A coalition of Sacramento animal welfare organizations today announced that it was one of two community coalitions from around the country chosen by The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to participate in “Join ASPCA® Mission: Orange™,” the growth phase of the ASPCA’s national campaign that provides positive outcomes for at-risk pets (ie: shelter animals).
For the next year, public and private partner animal welfare agencies, including the Sacramento County Department of Animal Care and Regulation, the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, the Sacramento SPCA and Happy Tails Cat Rescue, will work with experts from the ASPCA and the Richmond SPCA to collect and analyze data specific to the Sacramento community that will enable the coalition to develop and implement programs designed to increase the adoption rates of healthy animals. At the end of the year, the coalition will have the opportunity to apply to become an ASPCA Mission: Orange target community.
“We chose these communities because they have several things in common: established working relationships among the participating agencies; high volume spay/neuter programs; and leaders with a real and demonstrated passion for making positive change,” said Julie Morris, Senior Vice President of Community Outreach for the ASPCA. “The more we can replicate success in different communities, the faster we can provide a proven, sustainable approach to improving live release rates in communities around the country.”
Sacramento coalition members went through a rigorous, competitive selection process involving detailed written applications, submission of extensive supporting documents, and interviews.
"Collaboration is the key to reducing pet overpopulation in any given community. To have been selected by the ASPCA to be a part of the Mission Orange Project will enhance our excellent working relationships with local shelters and improve collectively our ability to find loving homes for the many animals in our shelters," said Rick Johnson, Sacramento SPCA Executive Director.
According to the ASPCA’s Todd Cramer, who directs the “Join ASPCA Mission: Orange” effort, the application process was good preparation for the year ahead. “Participating communities and partner agencies had one month to collect and record detailed animal population data using the ASPCA Mission: Orange dashboard,” said Cramer. “This information formed 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.”