3 people found this review helpful
ASPCA - American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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January 24, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
I (and my beagle Roy) had a terrible experience with the ASPCA and their contracted Pet Insurance Program. I reported the problem to our ins. commissioner who has agreed with me that their policies are not what they seem, so beware of the ASPCA, they are NOT what they seem at all. Our GA Insurance Commissioner, John Oxindine, has taken this organization's designated insurance carrier to task. They will be demanding, at minimum, a rewrite of their pet insurance policies to disallow their inappropriate use of a "pre-existing condition" as a means to deny coverage on thousands of legitimate claims. This has happened to a once great org. that cared for animals.
The ASPCA fought this and lost because they care more about their lucrative insurance program than the animals they pretend to support. I am saddened to know that this organization has fallen so hard under Mr. Sayres command. Although they falsely denied my dogs cancer surgery claim at least now they may be the ultimate price with wholesale policy language changes if they want to do business honestly in Georgia.
If anyone else has suffered a claim denial like mine in the ASPCA pet insurance program, please contact your insurance commissioner and get them out of your state.
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How would you describe the help you got from this organization?
None
How likely are you to recommend this organization to a friend?
No
How do you feel you were treated by this organization?
Badly
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
January 6, 2012
3 people found this review helpful
We rescued two abandoned kittens on Christmas Day after their mother was killed by a car. They were exposed to roach poison and one was foaming at the mouth. We frantically called the ASPCA poison hotline late at night to find an antidote and were told that they would not tell us anything unless we allowed them to charge $65 to our credit card. When they would hold a helpless kitten hostage and potentially allow her to die in order to shakedown her rescuers, I'm afraid that shows where their real priority lies. They'll never get another penny from us. (BTW, our kitty is okay thanks to being able to find an antidote on the internet.)
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Was your donation impactful?
Likely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
January 2, 2012
1 person found this review helpful
With 75% going to programs for an organization of its size, I am very impressed and glad to support their programs. *****Complaints about the CEO compensation are silly. A $500,000 salary for a CEO that can successfully run an organization with annual revenues in excess of $115,000,000 and expenses of $106,000,000 is a bargain. This dramatic increase in "wealth envy" by people with no concept of what it takes to perform a job like this is troubling and irresponsibly being fueled by the current presidential administration. Simply don't support the ASPCA if you have a problem with the CEO's pay (less than 1% of the annual revenues!!!).
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
Definitely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Definitely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
December 31, 2011
4 people found this review helpful
I agree with the other reviews from donors. I believe my mission this year is to make others aware of the CEO compensation, $500,000, and for us to work together to have him removed. There are plenty of talented, unemployed people that could do the job for a fraction of that salary, and the money can go to the cause. Also, I don't need mailing labels, t-shirts, etc. I realize that is one way of fundraising, but the donor should be asked whether they want ONE more t-shirt, whatever, and the saved proceeds should go to the animals.
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Was your donation impactful?
Unlikely
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
Unlikely
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
Unlikely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
December 29, 2011
4 people found this review helpful
I have been a donor since 2008 but just canceled my monthly gift due to the extremely insulting CEO salary of almost half a million dollars. If the CEO and the board were really interesting in helping animals they would never allow such salaries. Its clear that they use the ASPCA to guilt animal lovers like myself into funding their mansions and not homeless pets. No more from me until the current CEO and Board have been replaced with people who actually care about animals and see to it that they get the money we donate!
More feedback...
Was your donation impactful?
No
How likely is it that you would recommend that a friend donate to this group?
No
How likely are you to donate to this group again?
No
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
November 11, 2011
8 people found this review helpful
The ASPCA is one big fund-raising machine. If you carefully study their financial reports, you'll find there are numerous expenses which most 501c3s would consider administrative, but are buried in ASPCA programs such as "communciations". Further they seem to ignore the absolute $1,000,000 lobbying limit for non-profits. The ASPCA employes scores of white collar professionals and directly houses less than 4,000 per year in the one shelter they operate in NYC.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Quite well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A little
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Unlikely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
November 8, 2011
6 people found this review helpful
I am a former volunteer at the ASPCA. I would still be there if we hadn't moved, but I do still have periodic contact with them. I'd like to clear up a couple of misconceptions.
1. Someone on here wrote that they hated the way the operated Animal Care and Control (ACC). The ASPCA does not run ACC, ACC is a city owned and run facility. The ASPCA does however pull animals from there, but beyond that they do not have ANY operational control over the ACC.
2. Yes they do on occasion have to put an animal down. They do this in the event there is a medical reason (animal to sick or injured and it is the humane thing to do) or if the animal is a clear threat and is to aggresive to be placed. Typically that situation is the fault of the idiot who owned the animal first and neglected it.
3. Some have tried to suggest that they do not find homes for animals. I personally have helped an amazing number of people adopt from the ASPCA and I have several friends who provide foster homes for animals from the ASPCA when they need some car outside of the shelter. An example of this is when a kitten needs to be bottle fed or a cat who has been in the shelter for some time and needs a change in surroundings for a while.
4. Yes the ASPCA does some outreach in situations where there are storms such as Katrina or some tornado situations. They were even in Minot, ND helping animals during the floods. Yes they also do a great deal of outreach in puppy mill situations. Doing those rescue operations is not cheap.
5. As far as what they charge for spay/neuter that is still a good deal. My wife and I recently paid about $110 for each of our most recent rescues that we adopted and that was not NY price but the price in a suburban area.
6. Regarding the CEO salary yes I think $500k is a huge amount of money but in NYC that isn't that out of line. Just as a point of reference when my wife and I moved out of NY we sold our 1 bedroom, 1 bath coop, that had less than 500sf for about $400k. Many salaries are higher in NY because of the cost of living. I know people that work in computer programming in NY that make well over $125k and I know people doing similar work in MN that make 1/2 that. I don't like it but it is the reality of the area. Yes they are fortunate that they get multimillion dollar donations but the reality is they probably wouldn't get those if a) they weren't in NY and b) they did not have a CEO and staff that were not out promoting the organization to the multimillionaire donors.
That being said you need to realize that their main operation is on the upper east side of NY. That is the ONLY shelter they have and operate. That shelter based on my personal experience is so much better than what I have seen many many other places. They take wonderful care of the animals, they have full time vet care available 24/7. They have animal behaviorists available full time to work with the animals and give them a better chance at getting adopted. I've visited shelters in at least 7 other states including GA, MN, HI, NJ, CA, NV and ND. Trust me when I say I have only seen animals getting better care and have better facilities in 1 other place and that was Reno, NV.
Finally a common missunderstanding amongst many people I have talked to is they think the ASPCA is the same as various local chapters of the Society to Prevent the Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Yes they have a very similar name but they are completely seperate organizations. The ASPCA is ONLY the 1 operation based out of NY and no where else. So if you have a problem lets say with the SPCA of Texas (or wherever) keep in mind that it is not related to the ASPCA. I say this because I have had conversations with people in other areas who have had serious complaints about their local SPCA and have said things to me like "The ASPCA in our area is horrible." The problem is that unless you live in NY City, they are not in your area unless they are there dealing with a natural disaster or a puppy mill situation. If it is a puppy mill situation instead of bashing on ANY rescue organization you should be bashing on your local public officials to do something about the laws in your area that allow those things to continue. (Hello Missouri, get it together.)
Just remember don't buy a pet! Rescue it instead.
Yes I only gave the ASPCA because I think most non-profits have things they can and should improve on.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
my volunteer time there.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
More space for the dogs to get out and about during inclement weather as well as more full-time paid staff to care for the animals.
More feedback...
Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
A lot
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Quite well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
What one change could this group make that would improve your volunteer experience?
Nothing I can think of. My experience there has been the best compared to the other rescue organizations that I have worked with. They are very professional compared to the politcal mess that some rescue groups have in place.
Did your volunteer experience have an effect on you? (teaching you a new skill, or introducing new friends, etc.)
Yes it opened my eyes to the horrible way we treat animals in our society.
How did this volunteer experience make you feel?
It gave me a great deal of satifaction everytime I saw an animal get adopted to a new and loving home.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
5 people found this review helpful
September 2, 2011
5 people found this review helpful
I have been a fundraiser for many years (for a child care related organization), but I was and still am an animal advocate and I appreciate everything every rescue group does to help our most vulnerable groups (companion animals). But, in these times of shrinking dollars, it is the smaller organizations that don't have paid fundraisers or marketing firms, that need donations. If you care for animals, find a local shelter in your area, volunteer there, donate pet food, and if you can, donate your hard-earned money to them, instead of larger groups. They might not be sophisticated as the larger and more prestigious groups, but they do as much or more for abandoned and abused companion animals.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The ASPCA used to be a very effective animal "care" organization some 30 years ago, when it provided direct care to animals. Now, its only redeeming quality is its off-shoot, the Humane Law Enforcement (in NYC) and the coordinating role it provides for other organizations. If it is to serve its mission of caring for the welfare of animals, it need to start SHARING its riches with the smaller rescue groups who provide DIRECT assistance to animals.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Change its structure, decentralize it and make sure it actually distributes the funds it raises to the majority of organizations that are at the front lines rescuing and caring for animals.
August 25, 2011
6 people found this review helpful
Just received some gratuitous postage stamps today along with my invitation to join the ASPCA Guardian Monthly Giving Program. I won't be joining.
Instead, here's my counter-intuitive common sense suggestion to the ASPCA that would probably greatly, effortlessly boost donations from an increasingly wary public:
If the ASPCA board announced that it was immediately rolling back President and CEO Ed Sayres' excessive half million dollar yearly payout to at least half that amount, stop the constant over-the-top "promotional" campaigns, and cut out the wasteful merchandise swag that it continually plies on donors, I predict that donations would rise substantially.
Until that happens, I will devote my animal welfare dollars to local organizations that DO devote most of those dollars to the actual welfare of the animals and not to the care and feeding of organization administrators.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Receiving far too many requests for money and far too much junk in the mail where those expenses could be better spent on the animals' welfare instead.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Greatly scale back the administrative compensation and far too excessive merchandising outlays and ploys to have money automatically debited from bank accounts.
1 person found this review helpful
August 19, 2011
1 person found this review helpful
They do wonderful work. Very efficient. Especially good at investigating cruelty cases.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I read their reports carefully and also monitor news accounts.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
No real comments. I like their work and I know they make a difference.
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