DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

What is an S.P.C.A?

What does S.P.C.A. mean?

S.P.C.A. is used in animal welfare circles as an acronym for Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Is there only one S.P.C.A?

No there are hundreds of organizations with S.P.C.A. in their name. There are dozens in the state of Maryland. There are several organizations with S.P.C.A. in their name that operate in Prince Georges County.
What organizations are allowed to use S.P.C.A. in their name?

Any organization may choose to use S.P.C.A. in their name, provided that their name is otherwise a legal name.
What is the relationship among these many organizations with S.P.C.A. in their name?

The organizations are not related or affiliated.
Is there a parent S.P.C.A. to which the many S.P.C.A.s must apply for membership?

No. The S.P.C.A.s are not related in any way.
What about the A.S.P.C.A? Isn’t this a parent organization to our local S.P.C.A.s?

No. The A.S.P.C.A. is a non-profit organization in New York City. They have a broad media outreach and an internet presence, but they are a local NYC organization.
Can I be guaranteed that an organization with S.P.C.A. in their name will actually prevent cruelty to animals?

No. Each organization is an entity unto itself, sets it’s own policy, and may have different values from other organizations.
What type of term is S.P.C.A., then?

S.P.C.A. is a generic term, but does not carry any specific meaning.
Can you give an example of this?

Restaurant is an example of a generic term. One might assume that the business is to provide food, but you can not assume what kind of food they offer.
For another example: Jim can start a business and call it Jim’s Body Shop. His business might be to repair automobiles. Jill can start a business and call it Jill’s Body Shop. Her business can be to sell cosmetics.
We have to be sure that we know the organization, it’s policies and values. We can not rely on the name alone.
Isn’t it possible that S.P.C.A. in the name of an organization can be misleading?

Absolutely. It is tempting to assume that an organization with S.P.C.A. in the name will share common values and be working to prevent cruelty to animals. This is not necessarily the case. It is necessary to ask questions and examine the policies and practices of the organization in order to determine the effect that the organization has.

http://www.pgferals.org/info/display?PageID=700

Prince Georges Feral Friends, S.P.C.A. web site explained this much more clearly then I could have. Many people in my area of Virginia assume if SPCA is in the name they are helping animals but that is not always the case in my state.