Do you donate to ASPCA/Humane Soceity or local?

[mnvegas]

I like to donate locally so my money is going back into my community.

[niemand88f]

The Humane Society of the US is not involved in running or maintaining local shelters, even if one is called "Humane Society"- they are not the same organization. They do provide some assistance to shelters, but their primary goal is national issues. This is important too, to have a more powerful national organization that can support legislation etc. But I have limited resources to donate so I prefer to help local shelters.

I think the HSUS and ASPCA are similar in focusing on national issues. I seem to hear more about the ASPCA's activities though, being actually on the ground in disaster situations or animal cruelty issues.

If you don't have a good local shelter I would recommend donating to Best Friends (www.bestfriends.org). They have done some really great things in Utah, LA and other cities by helping local shelters reach no-kill status with spay and neuter programs, adoption promotion, etc.

[brittmk0922]

I donate fully to our local Humane Society.

[mrssavy42112]

I don't donate on a regular basis to any one particular charity, but I do like to spread it around. HSHS, ASPCA, local shelters, Farm Sanctuary, Gentle Barn, etc.

[redheadbaker]

Dec 30, 2012 23:32:02 GMT -5 niemand88f said:

I think the HSUS and ASPCA are similar in focusing on national issues. I seem to hear more about the ASPCA's activities though, being actually on the ground in disaster situations or animal cruelty issues.

The ASPCA is located in NYC, and serves as an animal control shelter, so they're not national. I think they may do some lobbying for national issues, but they do take in and house/adopt out animals.

My local shelter has the same issue that you mentioned (re: the Humane Society), though. "SPCA" is a general term, and not all SPCA's are affiliated. I used to do new volunteer orientation at the local SPCA, and we'd have a lot of new volunteers tell us that they donate to the ASPCA. Well, that's great, but the local SPCA where you just signed up to volunteer doesn't see any of that money.

[polarbearfans]

I donate to local no kill shelters for cats in the area....

[straymo]

I donate almost exclusively locally. Considering I am the treasurer of our local non-profit, I know exactly where the money goes and it truly is saving lives since we are an all volunteer group.

I also donate to Best Friends since I also have first hand experience of the good that they do.

[kris356]

We donate locally, we have 3 local shelters plus a pitbull rescue that we have donated to in the past

[starfish79]

I give to our local SPCA-LA, national ASPCA, Humane Society, Pasadena Humane Society, two local greyhound rescues and sometimes Best Friends, Audubon - local and national, and International Bird Rescue.

whew!

I do think it's important to give to local rescue orgs. They're really hurting all across the country.

[Birdie]

We donate money to our local humane society and I try to donate tangible items like towels and blankets when I can.