The advent of the holiday giving season and the optimistic feeling of goodwill also brings the constant barrage of aspca commercials of miserable animals who can't
wait one more minute to be rescued. That animal abuse occurs is not in
question, but what is in question, is truth in advertising.
The aspca continues to refuse to disclose to the public that they are
neither an umbrella organization nor related in any way to every other spca in
the country, much to the confusion of the consumers/donors- which is a very
lucrative omission.
According to their financials, they reported almost half a billion dollars ( $487,997,137) in net assets, spent $56,433,000 in advertising, but shared only a miniscule 12, 559,279 with other charities and public shelters!
In an investigative report, Jack
Hubbard of the The Center for
the Environment and Welfare, (CEW), while investigating the aspca,
quipped "Most people believe they're associated with all the local
shelters, but they're not," said Hubbard. "The ASPCA should change its
name to the Midtown Manhattan ASPCA." This investigation
was in addition to a CBS expose' followed by the aspca former CEO speaking out as well about said
lucrative omission.
Back to the aspca commercials-
In 2014, aspca eliminated its law enforcement unit dedicated to investigating, rescuing, and intervening in cases of animal cruelty, and ceded that responsibility to the NYC police department. So, when they seek funds to rescue and investigate animal abuse, do they, and where does the money go? Also - who owns the case footage? Is it an actual case or staged?
Some footage may be prior to 2014, and some may come from the occasional times they assist other agencies during which they film themselves! Does aspca share the funds with those agencies? Are those agencies compensated for the use of the footage in their respective cases to help with the costs of care? Do they have permission to use what might be evidence photos on television? Is this exploitive of both the agencies in and the animals in need?
Here is my two cents. As you suffer through endless airings of sad
commercial advertisements for the aspca, think about the needs of animals who
need help in your community. If you can only donate to one animal welfare
organization, please donate to your local shelter where your help is critical.
If you can afford more, please give it to all of us! But if that includes
the aspca, and your interest is intervening in animal cruelty, consider instead
a restricted donation to NYPD for that use.
Sy Syms, a former broadcaster, used to say, "an educated consumer is our best customer".
Please - as the author Fran Lebowitz might say - think before you
donate, and study before you think!
