Latest news with #ASPCA
Wall Street Journal
02-08-2025
- Health
- Wall Street Journal
Best Pet Insurance Companies of 2025
Factors in pet insurance costs Factors that influence how much you'll pay for pet insurance usually include: Age and breed of the pet Where you live Annual coverage limit Reimbursement level Amount of your deductible Any additional coverage you want, such as add-ons or a wellness plan You can generally lower the price of a pet insurance policy by choosing a lower annual coverage limit, a higher deductible or a lower reimbursement percentage. When you get a pet insurance quote, you can usually toggle the options to see how the monthly price changes. Is pet insurance worth it? While paying a monthly premium for pet insurance can feel like a drain on the budget, the risk of higher costs for procedures and chronic conditions might be more than you can afford without insurance. The ASPCA estimates that the first-year total for owning a dog is more than $3,000 and almost $2,000 for a cat. Once you get past the first year, though, there are ongoing costs, including routine medical costs and treatments for fleas and ticks, as well as heartworm. You have routine wellness visits and exams as well. Like other insurance policies, the biggest value comes in the event of large, unexpected emergencies. EmergencyVetsUSA offers these average cost examples: Emergency exam/consultation: $100 to $150 $100 to $150 3- to 5-day hospitalization: $1,500 to $3,500 $1,500 to $3,500 Emergency surgery: $1,500 to $5,000 $1,500 to $5,000 Wound treatment and repair: $800 to $2,500 Additionally, if your pet needs special prescription pet food or supplements, the cost can add up over time. Getting a pet insurance policy that covers these ongoing costs, plus emergency situations, can help you save money in the long run, especially if you don't want to deplete your rainy day fund. What's not covered by pet insurance? What's covered depends on the policy, so review available benefits before deciding on a pet insurance company. Policies typically do not cover pre-existing conditions or non-veterinary expenses related to boarding your pet or grooming. You also won't receive reimbursement for accessories like toys, leashes and treats. Basic wellness, such as vaccinations and routine check-ups, won't be covered. Instead, you'll need to purchase an add-on wellness plan to receive these benefits. Many first-year costs, such as spaying and neutering, also aren't usually covered by base pet insurance policies but may be covered by a wellness plan. Costs related to breeding are generally not covered, and injuries related to activities like racing aren't covered. Methodology We evaluated 15 pet insurance policies, focusing on key coverage areas, such as cost, access to vet telehealth, microchipping, direct vet payments and therapies that pet owners might prefer to be included in coverage. Advertisers and partners don't influence our ratings, as our research and editorial team maintains independence in using data-driven methodologies. Learn more about how Buy Side rates pet insurance companies.
CBS News
31-07-2025
- CBS News
Man who allegedly killed dog, set it on fire in Queens released from jail
A man accused of killing a dog and setting it on fire in Queens has been released from jail. Isaiah Gurley, 29, has been charged with animal cruelty, arson, petit larceny and reckless endangerment, which are not bail eligible charges. Gurley was arraigned Tuesday night and ordered to return to court on Sept. 17. According to court documents, surveillance video shows a man stealing a bottle of some type of oil from a deli on Rockaway Boulevard around 4:40 a.m. on July 24. Additional surveillance video from a home on 116th Avenue shows the same man dragging what appears to be an unconscious dog along the ground by a leash about five minutes later, officials say. The man then allegedly poured oil on the dog's body and set it on fire in the street just after 5 a.m. before fleeing the scene. Officials say several hours later, an NYPD lieutenant who was in the area on an unrelated assignment saw the dog's charred remains and notified the NYPD Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals assisted the NYPD in their investigation. The NYPD released images from the surveillance video over the weekend and asked for the public's help locating the suspect. The Queens district attorney's office says someone spotted Gurley at the Queens Center Mall on Monday and called in a tip. Police say at the time of his arrest, he was wearing the same clothes as the suspect in the surveillance videos. According to court documents, Gurley told police he had been taking care of another person's pit bull for several days, and at some point, he kicked the dog to death. He allegedly said he then burned the dog's body after it was already dead. "Animals are not punching bags. They are not toys. They have every right to proper care, just as humans do," Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. "The allegations in this case are heart wrenching as the defendant is accused of killing the dog before dragging the lifeless body and setting it on fire. We will use all tools available to hold the defendant responsible for his alleged actions." If convicted, Gurley faces up to two years in prison.
CBS News
26-07-2025
- CBS News
Man accused of setting dog on fire in New York City after dragging it down street
The New York City Police Department Animal Cruelty Squad is searching for a man who allegedly set a dog on fire after he dragged it down a street. The man allegedly ignited the dog in a neighborhood in Queens after pouring an accelerant on it, the NYPD said Saturday. Witnesses reported seeing the man dragging the motionless dog behind him at around 4:45 a.m. Thursday near 128th Street and 116th Avenue, police said. He fled the scene on foot after the animal was set on fire, according to investigators. Police released pictures of the man they are looking for. They said he is wanted in connection with an arson. The man was last seen wearing a maroon sweatshirt with a Polo logo in tan lettering across the chest, gray pants and a light brown MCM backpack, officials said. Police said the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was notified about the investigation. CBS News New York has reached out to the ASPCA for comment. Anyone with any information is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477), or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). You can also submit a tip via their website or via DM on Twitter, @NYPDTips. All calls are kept confidential.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
NYC has become so unaffordable that residents are being forced to give up their pets
New York City animal shelters are becoming overwhelmed as residents surrender more and more pets amid an ongoing affordability crisis, according to a new report. The Animal Care Centers of New York City — a network of public animal shelters in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island — told The New York Times they have 1,000 animals in their system as of last week. The shelter network is now caring for hundreds of cats, dogs and kittens. The network is also housing 50 rabbits, a dozen guinea pigs and several birds. The increase in surrenders comes as pet owners are increasingly unable to afford their furry friends, according to the Times. People are surrendering animals 'nonstop,' and the shelters are struggling to keep up, Animal Care Centers' Communications Director Katy Hansen told the newspaper. 'Not everybody is surrendering their pet because they just don't have time,' Hansen said. 'There's a lot of people that are just, like, really struggling. And it's sad. You know, they come in, they're crying.' 'I think it's just people are broke,' she added. 'The wealth gap is hitting hard.' It can cost pet owners thousands of dollars per year to take care of their animals. The ASPCA estimates cat owners pay more than $1,100 in the first year they own their pet, while large dog owners pay more than $2,000 in the first year. Meanwhile, about half of New York City households are unable to make ends meet, and the cost of basic needs is rising faster than earnings, according to a 2023 report by the non-profit United Way New York City. An ASPCA spokesperson told The Independent the agency's New York City adoption center has also seen an uptick in animals in recent weeks. 'This uptick is the result of a variety of factors, including an increase in 311 calls, criminal complaint reports and criminal cases, as well as ongoing capacity challenges that many shelters across the country are facing,' the spokesperson said. 'Summer is also generally a busier time of year for shelters as it coincides with kitten season, when shelters nationwide are flooded with vulnerable, newborn kittens who require specialized care,' the spokesperson added. It's not cheap for shelters to care for the animals, either. The Dakin Humane Society, a shelter based in Springfield, Massachusetts, estimates it costs their shelter about $950 per animal they care for. That's because animals that pass through shelters often have extra medical and behavioral needs, the Dakin Humane Society says. The Animal Care Centers of New York City says it has suspended intake as a result of this uptick, except for animals that were sent in by government agencies, animals that pose threats to the public and animals having medical emergencies. ' We can't adopt our way out,' Hansen told the Times. 'I mean, unless we did a thousand adoptions this weekend, but that's pretty unrealistic. So what is it that we can do? I don't know. I think everyone's trying to figure it out.'
Reuters
23-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US Republicans continue push to override California animal welfare law
WASHINGTON, July 23 - U.S. Republicans continued on Wednesday a years-long effort to override a 2018 California law that bans the sale in the state of pork from pigs kept in tightly confined spaces, arguing in a House Agriculture Committee hearing that the law is overly burdensome to farmers. Proposition 12, which also sets housing standards for veal and eggs sold in the state, was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2023 after a legal challenge by the pork industry. President Donald Trump's administration sued California on July 9 over the law's provisions for chicken housing, arguing it has contributed to higher egg prices. Committee Chair Glenn "GT" Thompson has sought to limit the law's scope to California farmers, excluding farmers from other states who sell pork into California, in the next farm bill. The bill is an omnibus funding package passed every five years, and which is two years overdue. "The cost of compliance for small producers could actually push them out of the market altogether, leading to further consolidation in the industry," Thompson said in Wednesday's hearing. The issue has divided the pork industry. Some hog farmers and pork companies oppose overturning the law, as they have already made investments to comply. "There are thousands of farmers across the country who support and depend on commonsense bans against the cruel confinement of farm animals,' said Matt Bershadker, CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in a statement. The average cost of retrofitting or rebuilding barns to meet Prop 12's standards is about $3,500 to $4,500 per sow, according to a letter sent from Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to Thompson on July 21 and released by the agriculture committee. The average retail prices of pork cuts such as bacon and ham have risen about 1% since January 2024, when Prop 12 went into full effect, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
