American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Ok, I'll admit it.  The commercials got me.  You know the ones.  Those sad commercials, narrated by TV stars, with absolutely pitiful looking animals just looking for some TLC.  In fact, now that I mention it, I probably saw that commercial on TLC.  Anyway...

This update is actually for last week's Charity of the Week.  I was travelling in Ecuador for work, and I did not have much time or access to reliable internet, so I was unable to blog about the charity.

Last Sunday, I donated my weekly $50 to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).  The fact of the matter is, sappy commercials or not, the ASPCA does pretty darn good work.  And small donations go a long way.  ASPCA fights to end animal cruelty - whether by rescuing dogs from dog fighting operations; taking care of abandoned animals; urging policymakers to support humane laws; etc.  This isn't an organization that is fundamentally against keeping animals for food, pets, etc.  Instead, it is an organization that wants these practices to be done responsibly.  I can certainly support that effort.

For example, an excerpt from their website:  The ASPCA believes that at every step of their lives – from birth to death – farm animals must be treated with compassion, protected from suffering, and provided with the Five Freedoms: freedom from fear and distress, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, and freedom to express natural behaviors.  In my opinion, those freedoms are absolutely reasonable.

The ASPCA, like many charities, really likes to sign up people to monthly giving schemes, so the website is a bit confusing if you are trying to make a one time donation, like I was.  To find that page, click here.  If you decide to support the ASPCA, let me know in the comments below.

Happy Thursday, everybody!  -grant