Does the ASPCA favor traditional pets over other animals?

I'm trying to write a research paper for class that supports a non-profit organization. I want to pick an organization that supports animal rights or animal welfare.

I like that PETA acknowledges the cruelty of animals in slaughter houses but I've gotten the impression that they have a very aggressive policy of tactics that does more to hinder their cause than aid it.

However, when I view the ASPCA website, all I see are pictures of cats and dogs. It seems they'd rather focus on what people might consider your traditional pet, without focusing too much on livestock or wild animals killed for their fur.

Is this impression I have of the ASPCA incorrect and if so, could some reference material be suggested to help me build a stronger case for them?

While dogs and cats are at the forefront... they do cater to all animals in need of help.

On the ASPCA site- they have information on posion prevention for horses, as well as information on what to know when taking your bird to the vet and how to make sure you get all the information you'll need before you and your bird go home.

if you pay attention to Houston's SPCA... they not only save cats and dogs- but they save and adopt out farm animals... pigs, cows, horses, so on.

They've also rescued big wild cats kept as pets in poor living conditions... rehabilitated them, then adopted them out to sanctuaries.

Arizona humane Society (Better known as Animal Cops Pheonix) have rescued animals big and small - including wild animals sent to sanctuaries if they could not be released...

and if you look at their site... they have sections to adopt rats, mice, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, so on.

Pictures of cats and dogs are more on the forefront mainly because they are the most readily recognizable by potential adopters/donaters and attracts them to read more.

if you're truly researching for a paper... you really need to do more than look at the pictures. research goes way deeper than looking at a picture or two to see if you see anything other than the traditional pet.

You need to read through each link they have on the site... watch the tv shows they have available to you (All three sites below... the ASPCA, Huston SPCA and Arizona humane society- all have their own "animal cop" shows where you can witness first hand how they go out of their way for all animals, including wild animals.

You have to take into account that the ASPCA is dealing with the common family, so most often the common pets---dogs, cats. ASPCA in largely agricultural areas often house horses, cows, sheeps, etc. But they do not turn most animals away. This includes snakes, rabbits, ferrets, frogs, mice, hamsters, and almost anything else including wild animals. Check out their website. You might be pleasantly surprised. http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer

SPCA's typically focus more on pets rather than livestock and more on domestic animals rather than wild... however their are different SPCA's doing different things.. some are more rural some are more urban

there is a bigger population of cats and dogs than of other animals so it seems fitting that there would be more pictures of them

The ASPCA is focused on abused "common pets", such as cats and dogs, but it does help out livestock, such as horses. When i was younger, I went to the camp, and they had a horse, a goat, two pigs, two sheep, and a miniature donkey. I don't think that they make a big deal about these animals, but they do do something for them. The livestock just isn't for adoption, they live in a big barn behind the ASPCA building with Barney the farm cat.

I would suggest you see about doing a wake throw of your local ASPCA. See if you can interview some of the people who work there and ask them questions first hand.
Good Luck!

I have found that the RSPCA (like the ASPCA) have absolutely no idea about wild, exotic and unusual animals and have no idea how to care for them. I have also heard many Horror stories about the things they have done to these animals. I suggest you look for a smaller animal welfare society. In England we have redwings animal sanctuary and many others like it that work with both pets and wild animals, working with experts in the fields needed.

I wouldn't say traditional pets but pets that appear to be more adoptable. . .they have to "have that look".
ASPCA tends to try and meet the needs of the people who are wanting to adopt. They try to fit the dog to the perspective owner.
In some areas,large dogs may be more in demand whereas smaller ones might work better in others.
An animals behavior has alot to do with it.
ASPCA has to consider whether the animal will pose a threat to their perspective owners.
They also have to consider the trainability of the animal and there are definately some breeds that are easier to train or in some cases, re-train.
I haven't seen the web site that you mention but I would suppose that the animals in those pictures are animals that were seized or given up so that should go to show you that people want certain breeds over others.
Certain breeds tend to be the "signature" breed,everyone wants one but rarely do those people really know what they are getting and when the situation overwhelms them due to their ignorance,they either mistreat the animal because it isn't behaving like they thought it would or they lose interest in the animal and they neglect it.(Once in a while they will realize their limits and surrender the animal to the ASPCA.)