Founded in 1944, North Shore Animal League America has grown into the world’s largest, most comprehensive, rescue and adoption organization. View our timeline to see how far our little shelter has come.
Our Life Saving Lineage
Rubber Meets the Road to Rescue
Buys first vehicle, a station wagon.
Lewyt Family Creates Lasting Legacy
Name changes to North Shore Animal League, Inc. Alex and Elisabeth Lewyt become more involved in day-to-day operations, helping the Association regain financial stability. Lewyts recruit their neighbor, popular singer and dog-lover Perry Como, as celebrity chairman of a successful membership drive. Alex Lewyt becomes President and Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Life Saving Movement Begins
Elisabeth Lewyt begins driving her “Love-A-Pet” van from pound to pound to rescue pets, paying $12 a piece for each dog the pounds will release.
The Birth of Compassionate Care
Establishes small medical center on the premises.
Puppies Make Everyone Smile
Launches Shelter Pet Outreach Program (SPOT). Volunteers and associates visit nursing homes, senior citizen centers, and other sites where therapy dogs and cats bring joy and comfort to residents.
Our Campus Grows
Celebrates grand opening of new Adoption Center and Alex Lewyt Veterinary Medical Center.
A New Era Of Rescue Begins
Launches nationwide National Shelter Relocation Program, the first to work with overcrowded shelters in the South, welcoming animals slated for euthanasia. Today this program is widely imitated, saving hundreds of thousands of lives.
Networking to Save Lives
Launches The Pet Savers® Foundation with a revolutionary cooperative advertising program supporting local advertising and providing advertising grants for small shelters to encourage adoptions. First such ad campaign in the country.
A New Leader Emerges
J. John Stevenson becomes President.
Spearheading the Spay/Neuter Movement
Introduces SpayUSA®, the first and largest nationwide network providing referral and information about affordable spay/neuter services.
Remembering Our Seniors
Develops Seniors for Seniors® Program, which enables senior citizens to adopt well-matched senior pets, with some veterinary costs covered.
First-of-its-Kind Adoption Event Saves 525 Lives
Conducts first annual Pet Adoptathon®, saving 525 lives. Today it is the Global Pet Adoptathon®, reaching around the world and saving tens of thousands.
All Animals Deserve a Chance at Life
Establishes monthly donation Pet Sponsorship Program, providing ongoing care for special-needs animals.
Rolling Into A Lifesaving Future
Acquire the first state-of-the-art Mobile Adoption Unit.
Mobile Adoption Units Create Limitless Possibilities
Uses new Mobile Adoption Unit. to pioneer two off-site adoption programs: Mobile Adoption Program (MAP), which transports our pets to high-traffic areas, leading to countless adoptions; and Cooperative Adoption Program (CAP), through which we share our mobile units with small rescue groups and shelter partners, saving even more lives.
North Shore Animal League Expands Across America
Name changes to North Shore Animal League America, Inc., reflecting growing national scope of programs.
Inaugural Tour For Life® Spans the Country
With Purina as sponsor, completes first Tour for Life®. A single mobile unit travels “From the Golden Gate to the Empire State,” saving more than 200 animals. Purina also becomes the sponsor of our Global Pet Adoptathon®.
Expanding the Fleet
Laura J. Niles Foundation donates funding for second mobile adoption unit.