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World Society for the Protection of Animals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (commonly WSPA) is an international non-profit animal welfare organisation and also a federation of such organisations and active in over 130 countries with some 600 member groups.
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The WSPA resulted from the merger of two animal welfare organizations in 1981, namely the World Federation for the Protection of Animals (WFPA) founded in 1953 and the International Society for the Protection of Animals (ISPA) founded in 1959.
In their own words, they aim to promote the protection of animals, to prevent cruelty to animals, and to relieve animal suffering in every part of the world and to promote humane education programmes to encourage respect for animals and responsible stewardship, and laws and enforcement structures to provide legal protection for animals.
Though WSPA is against the cruel treatment and abuse of animals in general, they also campaign against specific kinds of cruel treatment and abuse, such as bullfighting, bear baiting and dancing, whaling, keeping and capturing of dolphins, intensive farming of animals, cruelty associated with the raising and trading of dogs and cats for food in Asia.
Most of these campaigns have had only limited success, though it can be said that thanks to the WSPA bear baiting campaign this blood sport has almost been stopped completely in Pakistan.
Besides these specific campaigns, the WSPA also advises governments on and promotes legislation which would improve animal welfare. They also run educational programmes on how to work and deal with animals especially for those that have to do so every day such as veterinarians, animal owners and caretakers. They also have programmes specifically aimed at children.
Besides campaigning, the WSPA also actively helps animals in need, for example during the aftermath of a natural disaster or war. Many pets become stray when their owners have died or fled and these animals are often in need of food, shelter and medical care. Wild animals often also suffer from the consequences of natural disasters. Disasters responded to in recent history include the 2004 Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, where shelter and food for stray animals was provided and emergency medical care given.
The WSPA also runs mobile clinics that neuter and spay stray cats and dogs so stray populations don't grow out of control which often results in less animal friendly solutions having to be used, such as the shooting of animals. Mobile clinics also provide medical care for horses in Latin America where the owners of the animals often do not have the money and/or knowledge to give the animals the care they need.