Animal lovers considering a donation to charity in November should do their homework, because some of the biggest names in the space belong in the doghouse.
Despite having similar names, the national groups Humane World for Animals and the ASPCA are not affiliated with local humane societies and SPCAs. According to public tax records, these organizations only give approximately 1% of their budgets to local pet shelters via financial grants, despite raising hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Equally shocking? The head of the ASPCA is paid over $1.2 million.
Meanwhile, America’s euthanasia crisis is more urgent than ever. More than 600,000 cats and dogs were killed in animal shelters in 2024, due in part to a lack of resources.
If you want to help save the lives of homeless pets this giving season, don’t bark up the wrong tree: Skip these two national organizations and donate to your local shelter instead.
Jack Hubbard
Executive Director, Center for the Environment and Welfare
Arlington, Va.
