Oklahoma City selected as a “Join ASPCA® Mission: Orange™” Community
(April 10, 2008) - The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA®) has selected Oklahoma City as one of three communities that will participate in “Join ASPCA® Mission: Orange™,” the growth phase of the ASPCA’s national campaign to end euthanasia of healthy, adoptable companion animals.
“We are thrilled to have a chance to join what is a unique effort to save the lives of homeless pets in our community,” said Catherine English, the City’s Animal Welfare Superintendent. “We hope this opportunity will provide us with both short and long-term solutions to the problem of pet overpopulation in our community.”
The selected communities went through a rigorous, competitive selection process involving detailed written applications, submission of extensive supporting documents, and interviews. Oklahoma City partnered with the Central Oklahoma Humane Society to undertake this ambitious and vital project.
“While the geography and demographics of the selected communities vary widely, they all have several things in common: established working relationships among the participating agencies; high volume spay/neuter; and leaders with a real and demonstrated passion for making positive change,” said the ASPCA’s Julie Morris, Senior Vice President of National Outreach.
For the next year, public and private partner animal welfare agencies in Oklahoma City, Buncombe County (Asheville), N.C., and Cleveland, Ohio will work with experts from the ASPCA and the Richmond SPCA to collect and analyze community specific data that will help to develop and implement programs to increase the live release rates of healthy, adoptable animals. At the end of the year, the communities can apply to become ASPCA Mission: Orange target communities.
“This intense year-long learning experience is designed to help these communities save more animals’ lives,” said the ASPCA’s President & CEO, Ed Sayres. “Each of these communities has demonstrated that they are more than ready for the challenge.”
The participating communities and partner agencies will have one month to collect and record detailed animal population data using the ASPCA Mission: Orange dashboard.
“This information will form a detailed snapshot of the baseline year, from which ASPCA statisticians and community shelter professionals can determine which animal populations in these communities are most at risk and why,” said ASPCA’s Bert Troughton, who is directing the effort.
ASPCA Mission: Orange was originally launched in 2007 to save those animals most at-risk (i.e.: shelter animals). The hallmark of the campaign, which is taking place in Austin, Tex., Gulfport-Biloxi, Miss., Philadelphia, Pa., Spokane, Wash., and Tampa, Fla., is collaboration with leading animal welfare agencies and organizations to implement a save rate at or above 75 percent for unwanted pets entering shelters.
For information about ASPCA Mission: Orange, and what may lie ahead for these communities, please visit www.aspca.org/missionorange.
About the ASPCA®
Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) was the first humane organization established in the Americas and today has one million supporters in North America. The ASPCA’s mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA provides national leadership in anti-cruelty, animal behavior, humane education, government affairs and public policy, shelter support, and animal poison control. The NYC headquarters houses a full-service animal hospital and adoption facility. The Humane Law Enforcement department enforces New York's animal cruelty laws and is featured on the reality television series “Animal Precinct” on Animal Planet. Visit www.aspca.org for more information.
