International Work

For decades, North Shore Animal League America has rescued and found loving, adoptive homes for nearly one million companion animals. Animals from overcrowded shelters, unwanted litters, and dogs and cats whose owners are no longer able to care for them make up the great majority of the League’s lifesaving efforts. Nearly all of these homeless animals come from the United States. Occasionally, needy dogs and cats call out to us from across the ocean and around the world. North Shore Animal League America will always be there, even if there is one animal in jeopardy.

In 2005, for the first time ever, the call came from Beijing, China. Several breeds such as Basset Hound, German Shepherd, and Dalmatian are legally banned in Beijing and unless the dogs were brought to the League, they would have no chance at adoption. Two other breeds, Pekingese and Shih-Tzu, are so common in China that potential adopters routinely won’t adopt them. The League could not turn its back on these innocent dogs; instead, we opened our hearts to them and welcomed them to our shelter. Within days, all of the dogs were adopted into new homes. To view images of this amazing rescue, click here.