CPAA: Join Us!

CPAA membership is open to any rescue, individual or business which supports the No More Homeless Pets initiative and the fundamental, no-kill philosophies upon which CPAA was built, including that no animal is killed simply because it is injured, old, aggressive or simply alive. Only when an animal is too injured, sick, or aggressive to be rehabilitated through veterinary or behavioral care is euthanasia acceptable.

Aggressive Spay/Neuter - CPAA believes that the best way to stop the killing of innocent animals is to aggressively address the problem of overpopulation through spay/neuter programs that are widespread and readily available to the community. In support of this belief, CPAA promotes the spay/neuter of every animal prior to being adopted.

Increased Adoptions - CPAA believes that we are stronger working together than battling common issues alone. That is why we have created this network of rescue partners working together to place more animals into homes through adoption. We host regular events to showcase adoptable animals, offer behavioral training programs and provide resources to help increase adoption rates.

Community Education - CPAA believes that the conditions for the animals will improve only when the community surrounding them fully understands the need for better treatment, better laws and more proactive approaches to the issues they face. We host monthly meetings which are open to the public and provide speakers for community groups and schools, as well as interacting with the public through the services we offer in the hopes of building community awareness and the overwhelming need for the participation in reaching the solution.

If you believe and support the same goals on which CPAA was founded, we encourage you to complete the application for membership and submit it for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

In addition to being part of a commnity of like-minded rescue volunteers, CPAA offers many benefits as a part of membership.

Benefits of Membership

Emergency Veterinary Medical Fund Grants - CPAA's member groups may apply to the Board of Directors for an emergency veterinary medical grant. Grant guidelines can be found in the files area of CPAA Updates on Yahoo!

Spay/Neuter Van - For a small fee, CPAA member groups may use CPAA's spay/neuter van to host wellness, spay/neuter, and micro-chipping clinics. Pat and Michele are available to answer questions, order supplies, and offer advice. Member groups are responsible for obtaining a licensed veterinarian and veterinary assistant for their clinic, scheduling appointments, lining up volunteers, ordering supplies, and paying the fee. CPAA will order supplies upon request. Pat (Pat@cpaa.info) and Michele (Michele@cpaa.info) coordinate use of CPAA's spay/neuter van by member groups. A vaccination/wellness clinic is an easy way for member groups to raise some much-needed funds! Please click HERE to view more information about using the CPAA van.

Hounds of Prison Education (HOPE) - CPAA member groups may place a rescued dog in the HOPE program. This gives the HOPE dog training and additional exposure, and frees up a space that the group can use to help another dog in need. More details on the HOPE program are included under Our Ongoing Programssection below.

Networking - Those who are active members of CPAA can attest to our networking benefits. Our more than 50 member rescues (all-breed and breed specific), shelters, and other animal welfare organizations include knowledgeable and passionate individuals who are happy to share information, resources, and stories or to lend an ear when needed.

Our Ongoing Programs

De-Sex in the City - Begun in May 2005, De-Sex in the City began as a free spay/neuter program for dogs and cats in the Harrisburg area. When CPAA purchased its own mobile veterinary van, the program teamed up with Castaway Critters. In the past few years, the scope of the program has broadened. Today, De-Sex in the City:

Provides free spay/neuter and vaccinations to inner-city Harrisburg residents;

Provides low cost spay/neuter and vaccinations and referrals to residents of Dauphin, Cumberland, York, and Perry Counties; and

Provides free use humane cat traps for Trap Neuter Return of feral cats in Dauphin, Cumberland, York, and Perry Counties.

Michele (Michele@cpaa.info) coordinates CPAA's spay/neuter programs.

Hounds of Prison Education (HOPE) - Begun in March 2005, the HOPE program works with the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill and CPAA member rescues. Many of the dogs involved in the program have mild to severe behavior and social issues, have been in foster care for an extra long period of time or just need some extra one-on-one attention to get them ready for adoption. Through HOPE, these dogs are paired with carefully screened inmates for a 6-12 week period. The inmates work weekly with a professional trainer and with prison staff and HOPE volunteers to provide the dogs with basic obedience training, socialization, behavior modification, and one-on-one attention. The dogs involved in the program graduate with a wealth of valuable skills that help give them a paw up on finding a home. You can call Kelly at hopedogs@comcast.net for more information.

Low-Cost/Free Vaccination and Micro-chipping Clinics - CPAA offers both free and low-cost vaccination and micro-chipping clinics with member partners and area shelters. Pat (Pat@cpaa.info) coordinates CPAA's low-cost/free vaccination and micro-chipping clinics.

Operation CatNIP - In March 2007, CPAA, Castaway Critters, and Tri-County OIC began offering low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination clinics targeted to pet cats and feral cats for residents of the City of Harrisburg. Annette (alr@paonline.com), from Castaway Critters, coordinates this joint program.

Shelter Liaisons - CPAA is in the early stages of developing a shelter liaison program. More details will follow!

Our Events

Compassion with Fashion - In the fall of 2004, CPAA, with the support of the West Short Country Club, Talbots, and Ten Thousand Villages, presented its first luncheon and fashion show. Now an annual event, Compassion with Fashion is a fun-filled day with local celebrities and canine and human models representing CPAA member groups. Zella (Zella@cpaa.info) coordinates this event. Our 7th Annual Compassion with Fashion will be held on April 25, 2010.

Home for the Holidays - From December 2003 through December 2006, CPAA presented an evening of good food, fine wine, and holiday music with the Eakin Trio at the Harrisburg Hilton and Towers. The evening also included a silent auction and raffles to help support CPAA and its programs. Home for the Holidays moved to the California Cafe in Carlisle in 2007 where the event continues to be a wonderful way to support CPAA.

Hot Dog and Bake Sales - During the summer months, CPAA schedules hot dog and bake sales at a variety of locations throughout central Pennsylvania.

National Feral Cat Day - This event is held each October 16.

Spay Day USA - This event is held the last Tuesday in February.

Spay-Ghetti and No Balls Dinner - Each spring, CPAA offers an all-you-can-eat spaghetti and meat/meatless balls dinner. The evening also includes raffles to help support CPAA and its programs. Zella (Zella@cpaa.info) coordinates this event.

Woofstock - In spite of the pouring rain, more than 3,000 people braved the rain in Woofstock's first year (2005). Since then, this fun-filled community-wide event for people and their companion animals continues to grow and grow!! The 5th Annual WoofStock will be held on September 20, 2009.

As in the past, The Grateful Dog Walk from City Island officially kicks off the day. We will again have bands playing throughout the day, food, contests, demonstrations, spay/neuter information, low-cost vaccines and micro-chipping, raffles, rescue group booths and much more. Michele (Michele@cpaa.info) and Pat (Pat@cpaa.info) coordinate this event.

In addition to our ongoing programs and events, CPAA offers other fundraisers to support its mission and to continue its programs. Our fundraisers have included:

CPAA's newsletter is published twice annually and volunteers, rescue partners and sponsors are encourage to submit articles for inclusion. Click here to join our mailing list.

CPAA Dogs is a community where members of CPAA can post dogs that currently are safe in foster homes, but are available for adoption.

CPAA Fosters is a community for those who are looking for foster homes and for those who are willing to open their homes to a dog in need of temporary care.

CPAA Transports is a community for those who need assistance with transports and for those willing to do a bit of driving in order to help a rescue group.

CPAA Updates is a community for members of CPAA to post information on upcoming events, programs, fundraisers, updates on animal law issues, and benefits of which member rescues can take advantage. It is also a place to share resources and information. This group has the largest membership, and has the most general purpose of all of CPAA's groups.

Kelly R. (MS_Resq@comcast.net) serves as the moderator of the CPAA communities on Yahoo!

CPAA's website not only includes information about CPAA programs and events, but also includes information on rescue partners, partner events, and rescue partner adoptable animals! We ask all member groups to include a link on their website to CPAA's website (www.cpaa.info).

Laurie Fuller, of Limehat & Company (help@limehat.com), serves as the webmaster for CPAA. Please send any questions you have about the website to her. Note that right now, the site you're viewing is an "Under Construction" version of the site, which is undergoing a complete overhaul and upgrade. Stay tuned for the unveiling, very soon!

You're interested and passionate about animal welfare -- join us at our monthly meetings and get involved!

Support CPAA's events and programs, link to CPAA's website, post information on our events and programs and invite your family and friends to attend our events and programs with you!

Contribute baked goods or other items for one of our bake sales or other events.

Share your time and volunteer at one of our programs or events. You know how difficult it is to find volunteers. It's no different for CPAA. Even one or two hours a month will make a big difference in the lives of animals and to our member groups (including yours)!!