Although animals are some of our closest companions, many endure inhumane treatment in silence. Northwood’s animal rights club, ASPCA, seeks to raise awareness for this alarming issue.
“We hope we can educate the students at Northwood on how to be aware of animal mistreatment,” ASPCA president senior Angelina Guo said. “You can learn how to petition against some of the companies or products that use animal testing. As a club, our impact may be limited, but I hope students can do their best to inform other people around them.”
The club, founded in 2018, is part of the non-profit American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Meeting bi-weekly, ASPCA organizes donation drives, volunteer events and educational presentations on animal rights issues like testing, slaughterhouses and poisoning.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for animals,” club member sophomore Srisha Thimmareddy said. “On a planet with all kinds of creatures, I think it’s important to respect and care for them, so I’m very excited for this first experience I have volunteering with animals.”
For people unable to own pets, the club offers volunteer opportunities, such as ASPCA’s annual event at the National Cat Protection Society in January, where volunteers spend four to five hours cleaning, caring for cats and administering vaccines.
“Everyone in the club was very outgoing, and they were all really happy to be there with the cats,” club member junior Mika Sakuragi said. “I think they did a really good job at providing information about volunteer opportunities and other things, and we had a really good time.”
ASPCA plans to increase the number of meetings this year to expand its reach and raise awareness for farm animals, ferrets and birds. They also aim to host additional donation drives and volunteer events for shelter animals, especially dogs.
“Last year, one of my board members adopted one of the cats after volunteering, and I still think it was a really meaningful contribution we made, so that’s why I was hoping to expand it a bit more,” Guo said. “If you’re an animal lover, I think you would really love that experience.”
ASPCA meets every other Wednesday in Room 1005. Check out @aspcaclub on Instagram for updates on how you can make a positive impact on these adorable companions.
