Spotlight Stories

This year marks the solemn 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in August 2005. In the wake of unprecedented destruction across the Gulf Coast, thousands of animals were left stranded, abandoned or in peril, but we answered the call. North Shore Animal League America mounted thirty-six road trips and two unprecedented airlifts, ultimately rescuing 1,327 cats and dogs from impacted areas. Our Emergency Rescue Team was among the first onsite after Katrina (and shortly thereafter Rita), and we established a Katrina Animal Rescue Fund to ensure sustained recovery support.

We’re proud to announce that our Pet Health Centers have once again earned accreditation from the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). This is the fourth consecutive time that our facilities have received the prestigious recognition and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard of veterinary care to every animal who comes through our doors.

When we visited The Viscardi Center in Albertson, NY, we found more than just a school — we found partners who share our mission of fostering hope and resilience. The Center was founded by Dr. Henry Viscardi Jr., who was born without legs and became a pioneering advocate for people with disabilities. Today, the Center continues to be rooted in the belief that obstacles are not roadblocks, but opportunities to reimagine what is possible.

For 25 years, North Shore Animal League America’s Tour for Life has been hitting the road to find loving homes for rescue pets, and this year was no exception. With the support of Lifeproof™ with Petproof Technology (available exclusively at The Home Depot) and Nutrish™, our nationwide adoption tour stopped in 67 cities across 39 states, collaborating with shelter partners to save the lives of homeless animals.

In June 2024, North Shore Animal League America’s rescue team welcomed 26 extraordinary feline survivors from Kabul, Afghanistan. Rescued in collaboration with Kabul Small Animal Rescue (KSAR), these cats came from a country where pet adoption is rare, and resources for animal welfare are scarce.

In Ossining, NY, a rescue dog named Peaches has become much more than a classroom pet. Thanks to the Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum and the Kids Helping Paws club, Peaches has touched the lives of hundreds of students since her adoption in 2018. Peaches, a gentle standard poodle rescued by Animal League America, was welcomed into Roosevelt Middle School when she was just 13 weeks old. Her classroom integration wasn’t immediate — it involved extensive training, a grant to fund supplies and approval from school leadership.