Hi everyone. Matt here. At Pets Alive we are eager to collaborate with other shelters. We try very hard to set aside political views, debates over kill or no-kill, personalities and everything else, staying laser focused on the animals. They are all that matter. We will fight tooth and nail for each and every one.
You’ve helped us many times. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Many of our supporters donate to many animal welfare organizations. Many donate to the SPCA of New York City – I’m not talking about your local SPCA or the Sullivan County SPCA (good friends of ours), or the Westchester County SPCA (again, friends of ours).
I’m speaking of the New York City ASPCA – $85 million in donations last year, a President named Ed Sayres, whose salary is more than our budget for the year. They spent $10 million on advertising last year. $10 million. And we struggle to buy stamps.
Know what though? If they’re saving animals then we support them one hundred percent. And they saved 4000 last year. That’s great. That comes to roughly $20,000 an animal, but at least they’re saved, right?
You would think so. You’d be wrong.
Oreo was a pit bull mix that was thrown from the top of a six story building. She ended up at the ASPCA, who set her broken legs, fixed her shattered body and got her back on her feet. Then they killed her.
Before they killed her, Pets Alive stepped up and offered the SPCA another alternative. We offered to take Oreo to our facility and work with her. If she was adoptable we would adopt her out. If not she would live at the sanctuary for the rest of her life. That’s our standard offer.
We were thinking of dogs like Amelia. Remember Amelia? Everyone else gave up on her. We didn’t. And now she’s in her forever home. Here’s the story if you want to read it again: http://petsalive.com/blog/2008/12/03/amelia-case-study/
Sometimes I am amazed at how naïve Kerry and I are. We expect that if we offer another animal welfare group an alternative to killing they will take it. The ASPCA was incredibly arrogant to us, to the press and to their own supporters. They hung up on Kerry three times, ignored our calls and emails, and had security guards escort a volunteer that was working with us out of their building.
Ed Sayres, their President is simply a coward.
He ducked phone calls, emails and personal visits. They refused to acknowledge the existence of Pets Alive (even though they imposed on Rob Thomas to record radio ads because of his work with Pets Alive) and our offer to help.
They killed an animal they were responsible for. An animal that had been horribly abused. An animal that had struggled back to life from certain death. A soul that had been nursed back to health, only to be extinguished by those who were charged with saving her.
The ASPCA of New York used your donations, the fruit of your labor, the reward for your toil, to kill an innocent animal. That is morally reprehensible.
When a so-called animal welfare organization that is chartered with protecting animals chooses to murder them when there are other options, they should lose the right to be called their protectors.
We are asking you to consider withholding your financial support of the ASPCA of New York City. They are not deserving of your donations or your support.
363 Derby Road
Middletown, NY, 10940
(845) 386-9738
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I would encourage all of you out there to forward this story to all your friends and family no matter where they live and ask them to do the same. The more people who know about this the more likely something will be done to remove Mr. Sayers from his position and start a change (hopefully) for the better. I personally sent out over 100 emails. Yes, it is time consuming but well worth it. May God bless Pet’s Alive, Kerry and all the other wonderful folks who go so far every single day to care for the unwanted. My heart goes out to each of them.
Jason Di Palma
Sandeigh,
While I completely understand your concern for the “innocents” it is important to remember that their lives also hang in the balance. As long as people like Mr. Sayers are running this operation no animal is safe. A cutback in donations may hurt enough to provide enough heat for positive change. Then and only then will the “innocent’ you are concerned about be safe. Your heart is in the right place, now you must put your thoughts there as well. May God bless you.
Jason
ED Sayres needs to go! Read what Natha Winonguard has to say about this un-animal friendly man when he was in San Francisco..just google ASPCA Oreo…then read the Examiner article.
I suspected some years ago that the SPCA organizations were getting overzealous in their euthanizing. I’ve heard some things about PETA and thier “humane ways”. I have a friend who is a Vet Tech who once worked for SPCA. She was put in the position to euthanize & was euthanizing up to 14 animals per day!! Though she’s pretty tough, she could not stay there long & left. It made her sick.
Also, we need to see some other rules changes. When someone wants to adopt a pet, they have such stringent guidelines. Like making you have a fence! There are perfectly good potential owners who might live in an apartment who would walk a dog every day. There should not be such broad rules for adoption. Every circumstance is different. But so many pets are not allowed to be adopted because of these stupid broad rules.
Also, every pet should be allowed to be spayed and/or neutered without being overloaded with vaccinations that an owner might not agree with. I have been unable to find a vet who will spay or neuter without alot of vaccinations. This is wrong! If they’re so concerned about the “overpopulation” then why is it necessary to vaccinate for a spaying or neutering??
I have long supported HSUS and ASPCA for their tireless work in rescuing puppymill dogs, prosecuting these horrific kennel owners and passing humane laws that support companion animal welfare.
Good work has been accomplished on behalf of dogs in Washington within both of these organizations.
I also applaud and groups such as Pets Alive and the Companion Animal Protection Society (CAPS) for making a huge difference with very limited resources. I dontate to CAPS as well.
That being said, offering Vick a PR move to smooth over his inexcusable actions was disgusting to me. I’ve tried to be open to how it could potentially help the plight of fighting dogs, but just don’t see it.
What happened to Oreo is even more inexcusable in that it occured at the very hands of people trusted to save dogs. It makes zero sense on many levels. I do not understand why ANY organization would euthanize a dog that had even one hopeful option, much less so many sincere offers for a quality life.
There are people who have a very special connection with this breed and can (and do!) succeed where others fail. Why was Oreo not given a chance?
This is a lose-lose situation for Oreo, pitbulls showing aggression due to abuse and unfortunately, all the good work ASPCA staff members have done over the years that will now be overshadowed by this unnecessary and thoughtless act.
It is too late for Oreo, but hopefully we can join together to pass Oreo’s Law to preventing this from happening again.
Donations to small groups such as PetsAlive and CAPS are well utilized and touch many lives.
Do keep in mind that until animal abuse is a lelony punishable by serious legal consequences, it is less likely to stop.
And that takes the muscle behind big groups like HSUS & ASPCA to lobby and pass those crucial laws in Washington.
What happended to Oreo is TRAGIC.
But we should also look at the Big Picture; the more each and all of us who care about animals can support each other and work together, the more will get done on their behalf.
You’re blog post captures perfectly the utter befuddlement and indignation that many of us feel. How is it that an esteemed organization like the ASPCA, one many of us donate and support in one way or another, could do this in light of viable alternatives? I’ve been working in the animal welfare world for awhile, both as a staff member of a large national organization, and as a volunteer for smaller rescue groups. I’ve seen a lot of silly stuff…we’re all just people who make mistakes. But somehow, this strikes me as egregious…so far beyond acceptable. I will also withhold my donations from the ASPCA while Ed Sayres is there.
I cannot believe this! This is heartbreaking. I have been a supporter of the ASPCA for years and regularly receive emailings and snail mailings from them. I thought I was doing good for the animals, but apparently not. I am, as of this writing, withholding all donations to the ASPCA. I am also going to write to Mr. Sayres and co. and let them know exactly why. Oreo’s story is unbelieveable. I wonder how many other animals were denied a chance at life by the ASPCA. It seems like you can’t trust anybody anymore. I am truly very saddened by this.
Sayres is a disgrace. He should resign. Perhaps he could get a position with the Eagles, I have a feeling he would fit right in. The NY aspca is a SCAM- they lead people to believe they are a no-kill shelter. they will never get another penny from me. RIP sweet Oreo, I am sorry we failed you.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. I am completely shocked and enraged, as I am one of the millions who tear up at the site of an ASPCA commercial and immediately want to donate my whole life savings to them. I belong to an organziation that does fundraisers for local rescue shelters each year. I was debating whether or not we should donate to the ASPCA this year, but you helped me answer that real quick. I will stick with the ‘little guys’!
it is sickening what happens..
It’s extremely sad that some people put up with animal cruelty.
i donate to the aspca every month. i will never give another cent.
well. .just saw their commercial and was going to donate. decided to do some research on the net and found this and nixed that idea.
What was done by the ASPCA to OREO and for the ones that support what was done to OREO have treated our distant cousin in fur so badly that beyond doubt, if they were able to formulate a religion, they would depict the Devil in human form!!!!!!!!!
I need to call the ASPA four an injured baby skunk , now I afraid they might kill her. she has a broken leg and is very sweet she is wild though I am in San Clemente ca
I had not known that the ASPCA murdered animals when I actually joined their sit,years ago my family had a dog who we had to give up because the apt we lived in didn’t allow animals, we thought for years that he was adopted but years after we had found abandoned kittens, newborns and you know what they said to us oh their too young but we will take them and then they pulled out the little caged just as we were about to put them in actually before that right when we entered I already had a bad feeling and then my mother had ask what they were going to do to it and they said that the kittens were too young and that it needed special milk that because of that they might put both of them to sleep, we were pissed, guilt is what my mother felt when she realized that dog we had taken there years earlier was most likely put to sleep, we left, of course we took the kittens back, but though we love animals we have not been living in our own,apt for 2 yrs, if we had our own apt than we would keep them.
Extremely glad I didn’t join them after reading this post. The number of 4,000 is unfortunately overshadowed by a single betrayal of their own founding principles. What a disservice they do to such a well recognized name – given their amazingly powerful position to do such GREAT works for so many innocent lives. Again, I think it comes down to the difference between ‘animal’ and ‘family member’ sometimes – and where MONEY falls between those 2 points in each individual’s value system. Don’t know what else to say.
**** ASPCA they are nothing but a group of murders
Although I was taken aback by what this article said, I must admit that the monies spent ASPCA advertisements are well worth it. Yes it is for the purpose of raising money but honestly how many people would even have the slightest interested in saving abused or neglected animals if not for these commercials?
It would appear that ALL organizations whether non-profit, governmental, or private become corrupt in so many ways once they become too large. These things happen because those making business decisions are not those on the front lines with the animals. I also understand that many of those employed at the ASPCA was also outraged at this incident but it was not within their power to do anything because their voices would not be heard in a behemoth organization. Not to mention that those that are at the level of making these bad decisions are also plagued with an inflated estimate of their own merit, usually manifested in arrogance therefore cannot make these rational common sense decisions.
My opinion if I dared, would be to suggest that people NOT stop giving to the ASPCA all together but instead scale back what they give and ask for, no demand, an internal investigation. (Not make it a legal case because I would hate for the money to go to lawyers) But keep publicly pushing the issue.
I would also suggest increasing your donations to the local shelters as well.
Helpful info. Fortunate me I discovered your web site by chance, and I am surprised why this twist of fate didn’t came about earlier! I bookmarked it.
I just took out my one of, to numerous to count, envelopes from ASPC to donate. Than it hit me, Why don’t I look up ASPCA on line and see what others are saying about them? As usual I’m appalled by the administration that runs the institutations of animals. I am sick of CEO’s taking advantage of animal suffering to pay their own pocket. One day may they be subject to the animals they left suffering. I have been donating to ASPCA. I now give you their intended donation. Pleas continue to educate people and help animal suffering.
Oreo’s story left me in tears. I came across your website by chance and I am so glad I did. The ASPCA will never get another dollar from me. Shame on them, what they did to Oreo is disgusting beyond what words could ever convey.
So sad to hear this. I think it goes to show it is best to support real people doing good work, rather than large corporations where donated funds seem to go everywhere except where they’re needed. This is why I volunteer services to our local animal rescue … we can all do our part to make things better for the animals in the world if we just give a little – either in time or money.
I’ve been searching all kinds of stuff about animal cruelty lately and there is some bad stuff out there, a lot in china (remember that next time you buy your next “made in China” leather product). I think one of the safest bets is to donate and volunteer at your local no kill animal shelter. Thank you to pets alive, I’ll be donating a little something. Another good one I found is hopeforpaws.com
Thanks guys
strange they would spend the money to nurse her back to health before killing the dog….sounds fishy to me…I wonder how much
the vets got paid….something smells