Frequently Asked Questions

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is an internationally recognized animal welfare organization headquartered in, and serving the five boroughs of New York City.  It is currently the oldest humane society operating in the United States.

Often named or referred to as a 'humane society', Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (or) Societies for the Protection and Care of Animals (SPCA), are separate, self-sufficient, state-sanctioned organizations authorized to operate in their designated county(ies), with many holding concurrent status as a law enforcement agency with the special power to uphold and enforce all state and local humane laws.

Contrary to popular misconception, neither we, nor any other county SPCA is affiliated with the American SPCA.

Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) is often confused with Animal Control because the two responsibilities and functions sometimes overlap.  However, the work of animal control mainly deals with the physical handling of stray and aggressive, or violent animals or wildlife by specifically trained individuals employed by municipal shelters.  Much like code enforcement who may only issue citations, they are not peace officers, and have no law enforcement authority.

Basic requirements (including, but not limited to):*

*Meeting the above criteria does not guarantee placement in the division.

We are an all-volunteer organization, and do not offer any paid positions.

There are no mandatory number of hours required, as we are a relatively small organization, and do not have separate departments.

If you would like to volunteer, please complete and submit an application indicating availability, and area(s) interested in.

We do not have enough funding for our own adoption facility or shelter, so we must rely upon outside sources for assistance.

Animals up for adoption are all fostered by private individuals, the veterinary clinic or hospital treating them, or the shelter to which they were originally taken.

If you have lost or found an animal, please contact the municipal shelters in your area, and post your information to lost and found pet directories, or Craigslist.

Must reside in Nassau*, Eastern Queens, or Western Suffolk due to proximity and ability to volunteer.  Investigations require access to a vehicle, and unless public transportation is readily available, is also required to assist at events.

*As our organization grows, this requirement may be limited to Nassau County.

1) Please contact us when you are personal witness to a regular pattern of abuse or neglect, and of course to more obvious signs of cruelty.  We receive a large number of second and third-hand reports which are difficult to substantiate, and/or reports alleging that a pet is being neglected when it was only outside for a short period of time.  Non-abuse situations like these put a severe strain on our already strained agency.  Always attempt to be as certain as possible.

2) We are not on 24/7 emergency call like the police, nor do we have their resources or manpower.  We attempt to investigate every legitimate report, however, we survive on severely limited funding, and currently only have a handful of volunteer agents covering calls over hundreds of square miles.  If an animal is in imminent danger, contact the police immediately.  They are legally required, and paid to respond to any and all emergency situations.

3) Although we technically have state authority, our jurisdiction is confined to the boundaries of Nassau County.  We cannot investigate complaints in any other county or area.  If you are aware of any instance(s) of animal cruelty occuring outside of Nassau County proper, please contact your own SPCA, humane society, or police department.

4) Use basic common sense when filing a report.  Erroneous reports are often made between feuding neighbors or spouses using pets as leverage, and we cannot get involved with civil disputes.  Perpetual reports that are found to be false not only waste valuable agency time, but may also be considered a form of criminal harassment punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.

We do not offer a formal internship program, however, if you would like to receive a rewarding experience and personal satisfaction knowing that you are helping to make a difference in the lives of animals -- while also earning school credit -- consider volunteering some time.

The Nassau County SPCA Explorers learn the law, and how to identify and prevent animal cruelty.  You can go on ride-alongs, and experience what it is like for an officer on the scene.

Due to the current size of our agency, and limited number of, and high demand on our officers, we cannot accept anonymous reports at this time.

Please rest assured that your identity will remain strictly confidential.

We unfortunately cannot take unwanted pets, abandonments, or strays due to not having our own adoption facility or shelter, or even a permanent location.

Please contact your local shelter, or see the Spay-Neuter/TNR page for other organizations who can assist you.

We unfortunately cannot personally offer spay or neuter services because we do not have any veterinarians on staff, or a facility in which to house them during recovery.

Please contact your local shelter, or see the Spay-Neuter/TNR page for other organizations who can assist you.

Unless some form of cruelty is involved, we do not investigate or prevent the feeding or sheltering of feral cats because it is not illegal.

We cannot manage or handle feral cat colonies either, because we do not have the proper resources to run a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program.

If you already care for feral cats -- or would like to -- it is always best to do so on your own private property to prevent any possible problems with neighbors, and for the cats' safety and welfare.  As long as it is public property, the cats will always be in danger of being removed, abused, or killed.

However, if you are aware of a feral colony that you feel may pose a health hazard or safety concern, please contact your town's animal control division, code enforcement, or see the Spay-Neuter/TNR page for specialized TNR organizations.

If you have a complaint against a pet store or dealer, please file a report with the NYS AGM Division of Animal Industry via their online form, or contact Joanna Franco, state Animal Health Inspector for Nassau County at: #631-291-2988.

We cannot provide financial support (medical care, food, pet supplies, etc.) to those who cannot afford it.  We survive on extremely limited funding ourselves, and must rely upon the kindness and generosity of the public for donations and contributions.

If you cannot afford the proper care of a pet, please do not take on the responsibility for both yourself and the animals'.

Unless specifically requested by another agency, we normally do not handle wildlife unless some form of cruelty is involved.

Many private veterinary clinics will accept sick or injured baby mammals, rodents, small birds (pigeons, sparrows), small reptiles, and amphibians.  Adult mammals, large reptiles, and large birds, should be transported to a wildlife rehabiliation sanctuary or refuge.  Please contact a rehabilitation facility, animal control, or Environmental Conservation Officers of the NYS DEC.  Smaller reptiles and amphibians may also be brought to a local pet store -- or depending upon the species-- safely released into an isolated forested area, lake, or pond.

HUMANE REMOVAL: Please contact your town's animal control division or a professional handling service.

RABIES: Violent or erratic behavior in feral cats or any other indigenous wildlife may be a sign of the rabies virus.  Please contact the Nassau County Dept. of Health's Rabies Control Program.

We are not a government agency, and do not issue licenses or maintain records of animal ownership.

We do not investigate barking dog complaints or enforce leash laws unless some form of cruelty is involved.  Persistent barking is usually an indication of boredom, and unfortunately no law requires that an owner must show their pet attention.

Barking or unleashed dogs are not normally considered a criminal matter; only a violation that falls under specific county code regulations and/or town noise ordinances.  Please contact your village or town's code enforcement division or the police department.

We exist to protect animals, and do not handle cases of animal attacks unless some form of cruelty is involved.

If an attack on another animal, family pet, or person has occurred, please contact the police department.

Theft of any type is a police matter.  To report a stolen pet, please contact the police department.

Many cats are able to climb down from trees as easily as they climbed up.  In the instances where they cannot, we do not have the necessary equipment to remove them such as ladders or tranquilizers.  We do not have any of the proper equipment to rescue trapped animals either.

Please contact your town's animal control division or fire department for assistance.