Snoopy is one of many dogs who have been given a second chance thanks to the San Francisco SPCA’s Square One program. Most Square One animals have difficult histories, and Snoopy is no different; before he arrived at the shelter, he was living in a hoarding situation. He was severely undersocialized and was afraid of nearly everything, including his water bowl.
To give him a chance to survive and thrive, Snoopy was taken out of the shelter environment and placed into the Square One program. Jason Townley, a Square One foster parent, invited Snoopy into his home with his two other dogs, Brewster and Whiskey. Under Jason’s care and with his advocacy Snoopy blossomed into a new, happy dog and found his forever home in only 22 days.
The SF SPCA launched the Square One program in June 2013 to support animals who would not do well in a traditional shelter environment. The program helps animals by creating a bridge between the shelter and forever homes, both by partnering with local and national rescue groups and through a special foster program. Whether they need a boost of confidence, have special medical needs, or are simply being overlooked at the shelter, Square One ensures that all adoptable animals get a fair chance.
Finding foster homes for dogs (and cats) like Snoopy is a cornerstone of the Square One program. Some animals need a little extra in a home environment to help them get ready for adoption. Unlike our traditional foster program, animals in Square One remain in their volunteer foster parents’ homes until they’re adopted, and their foster parents play a direct role in finding them loving, permanent homes.
Wanda also had a rough beginning before she entered the Square One program. This sweet two-year-old Pit Bull was found wandering Golden Gate Park by the San Francisco Police Department and taken to the city shelter, SF Animal Care and Control, and then transferred to SF SPCA. Despite her abusive beginning in the past, Wanda is friendly, loving, and social. Unfortunately, she was continually overlooked at the adoption center.
After more than two months on the adoption floor, Wanda was placed in a Square One foster home so she could get the personalized advocacy she needed and deserved. Three short weeks later, Wanda found her forever home. She’s currently training for the Canine Good Citizen test, after which she’ll be a therapy dog. Her guardian plans to enroll her in the SF SPCA’s Animal Assisted Therapy program, which sends volunteer teams to nursing homes, hospitals, schools, and other similar facilities in San Francisco.
Snoopy and Wanda are just two of more than 60 dogs who have been saved through Square One.
Square One also saves lives by transferring animals to rescue groups and shelters where they’ll have a better chance at quickly finding a home. For example, individual Chihuahuas are often easily overlooked in California shelters simply because they account for a high percentage of the population – yet Chihuahuas are in high demand in some other parts of the country.
Last year, the SF SPCA entered into a partnership with Stockton Animal Services to save lives and increase adoptions. Square One recently became involved by arranging for Chihuahuas from Stockton to be flown each month to Dane County Humane Society in Madison, Wisconsin. In the most recent transfer, fifteen of the twenty Chihuahuas were adopted from Dane County within just three days of arriving. Had those same Chihuahuas stayed in California, their chances of finding homes would have been slim.
While we’re strengthening our partnerships with organizations that have the ability to help special needs animals, we’re also actively recruiting foster parents who can open their hearts and homes to animals who need a little extra TLC. The more foster parents we have, the more lives we can save!
You can help us continue to grow by becoming a Square One foster parent. Learn more at sfspca.org/SquareOne.
Krista Maloney writes for the San Francisco SPCA. She is a lifelong animal lover and has worked in the animal welfare field for several years. You can reach her at kmaloney@sfspca.org
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Main article photo by: Courtesy SFSPCA
