The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is celebrating its 160th anniversary, which is more than 25 dog years. This milestone makes it one of the oldest nonprofit organizations in New York City.
In honor of this occasion, the organization has shared significant moments from its history along with some archives, enriched by coverage from the Post.
The ASPCA was established on April 10, 1866, by Henry Berg, a shipbuilder from Manhattan, who, at the time, was 65 years old. Witnessing the brutal treatment of carriage horses in New York and Europe motivated him to take action.
Early on, the Post highlighted the initial gathering of the ASPCA, which occurred less than two weeks after its founding.
April 24, 1866
The first public meeting took place in Clinton Hill, and Berg was appointed president while notable figures like Peter Cooper and Rev. H.W. Bellows took on the vice presidency.
During this meeting, a request was made to the chief of police to outline the society’s objectives, urging both law enforcement and the community to enforce animal cruelty laws.
November 20, 1874
The ASPCA offered cash rewards for information leading to the arrest of animal abusers. Berg personally funded a reward of $50 for tips related to dog fighting rings, which today would be around $1,422 in current value.
April 30, 1894
This year marked the establishment of the “Shelter for Lost, Stray, and Displaced Animals,” as the ASPCA assumed responsibility for housing unclaimed pets.
Dogs and cats could be held for 48 hours for owners to reclaim them, and ASPCA workers went out to rescue these animals.
June 20, 1908
In an election for the Women’s Auxiliary of the ASPCA, Edith Wharton, the author of “The Age of Innocence,” was appointed vice president, reflecting the organization’s growing involvement with influential personalities.
June 29, 1910
The ASPCA launched initiatives to care for the city’s working horses, setting up 100 watering stations at busier areas. Reports suggested that these stations served as many as 800 horses in a single day.
January 2, 1973
A new policy mandated that all pets adopted through the ASPCA had to be spayed or neutered, aiming to control the stray animal population. The costs were $15 for male dogs and $20 for females, although they also assisted with unclaimed pets that required surgical procedures.
ASPCA President Charles Haines emphasized the importance of managing the number of animals in the city for its overall benefit.
