Second Chance Animal Services receives $150,000 grant from ASPCA. EAST BROOKFIELD - Second Chance Animal Services has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to support the purchase of a new community support vehicle, a mobile veterinary unit that will expand access to care for pets and families who may otherwise face barriers to receiving veterinary services. The grant will help Second Chance Animal Services fund this important capacity-building initiative, allowing veterinary teams to bring preventive and basic veterinary care directly into more communities, assisting pet owners, and supporting programs that help keep pets healthy, at home, and out of shelters. The mobile veterinary unit will extend the reach of Second Chance's community programs, serving pets and families across the region. "Access to veterinary care should never depend on a family's ability to travel or overcome transportation barriers," said Sheryl Blancato, CEO of Second Chance Animal Services. "We are incredibly grateful to the ASPCA for this generous investment. This community support vehicle will allow us to provide basic veterinary care on the road and connect pets needing more advanced treatment to our hospitals. Together, these services help keep pets healthy, with the families who love them, and out of shelters." For more than 16 years, Second Chance Animal Services has been meeting pets and families where they are through community outreach programs designed to remove barriers to veterinary care. The new mobile veterinary unit will build upon those efforts by tripling the capacity to bring clinics directly into underserved neighborhoods, assisting pet owners who may not be able to travel to veterinary hospitals, and supporting community-based programs that help prevent unnecessary pet surrender. "Lack of access to affordable veterinary care is among the top reasons families are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to relinquish their pet to a shelter," said Karen Walsh, ASPCA's vice president of Animal Relocation. "The ASPCA is honored to provide Second Chance Animal Services with grant funding for a new mobile veterinary vehicle to expand their lifesaving work providing critical veterinary care to the community and helping to keep animals healthy and in loving homes." The vehicle will be on the road at low-cost vaccine clinics across the state. In addition, it will be instrumental in the nonprofit's Homebound to the Rescue program which brings veterinary care at low or no cost to senior and low-income communities. By intervening early and providing resources before a crisis occurs, the organization can help keep pets healthy and safely in their homes. The need for these services is evident in stories like those of seniors and individuals with disabilities who deeply love their pets but struggle to care for them. Through its community programs, Second Chance has helped pet owners access veterinary services that allowed them to keep beloved companions by their side. The new community support vehicle will make it possible to reach even more families with the support they need before difficult circumstances force them to consider surrendering a pet.

ASPCA ShopKind(TM) launches to help shoppers nationwide find more humane food locally. New digital tool maps products certified to the highest welfare standards from more than 250 farms and brands to help shoppers avoid factory farmed food June 22, 2026 NEW YORK - The ASPCA(R)(The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R) today launched ASPCA ShopKind(TM), a new, free digital tool that helps grocery shoppers find more humanely raised food near them. Americans are deeply concerned about the animal welfare, environmental and health impacts of industrial animal agriculture while more humane farms need help reaching consumers in a marketplace crowded with misleading labels. ASPCA ShopKind makes it easier to find local and online sources of meat, eggs, and dairy from more than 250 farms and brands using strong certifications that ban animal confinement and require outdoor or pasture access, as well as other standards that address farm animals' critical needs. According to national survey data released today, nearly 7 in 10 Americans report not knowing where to find more humanely raised meat, eggs, and dairy locally, with only 9% reporting that they feel confident knowing where to look locally for these products. This confusion leads to well-meaning consumers inadvertently supporting farming practices that are not aligned with their values. ASPCA ShopKind offers an interactive, personalized platform so shoppers can find the most humane products closest to them. "ASPCA ShopKind connects concerned consumers with welfare-conscious farmers and brands who all want a more humane food system, but their voices and values are often overwhelmed in a marketplace flooded with factory-farmed food," said Daisy Freund, Vice President of Farm & Industry Engagement for the ASPCA. "By setting a standard for more humane farming and channeling consumer power, ASPCA ShopKind will accelerate the urgently needed transition toward more humane, safe and sustainable farming practices that allow animals to feel sun and fresh air rather than spending their lives confined in warehouses." For more than a decade, the ASPCA has worked to educate consumers about more humane food choices through its Shop With Your Heart(R) program. ASPCA ShopKind is replacing this program to provide a single, easy-to-use tool with new functionality, including: * A map using geolocated data across more than 34,000 locations nationwide, to help consumers find verified higher-welfare products from local stores, farms, farmers markets and online retailers. * A build-and-share-your-list function so users can save the products they're interested in and email it to themselves or others for future reference. * Farms and brands pioneering animal welfare improvements including a filter to find the first eggs produced without male chick culling, chicken products from farms that raise more humane and healthy breeds and pet food and treats made with higher-welfare standards. * Tips on decoding food labels and opting for pasture-raised and plant-based products to support a more regenerative, humane food system. ASPCA ShopKind identifies products that were analyzed on critical welfare issues for each farm animal species from farms verifying their practices by an expanded spectrum of animal welfare, regenerative and grass-fed certification programs. The ASPCA is the nation's first and leading animal welfare organization, founded in 1866, with the mission to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. Celebrating its 160th anniversary this year, that mission continues to drive the ASPCA's work today, which includes advocating for the protection of farm animals to increase transparency in animal agriculture, end the cruelest factory farming practices, ensure adequate funding for a more humane food system and connect consumers with higher-welfare food aligned with their values. To find higher-welfare food or learn about the ASPCA's work with farmers and the food industry to help create more humane policies for farm animals, visit aspca.org/shopkind. Join the conversation on social media by using #shopkind and tagging the ASPCA or spread the word by sharing ASPCA ShopKind resources on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn. About the ASPCA(R) The ASPCA(R)(The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R) believes every animal deserves to live free from suffering. For 160 years, ASPCA has been on the frontlines to save, transform and protect millions of lives in the fight against animal cruelty. As the nation's first and leading animal welfare organization, ASPCA assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal relocation and placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary communities through research, training and resources. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than 2 million supporters nationwide, its commitment to eliminating animal cruelty is unwavering. For more information, visit aspca.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Walker's Shortbread and the ASPCA relaunch partnership to help animals in need. May 4, 2026 The ASPCA and Walker's Shortbread are proud to announce the relaunch of their partnership, originally established from 2012 to 2016. This renewed collaboration reflects a shared commitment to heritage and compassion, uniting two trusted brands to help animals in need. Beginning May 1, every eligible Scottie Dog Shortbread purchase will help support the ASPCA's mission, with Walker's committing to a guaranteed minimum annual donation of $100,000. This multi-year partnership, running through April 30, 2029, gives shoppers a simple, meaningful way to make a difference through everyday purchases. This partnership comes to life through Walker's Shortbread That Saves campaign, where every eligible Scottie Dog Shortbread purchase helps provide care, shelter and protection for vulnerable animals across the country. "We're thrilled to relaunch our partnership with Walker's Shortbread," said Christina Wyman, vice president of ASPCA Corporate Partnerships. "This program gives consumers an easy and meaningful way to support animal welfare nationwide. Walker's dedication and compassion for animals helps us elevate our efforts to save, transform and protect animals across the country." "Our Scottie Dog Shortbread has long been a symbol of Walker's heritage," said Lisa Sherman, Head of Marketing at Walker's Shortbread. "With Shortbread That Saves, it now represents something even more meaningful, helping support animals in need with every purchase." To participate, look for Walker's iconic Scottie Dog Shortbread at retailers nationwide or shop online at ASPCA.walkersshortbread.com/aspca. Every Scottie gives back. Together, Walker's Shortbread and the ASPCA are helping give more animals the chance for a safe, loving home.