This year is the San Francisco SPCA’s 26th annual Holiday Windows event. Each year, the SF SPCA has partnered with Macy’s to enliven their holiday window displays with adorable adoptable animals.
It’s become a popular San Francisco tradition, and 2011 was the most successful year yet; more than 325 animals found new homes and nearly $80,000 was raised to support the SF SPCA’s lifesaving work. Holiday Windows provides a great opportunity to reach potential adopters who might not visit the Adoption Center and showcases animals who are being overlooked at the shelter.
Ella, a Border Collie mix, is one of the many animals who found a home through last year’s Holiday Windows event. Ella was found as a stray in Merced and brought to the SF SPCA. She was a bit shy at first and understandably needed a little extra time to warm up to people. Nancy, Ella’s new guardian, and her grandson had spent nearly six months looking for the prefect dog before finding Ella. They knew they wanted a Border Collie, so when they spotted Ella as a featured Holiday Windows dog on the SF SPCA website they immediately made plans to meet her.
Nancy and her grandson fell in love with Ella at the Windows, and Nancy says adopting her was one of the best decisions she’s ever made. She’s able to provide the stable environment that sometimes-shy Ella needs, but also makes sure Ella socializes by taking daily trips to the dog park. It was a perfect match, and the whole family couldn’t be happier.
Turkey is another example of a shy animal who was being overlooked at the shelter, but got a lucky break at Holiday Windows. She came to the SF SPCA with her four kittens and spent two months in a foster home, until the babies were weaned and ready for adoption. Laura, Turkey’s new guardian, had never shared her home with a cat but had been thinking about adopting. While holiday shopping she spotted Turkey in the Windows. Laura felt bad because Turkey was being overlooked in favor of the younger animals, as she often had been at the shelter. Laura went inside Macy’s to meet Turkey and brought him home that night. Laura has enjoyed sharing her house with a cat so much that she recently adopted a friend for Turkey.
The great adoption stories that come from Holiday Windows wouldn’t be possible without the help of our dedicated volunteers. Each year Good Samaritans get in the holiday spirit by signing up for two-hour volunteer shifts at Macy’s, greeting people as they stop to look, collecting donations, and directing folks to the Adoption Center inside. No training is necessary, and kids are welcome to volunteer with a parent or guardian. This year the Windows will be open from November 16 to January 1. To sign up for a volunteer shift or learn more about adopting, visit sfspca.org/holiday.
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Main article photo by: Jennifer Jamieson
