Our Life Saving Lineage
Rubber Meets the Road to Rescue
Buys first vehicle, a station wagon.
Lewyt Family Creates Lasting Legacy
Name changes to North Shore Animal League, Inc. Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt become more involved in day-to-day operations, helping the Association regain financial stability. Lewyts recruit their neighbor, popular singer and dog-lover Perry Como, as celebrity chairman of a successful membership drive. Alex Lewyt becomes President and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Life Saving Movement Begins
Elisabeth Lewyt begins driving her “Love-A-Pet” van from pound to pound to rescue pets, paying $12 a piece for each dog the pounds will release.
The Birth of Compassionate Care
Establishes small medical center on the premises.
Puppies Make Everyone Smile
Launches Shelter Pet Outreach Program (SPOT). Volunteers and associates visit nursing homes, senior citizen centers, and other sites where therapy dogs and cats bring joy and comfort to residents.
Our Campus Grows
Celebrates grand opening of new Adoption Center and Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center.
A New Era Of Rescue Begins
Launches nationwide National Shelter Relocation Program, the first to work with overcrowded shelters in the South, welcoming animals slated for euthanasia. Today this program is widely imitated, saving hundreds of thousands of lives.
Networking to Save Lives
Launches The Pet Savers® Foundation with a revolutionary cooperative advertising program supporting local advertising and providing advertising grants for small shelters to encourage adoptions. First such ad campaign in the country.
A New Leader Emerges
J. John Stevenson becomes President.
Spearheading the Spay/Neuter Movement
Introduces SpayUSA®, the first and largest nationwide network providing referral and information about affordable spay/neuter services.
Remembering Our Seniors
Develops Seniors for Seniors Program, which enables senior citizens to adopt well-matched senior pets, with some veterinary costs covered.
First-of-its-Kind Adoption Event Saves 525 Lives
Conducts first annual Pet Adoptathon®, saving 525 lives. Today it is the Global Pet Adoptathon®, reaching around the world and saving tens of thousands.
All Animals Deserve a Chance at Life
Establishes monthly donation Pet Sponsorship Program, providing ongoing care for special-needs animals.
Rolling Into A Lifesaving Future
Acquire the first state-of-the-art Mobile Adoption Unit.
Mobile Adoption Units Create Limitless Possibilities
Uses new Mobile Adoption Unit. to pioneer two off-site adoption programs: Mobile Adoption Program (MAP), which transports our pets to high-traffic areas, leading to countless adoptions; and Cooperative Adoption Program (CAP), through which we share our mobile units with small rescue groups and shelter partners, saving even more lives.
North Shore Animal League Expands Across America
Name changes to North Shore Animal League America, Inc., reflecting growing national scope of programs.
Nourishing Pets. Enriching Lives.
Purina begins its support by donating food and litter needed for all pets in the Adoption Center.
Inaugural Tour For Life® Spans the Country
With Purina as sponsor, completes first Tour for Life®. A single mobile unit travels “From the Golden Gate to the Empire State,” saving more than 200 animals. Purina also becomes the sponsor of our Global Pet Adoptathon®.
Expanding the Fleet
Laura J. Niles Foundation donates funding for second mobile adoption unit.
Loyal Supporters Fund Exciting, New Addition
Don and Karen LaRocca donate funds and design the dog park.
Ultimate Supporter Begins Her Journey
Volunteer Beth Stern becomes official spokesperson, raising our profile and generating countless rescues and adoptions.
Medical Center Expands Service
The Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center expands its ongoing care of shelter animals and new adoption rechecks by opening its doors to community pets for exams and surgery.
Ready at a Moment’s Notice
Emergency Rescue Team is one of the first on site to assist local shelters after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. League subsequently creates the Katrina Animal Rescue Fund.
Combatting the Inhumanity of Puppy Mills
Launches Mill Dog Rescue.
A New Curriculum For Humane Education
Our Pet Savers Foundation partners with Yale University School of the 21st Century and the Cesar Millan Foundation to develop and pilot test the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum, a groundbreaking Prek-Grade 12 program that links humane education and social and emotional learning
We Have A Word For It!
Introduce the term Mutt-i-gree to define any dog, cat, puppy, or kitten adopted into a responsible, loving home – or still waiting for that perfect family. The word generates a new phenomenon, the Mutt-i-grees Movement.
Our Emergency Rescue Team Knows No Boundaries
Emergency Rescue Team responds to hurricanes Gustav and Ike along the Gulf Coast, saving lives in jeopardy.
Transforming Lives For Mill Survivors
We rescue more than 100 puppies and adult dogs from a West Virginia puppy mill.
The Curriculum Launches
The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum is launched at a national conference at Yale University and dissemination of the program begins. Jeter, the Curriculum’s first School Dog, is adopted from Animal League America and begins his “career” in California.
Run Beth, Run!
Beth Stern runs the ING NYC Marathon, raising nearly $300,000 for the League.
Smile!
Creation of the Marvin M. Fried Dental Suite.
Welcome Aboard “Ziggy’s Truck”
The Freed Foundation (Elizabeth Freed) donates a much-needed new Mobile Adoption Unit, which Elizabeth dubs “Ziggy’s Truck” in honor of her beloved Jack Russell Terrier whom she adopted from Animal League America.
Always Ready When Called Upon
Emergency Response Team tackles two major natural disasters: Hurricane Sandy, in our own backyard, and Colorado wildfires.
The Passing of a Special Woman
Elisabeth Lewyt, an early leader with her husband, dies at age 99.
Mutt-i-grees Get Their Papers
Animal League America announces the Mutt-i-grees Registry, world’s first registry for shelter dogs and cats. Goal: to raise status of shelter pets, encourage adoption, and reinforce the fact that every Mutt-i-gree is unique and worthy of respect, care, and love.
Providing Relief in Wake of Natural Disasters
Emergency Response Team goes to Moore, Okla., following EF5 tornadoes, to work with local groups rescuing pets displaced by the storms.
Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum Flourishes
More than 2,000 schools use the Mutt-i-grees® Curriculum in the U.S. and Canada. Also implemented in libraries, animal shelters, and after school programs.
Love And Purpose
Our National Spokesperson Beth Stern begins her amazing career as a volunteer foster parent.
State-Of-The-Art Future For Felines
On Nov. 22, National Spokesperson Beth Stern announces fundraising campaign for Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center (BFF) at Gala.
Happy Anniversary!
We celebrate 70 years as the leader of the no-kill shelter movement.
The Tour Rolls On
The 2014 Tour for Life® travels more than 17,000 miles and helps place more than 2,500 pets into loving homes.
Record Number of Animals Find Homes
Pet Adoptathon® 2014 places more than 30,000 animals in loving homes around the world.
Piano Man Sings a Song for Animal League America
Musical legend and League adopter Billy Joel dedicates proceeds from his huge 65th Birthday Concert in Madison Square Garden to BFF campaign.
Thank You, Rachael!
Ribbon cutting for new mobile unit donated by Rachael Ray’s rescue group, Rachael’s Rescue, brings the number of rescue units to seven.
A Lifesaving Milestone Reached
Puppy Mill Rescue efforts exceed 2,500 lives saved.
Felines Are Mutts!
The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum introduces Cats Are Mutt-i-grees 2, broadening the scope of this popular humane education program.
Cats and Coffee: The Pur-fect Pairing
League joins with PurinaOne® to host America’s first Cat Café, leading to many “cat’acchinos” and the adoption of 24 adult cats.
Lifesaving Leadership In The Classroom
The Curriculum introduces the Mutt-i-grees National Student Ambassadors Program to recognize caring student advocates and to encourage more students to work for shelter pets across the country.
The Kick Off Of A Winning Tradition
League joins with Hallmark Channel to air first annual Kitten Bowl.
Taking The Initiative For Felines
Launch of the North Country Initiative (NCI) in upstate New York. Program takes multi-pronged, no-kill, sustainable approach to feline overpopulation in the region.
A New Campaign For Compassion
Launch Get Your Rescue On® campaign to encourage everyone to make rescue a part of life.
On The Path To A No-Kill Future
We announce the addition of the word Educate to our mission — Rescue, Nurture, Adopt, Educate — in recognition of our commitment to humane education and the evolution of the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum.
Lifesaving Miles With Our Friends At Purina
Our 15th Annual Tour For Life, sponsored once again by Purina, covers 19,000 miles and helps 1,758 pets find responsible, loving homes.
Growing A Global Adoptathon
Our 21st annual Global Pet Adoptathon generates more than 25,000 adoptions worldwide, including 481 during our 36-hour kickoff weekend at our Long Island Adoption Center.
Partnering With Hallmark Channel
Beth Stern hosts February’s Kitten Bowl II and July’s Paw Star Game on Hallmark Channel.
A New Chapter for Mutt-i-grees
The Curriculum forges a new relationship with the New York Public Library and its 92 locations throughout the city.
A New Facility For Healing
In February the Freed Special Recovery Center opens, offering secure and comfortable isolation to protect our pet population and speed healing.
Canines In The Classroom
Launched in 2010, the Mutt-i-grees School Dog Programs expands to include 42 schools in the New York City public school system. Schools in Arkansas, New Jersey, Connecticut, and many other states have also introduced School Dogs.
Recognition Of Medical Excellence
North Shore Animal League America’s Pet Health Center earns the accreditation from the prestigious American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Fewer than 15 percent of animal hospitals in the U.S. hold this distinction.
Cat-letes Reach Millions
Kitten Bowl III reaches more than 1.3 million “furball” fans, thanks to Volunteer, Foster Parent, and National Spokesperson Beth Stern and our friends at Hallmark Channel. Kitten Bowl Parties at shelters across the country lead to many adoptions. Hallmark also broadcasts Kitten Summer Games, reaching a huge audience.
Responding To Disaster
Emergency Response Team assists victims of natural disasters in Louisiana and North Carolina.
We’re Reaching Around The World
Global Pet Adoptathon reaches all 50 states and every continent in the world — except Antarctica! — to generate an amazing 39,658 adoptions.
International Rescue Grows
Our International Rescue Program saves 346 dogs — from the Cayman Islands to Moscow — including pups from Thailand who were in danger of becoming victims of the dog meat trade.
Kudos For The Curriculum
The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum is selected as one of 100 most innovative educational programs globally by HundrED. It is named as one of the 25 best social and emotional learning programs in the country by Harvard University and the Wallace Foundation.
A Home Of Its Own
We open a new adoption center in Glens Falls, N.Y., to support the work of the Northern Country Initiative (NCI). Called the Adirondack Region Cat Rescue and Adoption Center, the 4,300-square-foot facility can accommodate up to 50 felines.
Moving Forward For Felines
A groundbreaking ceremony for Bianca’s Furry Friends Feline Adoption Center marks the start of construction.
A New Online Look
We debut our exciting new, user friendly website.
Raising Our Social Media Presence
Sound the trumpets: Our Facebook followers reach the one million mark!
Stand With Us!
Our petition against the Yulin (China) Dog Meat “Festival” generates nearly 60,000 signatures from around the world. In addition, our International Rescue Program transports 16 dogs from the horrors of the Yulin (China) Dog Meat “Festival” to the safety of our Adoption Center. We also continue to rescue from Thailand.
Pet Health Centers Take Center Stage
The Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center, the Freed Special Recovery Center, and the Karen and Don LaRocca Pet Wellness Center are re-branded as the Pet Health Centers at North Shore Animal League America.
Only The Best For Wellness
The state-of-the-art Don and Karen LaRocca Pet Wellness Center opens, providing the latest veterinary medical treatments including aqua therapy.
The Curriculum Supports Compassion At Home
The Mutt-i-grees At Home handbook is published, highlighting ways parents can promote empathy and raise awareness of shelter pets. Disseminated to parents and families, the handbook is also used by state agencies and child and family services.
Mutt-i-grees On The March
To date, the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum and its supplemental programs have been implemented in more than 4,000 schools and libraries in all 50 states, including Washington D.C., and Canada.
The Curriculum’s New Website
Launch of a redesigned website reflecting the growth of the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum and its potential as a global initiative.
We Don’t Forget
Nearly a year after hurricanes devastated Texas, Louisiana, and the Caribbean, we continue to work with shelter partners in the region to bring stranded and abandoned pets to safety, including homeless kittens rescued from the streets.