The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, formally the Stephen & Christine Schwarzman Animal Medical Center, is a

non profit A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...

animal hospital ''Animal Hospital'' is a British television show starring Australian singer and TV presenter Rolf Harris that ran on BBC One from 29 August 1994 to 13 September 2004. Other presenters included Lynda Bryans, Steve Knight, Mairi McHaffie, Rhodri W ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

and the largest non-profit animal hospital in the world.

History

The center began in 1906 when

Ellin Prince Speyer Ellin Leslie Prince Lowery Speyer (October 14, 1849 — February 23, 1921) was an American philanthropist and animal welfare activist. Early life Ellin Leslie Prince was born on October 14, 1849, in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of John Dyne ...

founded the "Women's Auxiliary to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals". The first major activity organized was the Work Horse Parade held on

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May. It i ...

in 1907 in

. In 1909 the Women's Auxiliary decided to establish a dispensary and out-patient clinic for all animals whose owners could not afford to pay for medical treatment. The clinic opened in 1910 on the

Lower East Side The Lower East Side, sometimes abbreviated as LES, is a historic neighborhood in the southeastern part of Manhattan in New York City. It is located roughly between the Bowery and the East River from Canal to Houston streets. Historically, it w ...

of Manhattan. Veterinarians volunteered their services on a part-time basis. The clinic treated 6,028 animals in the first full year. On May 12, 1910, the Women's Auxiliary separated from the

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals A Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is a common name for non-profit animal welfare organizations around the world. The oldest SPCA organization is the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which was founded ...

and they incorporated themselves as the "New York Women's League for Animals". Dog First Patient of Animal Medical Center of New York

The "Hospital of the New York Women's League for Animals" was established in 1914 at 350 Lafayette Street in

with

Bruce Blair Bruce Robert Blair (born 27 December 1957) is a New Zealand former cricketer who played first-class cricket for Otago and Northern Districts between 1977 and 1990.East River The East River is a saltwater Estuary, tidal estuary or strait in New York City. The waterway, which is not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end. It separates Long Island, ...

. In 1962 it opened to the public. As of 2023, Helen Irving was President and the hospital was undergoing a large renovation and expansion to meet increased demand and technologies in animal care.

References

External links

Official website of the Animal Medical CenterHospital of the New York Women's League for Animals
from the

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collection at

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{{Authority control 1910 establishments in New York City Animal charities based in the United States ASPCA Charities based in New York City Non-profit organizations based in New York City Veterinary hospitals Hospital buildings completed in 1962 Veterinary medicine in the United States Hospitals in New York City 501(c)(3) organizations