Is ASPCA a Good Charity? Quorans Share Their Thoughts

We’ve received a mix of reactions to earlier posts recommending ASPCA as a pet charity. To give you a balanced view, we’ve compiled insights from Quorans discussing the charity. The quotes below have been edited to avoid copyright issues but stay true to the essence of the original source:

1. The ASPCA is a bit like the Red Cross

Lois Harford:

“The ASPCA is a bit like the Red Cross – it sounds like it should be amazing, but in reality, a large chunk of their funding goes toward advertising, mass mailings, executive salaries, and gimmicky items. It’s disappointing.

I’ve always believed in the saying, ‘Think globally, act locally.’ It’s about creating change where you are, knowing you’ve made a difference in your own community, and encouraging others to do the same. Local shelters and rescue groups almost always need help. They rely on donations of money, food, cleaning supplies, bedding, collars, and more.

They also desperately need volunteers to help with things like cleaning, socializing animals, running events, and walking the dogs. You get the joy of knowing you’re making a direct impact – and that’s far more fulfilling than wondering where your donation is actually going.”

2. For every $19 donated, only $7.75 helps the animals

Jody Haskins:

“I was shocked when I found out how much of our donations don’t even go to the animals. For every $19 donated, only $7.75 ends up helping the animals! That’s ridiculous. How can they justify keeping $11.25 of every donation? Charities like this should be ashamed of themselves – it feels like they’re profiting off the kindness of people who genuinely care.”

3. ASPCA have been around for over a century

Nick Chang:

“The ASPCA – the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – is more hands-on compared to organizations like the HSUS. They’ve been around for over a century, advancing veterinary medicine and building animal hospitals. I have a lot of respect for their historical contributions.

But those commercials? You know the ones with the sad animals and emotional music? That’s them. And while they’re effective, I have one big issue: because they prioritize being seen as a no-kill shelter, they sometimes have to turn away animals or waitlist them when they’re full. That doesn’t help the bigger problem of animal abandonment.”

4. The ASPCA isn’t a scam

Samuel Collins:

“The ASPCA isn’t a scam, but it is a controversial organization. They help animals through rescue, education, and veterinary services, but critics argue that they mislead donors and mishandle funds.
One of the biggest issues is their advertising. Those heartbreaking commercials make it seem like they support local SPCAs and humane societies, but they don’t. They’re based in New York City, and local shelters get no funding from them. A lot of donors don’t realize this.

Another issue is how much money they spend on admin, salaries, and advertising compared to direct animal care. In 2019, only 38% of their expenses went to programs directly helping animals. In contrast, many local shelters spend over 80%.

The ASPCA has also faced scandals, including lawsuits and allegations of mishandling funds and mistreating animals. For example, in 2012, they settled a lawsuit for $9.3 million over false accusations against a circus. They’ve also been criticized for euthanizing animals when other shelters were willing to take them in.
Despite these issues, many people believe the ASPCA does good work, and it’s ultimately up to donors to decide if they trust them or not.”

5. I wouldn’t trust those ASPCA commercials one bit

2jag:

“I wouldn’t trust those ASPCA commercials one bit. Feels like they’re abusing those poor animals just to tug at our heartstrings and rake in donations. And the executives? Oh, they’re living large, pocketing six-figure salaries.
Here’s the kicker:

• They’ve got offshore accounts in the Caribbean worth millions.

• Their CEO takes home nearly $1 million a year, while 259 of their employees make six figures.

• Just 2% of their budget goes to community shelters.

And don’t even get me started on their ads. They’re all about emotional manipulation, and yet, they barely do enough to help animals. It’s disgusting.”

6. Local ASPCA shelters are a great place to adopt

Mike McAfee:

“From my experience, local ASPCA chapters are pretty great. The staff and volunteers I’ve worked with were professional and genuinely cared about the animals.
If you’re looking to adopt, they’re a good option. Most of their animals are spayed, neutered, and vaccinated, and the adoption fees are reasonable. It’s a great way to give a loving home to a pet in need.”

7. Small rescues work tirelessly, while the ASPCA spends big on ads and salaries

Beverly Oliver:

“The ASPCA seems more focused on running ads than actually helping animals. They spend so much on those heartbreaking commercials, but when it comes to caring for animals, they fall short.
Smaller rescues, on the other hand, are the real heroes. They work tirelessly to pull animals from overcrowded shelters, nurse them back to health, and find them loving homes – even if it means transporting them across the country. And they do it all without fancy salaries or massive ad budgets.

If you really want to make a difference, shop local and donate local. Support the people who are truly making a difference.”

At GuidedPet, we say yes to the ASPCA as a charity working to help animals in need. However, the decision is yours to make. It’s up to you to choose the ASPCA, a local shelter, or another rescue group, your contribution can make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals everywhere.