ASPCA Welcomes Furry Apple to Big Apple, as Its One Hundred Thousandth Adoptee!

By Jada May

There was a lot of puppy love in the Upper East Side ASPCA adoption center Thursday. The group welcomed its one hundred thousandth pet, a transported female Dachshund mix named Apple.

ASPCA staff, journalists and onlookers stood outside in the cool breeze, in the early afternoon, waiting for the truck to arrive with Apple and 29 other dogs from Mississippi. The staffers sported their orange ASPCA t-shirt. Apple was the first dog to come off the truck and she was greeted with an orange bandana. The happy watchers took pictures and videos, and Apple seemed to feel right at home.

As CEO Matt Bershadker held Apple in his arms, he discussed the issue of animal homelessness. Apple appeared a bit nervous as Bershadker talked. “The problem of animal homelessness is very much a geographic problem and in pockets of the country we [have] come a long way to solving that,” he said.

Apple had been roaming streets before his rescue and eventual delivery to New York, where his life will hopefully be happier. Bershadker said the ASPCA not only rescues dogs and cats but helps families keep their pets healthy and happy.

Bershadker said adoptions have gone up tremendously across the country and that those who take animals into homes are “saving lives.” ASPCA has three relocation routes around the country. The mission of ASPCA, the association proudly says, is “to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States.”