Mission
THE ASPCA'S MISSION, AS STATED BY FOUNDER HENRY BERGH IN 1866, IS "TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE MEANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES." THE ASPCA WAS FOUNDED ON THE BELIEF THAT ANIMALS ARE ENTITLED TO KIND AND RESPECTFUL TREATMENT AT THE HANDS OF HUMANS AND MUST BE PROTECTED UNDER THE LAW. THE ASPCA'S PROGRAMS TACKLE ISSUES FACING ANIMAL WELFARE ON A NATIONAL SCALE, WITH OPERATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY GUIDED BY A VISION THAT ANIMALS ARE VALUED BY SOCIETY, PROTECTED BY ITS LAWS, AND FREE FROM CRUELTY, PAIN, AND SUFFERING. ALL OF THE ASPCA'S SERVICES AND RESOURCES ARE FOCUSED ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING ANIMAL CRUELTY AND SUPPORTING THE ANIMALS AND COMMUNITIES THAT NEED THE ASPCA'S HELP. THESE SERVICES ARE GROUPED IN THREE PROGRAM CATEGORIES: SHELTER & VETERINARY SERVICES (SVS); POLICY, RESPONSE & ENGAGEMENT (PRE); AND PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATIONS.