stated by founder Henry Bergh in 1866, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”[3] |
” |
Background
As of 2016, the ASPCA was founded in 1866 by Henry Bergh. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization was based in New York, New York. The group is an advocacy organization that seeks to prevent cruelty toward animals. The ASPCA provides educational services for animal owners, animal health services, anti-cruelty campaigns, community outreach, lobbying, ballot measure support and opposition, and animal hospital services.[4]
Key issue areas
As of 2016, the ASPCA had several key issue areas that it seeks to resolve. Below are some of those issues.
- Animal homelessness: The ASPCA states that local animal shelters throughout the U.S. are overcrowded and that 2.7 million animals are euthanized each year. The group uses donations to help expand services and alleviate overcrowding.[5]
- Animal rescue: The ASPCA pusued cases of animal cruelty by rescuing animals and placing them in homes. Rescues also included saving animals from natural disasters, dog fighting operations, puppy mills, and animal hoarding. In 2015, the ASPCA rescued 9,661 animals.[6]
- Animal placement: The ASPCA had an animal placement and adoption program that placed animals with owners as a way to alleviate the strain on local shelters. In 2015, the group registered 4,601 adoptions.[7]
Political activity
Ballot measure activity
The ASPCA in general focused on state measures that impact the quality of life of animals. In 1998, the ASPCA supported California's Prohibition on Trapping Fur-Bearing Mammals measure, which was approved. In 2010, the group supported Ohio's Livestock Care Initiative, but the measure did not make it onto the ballot.[8] In 2012, it supported Oregon's Caged Hens Measure, however, this measure did not make it onto the ballot either.[9] In 2014, the ASPCA opposed keeping Michigan's Wolf Hunting Act; the act was vetoed.[10] The ASPCA, in 2016, supported Massachusetts' Minimum Size Requirements for Farm Animal Containment measure, which would prevent some animals from being raised in confined spaces.[2]
Overview of ballot measure support and opposition
The following table details ASPCA's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:
| Ballot measure support and opposition for ASPCA | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot measure | Year | Position | Amount contributed | Status |
| Massachusetts Minimum Size Requirements for Farm Animal Containment, Question 3 (2016) | 2016 | Supported | $62,133 (In-kind)[11] | |
| Michigan Wolf Hunting Referendum, Proposal 1 (2014) | 2014 | Supported a veto | N/A | Vetoed |
| California Proposition 4, Prohibition on Trapping Fur-Bearing Mammals Initiative (1998) | 1998 | Supported | N/A | 
|
Leadership
Below is the list of the ASPCA board, as of August 2016:[12]
- Frederick Tanne, Chair
- Sally Spooner, Vice-Chair
- Dodie Gumaer, Treasurer
- Cathy Wallach, Secretary
- Matt Bershadker
- Georgina Bloomberg
- Arriana Boardman
- Fredrik G. Gradin
- Dodie Gumaer
- Linda Lloyd Lambert
- Tracy V. Maitland
- C. Allen Parker
- Jane W. Parver
- Jeff Pfeifle
- Helen S.C. Pilkington
- Martin Puris
- Sally Spooner
- Frederick Tanne
- Scott Thiel
- Cathy Wallach
- Tim F. Wray
Finances
The following is a breakdown of ASPCA's revenues and expenses as submitted to the IRS for the 2011 to 2014 fiscal years:
| Annual revenue and expenses for ASPCA, 2011–2014 | ||
| Tax Year | Total Revenue | Total Expenses |
| 2014[4] | $163,600,103 | $175,940,199 |
| 2013[13] | $171,665,749 | $173,064,741 |
| 2012[14] | $163,615,458 | $168,616,519 |
| 2011[14] | $148,247,629 | $145,507,016 |
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms 'ASPCA'. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
- Michigan Wolf Hunting Referendum, Proposal 1 (2014)
- California Proposition 4, Prohibition on Trapping Fur-Bearing Mammals Initiative (1998)
- Massachusetts Minimum Size Requirements for Farm Animal Containment, Question 3 (2016)
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ASPCA, "About Us" accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Humane Society, "Massachusetts voters push farm animal measure to the ballot, with broad, powerful coalition," June 28, 2016
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Guidestar, "IRS Form 990, ASPCA (2014)," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ ASPCA, "Homelessness Issues," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ ASPCA, "Saving Lives," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ ASPCA, "Animal Placement," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ This Dish is Vegetarian, "ASPCA announces support of Ohioans for Humane Farms minimum standards ballot initiative," June 2, 2010
- ↑ The Oregonian, "Measure to mandate more room for egg-laying hens may end up on 2012 Oregon ballot," April 25, 2011
- ↑ Huffington Post, "Michigan Wolves Don't Need to Die," February 17, 2014
- ↑ Massachusetts Office of Campaign & Political Finance, "Ballot Question Reports," accessed August 15, 2016
- ↑ ASPCA, "Board of Directors," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ Guidestar, "IRS Form 990, ASPCA (2013)," accessed August 31, 2016
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Guidestar, "IRS Form 990, ASPCA (2012)," accessed August 31, 2016
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